Happy Monday!!

Lilla opening hours this week 19th – 25th March

MON TUE WED THUR FRI SAT SUN

10.00 – 14.30 10.00 – 17.00 10.00 – 14.30 CLOSED 10.00 – 17.00 10.00 – 17.30 CLOSED

Sadly this is due to poor poor Leigh breaking her ankle (snow accident…so she says ;) ), and recovering in hospital after an operation. She was also covering quite a few shifts for Kirsty who is enjoying the heat on the other side of the world at the moment. I kind of wish I could trade places with her right now!!!

Thank you all for being so amazing and understanding! Please do aim for early visits to avoid disappointment. These hours may change if I or my lovely staff can juggle our private lives a little.

Spektakulär is open as normal and the lovely ladies there has keys so they can let you in if you are on a hunt for an emergency gift. But please be patient in case they are busy. And we do love chocolate bribes and great smiles :)

Have a fabulous week, we are getting weekly deliveries at the moment which is truly making the shops sparkle!

Charlotte x

Lindform is a Swedish family business started in 2007. They have since then grown to be a brand that is synonymous with Scandinavian design and quality. Their products can be found in design boutiques, hotels and restaurants around Scandinavia and Europe. The inspiration for the company comes from Scandinavian nature with its organic tones and simple shapes.  The collection also contains influences from Japan, whose minimalist style matches well with the Nordic design

These individually handmade ceramics are small in stature (most stand at around 10cm high) but big in style. Each piece can take up to 8 processes to get the design to the right standard and because they are hand decorated, no two pieces are identical (although you sometimes have to look very hard such is the skill of the artists!) Beautifully minimalist as single pieces, they also look lovely in small groups (I’d always go for an odd number a bit like planting a garden!) The slim neck detail of  many of the vases makes them most suited to displaying a single stem. For real impact, group them together with similar single flowers or herbs – lavender is a favourite of ours in Spektakulär, even one stem packs a fragrant punch!

The range is mainly vases but also includes candle holders and plates, all in the signature organic style.

All images by Lindform Sweden

We have a beautiful display of Lindform products in the shop, drop in and see their calming simplicity for yourselves…

Back soon, Ruth x

 

 

 

According to her website, Sandra Isaksson was raised by a family of trolls in the heart of a Swedish forest. Blueberrykissed; she sculpted clouds and painted rainbows, carved with wind and whittled snowflakes from skybears. Personally,  I am more than willing to believe her version of events! 

Sandra is an award winning graphic designer, product designer and illustrator with a master’s degree in graphic design & illustration from Designskolen Kolding in Denmark. She works as a freelance designer for international brands and runs her own Scandi-Brit fusion brand designing and producing a co-ordinated range of home accessories. All about beautiful happy things!  

Spira began with a desire to bring colour, pleasure and attitude to people’s homes. Their concept is based on the creation of a lasting, timeless collection of cushion covers and other products to which they add new patterns every season. Their aim is to ensure that all Spira customers can create their own personal style by combining and matching patterns from a range of different collections.

I decorated my living room a couple of years ago and couldn’t wait to bring some Spira magic into it. I love mid century modern furniture and patterns and luckily for me the range at that time was full of geometric prints in perfect tones. The only problem was deciding what combination! Eventually I went for circles and zig-zags in blues and greens and a couple of plain covers in the same shades. I absolutely love them – the great thing about Spira is every range they bring out, colours can be matched in some way to previous collections. Last winter brought us a lot of woodland animals and in each of the covers there was a colour-way that I could have added to my existing stash (if I was allowed to buy any more cushions. I’m not. Or mugs apparently…)

Cushions are such an easy way and affordable to add a splash of happiness to your home. Recently our biggest sellers have been the fantastic face prints – they are a total joy and look brilliant in pairs either end of a sofa. It’s fun watching customers choose who they want to take home and we all have our favourites!

All our cushion covers can be bought by themselves or with a pad. If you have recently decorated or need to match a sofa or chair, feel free to bring in a photo and we can help you choose – it’s not that we are nosy and love to see in your homes (but we are and we do!)

Ruth xx

As part of our weekly offers in Spektakular we are offering a fabulous 10% off the Sence Copenhagen range of jewellery right up until Mother’s Day on March 11th (I know, longer than a week but that’s just because we love our mums!)

SENCE Copenhagen is a designer jewellery brand from Scandinavia and a fashion leader at the frontier of the latest trends. Most of their jewellery is strongly influenced by the trends, moods and colours of the fashion season and they look for the best quality materials for each of their jewellery pieces and use natural materials and semi-precious stones where possible. Sence are very proud that they never forget where they come from and take pride in their Scandinavian roots and dedication to quality.

We are delighted to be Sence stockists – we all love their easy to wear, beautifully made pieces. In Spektakular you will find necklaces, bracelets and earrings – all items come with a presentation bag and don’t forget we can gift wrap anything you buy.

Obviously you don’t have to buy them just for mum, treat anyone you love to a piece (that includes yourself…) You know it makes Sence (sorry, I’ll get my coat!)

Ruth x

 

 

Hallå!!

Fabulous opportunity has arisen here at Spektakulär/Lilla! We are now looking for a cheerful, creative sales assistant to come and work with us.

This is a Maternity cover only! It will end October, however there might opportunity to stay on extra over the busy Christmas season.

Two days a week (every Monday and Friday), plus every third weekend.

Plus we are also looking for you who can be flexible to cover extra holidays and odd days here and there.

You will be working in both Spektakulär and Lilla and we would really appreciate retail and some kind customer service experience. It would not hurt if you know a bit about Scandinavian design but this is not essential…we will teach you all we know 😁

Does this sound perfect for you?!?! And if you would love to join this fabulous team then pop in to the shop with your CV and Cover Letter alternative email me at jobs@spektakular.co.uk

Charlotte x

Hey everyone, hope you had a peaceful/fun February break – I spent the last few days visiting my mum and seeing old friends and am now exhausted but it was worth it! If I wasn’t at work today I think that I would still be in my jammies, catching up on Netflix and wishing I had one of these fabulous tablet pillows… this week we have 30% off them!

all images from bosign

Most nights I sneak off to bed with my tablet and watch a bit of something (I know kids – do as I say, not as I do…) and inevitably at some crucial moment my tablet falls forward and I miss something!

Bosign’s shapeable tablet pillow works on all surfaces, hard and soft. You can adjust it so that it always has the best possible angle, no matter what position you are in. If you watch a movie, you can put your hands behind your head and just enjoy; the screen stays at a perfect watching angle.

Of course it isn’t just for binge watching in bed, if you want to use both hands for typing, the pillow keeps your tablet in the right position without you having to hold it.

Bosign’s brilliant design can hold the tablet in either a horizontal or vertical position. It rests securely in the pillow pocket and the silicone pattern on both sides of the pillow makes it stay in place on smooth, soft and rough surfaces. When you aren’t using your tablet you can even store it safely inside the internal pocket.  The cover is durable, water-repellent and of course easy to wash (hand wash cold).

Fits all iPad models.

• Shapeable soft pillow – comfy surfing
• Two positions – vertical and horizontal
• Two inner pockets – protective sleeve and storage
• Works on all surfaces, hard and soft
• The iPad/Tablet pc rests securely on the anti-slip surface
• Washable cover

Not only do we have the tablet pillows in various colours, we also have the stylish Bosign travel pillows, again with 30% off.  This versatile version of the tablet pillow isn’t just a stable and easy to use tablet stand it’s also a great neck pillow for travelling.

Bosign are such a clever company – we love their innovative designs in Spektakulär and we are very happy that so many of you seem to agree with us! Oh, I am already looking forward to tonight’s viewing!

Ruth x

 

 

To give us some room in Spektakular for exciting new spring stock, our Linum feather cushion inners are now at an amazing 50% of the original price.

We don’t have many of each size so be quick before they disappear as we won’t be getting these sizes back again (we will continue to stock our popular 50x50cm.) They are lovely luxurious inners (85% feather and 15% down) that plump up brilliantly – treat your cushion covers to one!

Here are the sizes and prices…

40x40cm                          rrp £10                             now £5

50×60                                rrp £14                            now £7

35x70cm                          rrp £15                             now £7.50

Thanks, Ruth xx

 

 

 

Hey, how’s things? Crikey, it is cold out there today but very beautiful! To be fair it is always warmer outside than in my house so I am coping with it pretty well (and having lived here for 25 years am used to the less than balmy climate!)

During February we thought we would treat you all to weekly offers. Last week we had 25% off some gorgeous Pappelina rugs (follow the shops on facebook and Instagram so you don’t miss any deals!) and this week we have a new deal for you – 2 actually…

This Wednesday it is Valentine’s Day and to help you celebrate and set the mood (c’mon, it’s worth a try!) we are offering 20% off our stunning Ester and Erik candles until Sunday.  Ester and Erik are a Danish husband and wife who produce the finest hand dipped candles we have ever seen.  You will probably have seen the racks of taper candles in Spektakular – at Christmas we have so many that the frames can reach the ceiling we love them so much!

The traditional dipping technique offers great advantages over cheaper mass produced candles, which means the candles burn slowly with a steady flame and without dripping, are odourless and emit no soot.  They come in a dazzling spectrum of colours and will cheer up any table – yes we do have romantic red ones but personally I’d be cock-a-hoop if I was given the lovely teal ones…just sayin’…

Over in Lilla this week…

The magical world of Tulipop is inhabited by quirky and playful characters who appeal to all those who are young at heart. Its unique characters include Gloomy, the adventurous hyperactive mushroom girl and Fred, the furry smelly forest creature who wants to be scary but is too gentle to succeed (absolutely my favourite!) The Tulipoppers are all quite flawed but still lovable – just like us humans.  In Tulipop traditional gender stereotypes are challenged, and mutual respect for nature and each other is given high priority.

We have a whopping 40% off our eco-friendly Tulipop dinner sets featuring Gloomy, Miss Maddy, Fred and Bubble. The sets include a plate, a bowl and a cup and are made primarily of bamboo fibre which is degradable at the end of its life cycle. The sets come in a beautifully illustrated gift box, which is made of recyclable material.

Original price £25 – now £15 – while stocks last, grab one while you can!

Ruth xx

 

 

No, that’s not a description of what goes on in my house every night* – it’s the latest marketing strapline for the wonderful Rice range!

RICE is a Danish homewares and accessories company known for colorful melamine, handmade baskets, storage, and hand glazed tableware. The designs are made with a joyful spirit and with lots of details. The RICE dream is to make your everyday more colorful – whether you are washing, cleaning, baking or just relaxing in your home and was founded in 1998 by Charlotte and Philippe Guéniau.

RICE is all about fun, funkiness and functionality, but they work with their hearts as well. They make sure that they follow international standards regarding corporate social responsibility. Most of their products are made by workers in third world countries, and they make sure that all products are produced with high regards to human rights, healthy labour conditions and with no use of child labour.

It is always a happy task to unpack a Rice delivery and I did just that last week. We have always stocked a large selection of the bowls and cups and this top up of new designs was gorgeous.  The Blue Poppy range is really lovely but my absolute favourite has to be the Lupin design as these are my favourite plants (although sadly in my garden a big hit with our local snail/slug community too!)

All the melamine tableware is BPA free and food safe so perfect for all the little ones at home.

In addition to the melamine, this delivery included the most stunning raffia storage in 3 different sizes and 2 styles (colourful houses and animal themes.)  The Raffia products are all handmade and their production supports more than 300 families on the Red Island of Madagascar. Each item takes about 5 days to make due to all the raffia work, applique, embroidery and other finishing touches and no two are ever exactly the same. Just gorgeous AND useful and a great addition to any bedroom or playroom.

 

We also stock a selection of Rice bags, bubbles, fun masks, stationery (can you have too many notebooks? I don’t think so!)  and much more…so, if you need brightening up on these dark days, come into Lilla for some everyday magic!

Ruth x

 

*it is actually :-)