Habitat Spring/Summer 2011 & Market Picks

Habitat have taken their spring/summer collection to the seaside for their latest magazine shoot. A wonderful array of brights have been imaginatively styled against a 'perfect' seaside backdrop, situated on an all together more quintessentially British beach (i.e. grey, cloudy and cold!). The juxtaposition works a treat; the tongue in cheek approach serves to humanise the brand, making it more accessible than in previous years. Split into three key themes - Tapas in the Med, A Trip to the Seaside and Afternoon Tea - there's bound to be something for most taste and price points here. What catches your eye?

Water | Maui | Okko | Pilipala | Rie

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A Habitat Christmas

Habitat is to Europe like West Elm is to America: A brand that offers contemporary and accessible designs for those of us who are just starting out through to the high flyers of this world, with city crash pads and weekend country escapes. Habitat's Christmas offering is one of their strongest from the past two years. Expect to find a mix of modernist ornaments in the form of porcelain owls, ice blue baubles and sleek, matt white decorations. Mixed in amongst their their red, white and blue ranges are some fantastic folksy designs (I used some of them in my Rue Christmas shoot) and they have a charming, timeless quality to them. Let's dive in and check out the fab festive looks the brand has created for us this year.

Habitat

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{Habitat Autumn/Winter 2010}

I love this time of year; the summer sales are nearly over and so the stores start to invest in their visual merchandising to highlight their new collections. Habitat's doing just this as I write; the first pieces from their autumn/winter range launched online on Monday and more is being added every day. Having worked for the brand as a Sales Associate during my university days I remember the effort we would put in to getting our store looking top dollar for each season (think: 2am finishes after laying floor tiles for our Christmas set up in 2006!), so I appreciate it when stores put time and effort into their visual merchandising. After all, this - along with great product assortments and good service - is what makes a retail experience stand out from the crowd. Later today, I'm going to a preview of their Christmas 2010 collection, 'Footprints through the Forest', so now seems the perfect time to share some of my picks from their autumn/winter collection. You can put money on one of their Persia lampshades and Richard the Lion being in my new apartment before the month is out! What pieces do you like from their new range?

Habitat

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{Habitat Press Launch}

Yesterday, I was lucky enough to visit Habitat's press launch for their upcoming autumn/winter 2010 collection. I'm dying to share with you some of the seriously awesome products they have lined up for us, but I'll restrain myself until nearer the official launch! Stand by for bold colours, super affordable key pieces and statement lighting that's gonna rock your socks off. Here's a sneak preview...

Image: Habitat

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{Things that make me happy #1}

I woke up to find that my friend Gavin Mackie sent me this image of the Habitat alarm clock he won in my birthday giveaway. Don't you think it looks fun?

Image: Gavin Mackie

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{Birthday giveaway: Alarm clock}

Looking forward to a lie in this weekend? Well, it's the last of my birthday giveaways today but winning might make waking up on Monday mornings a little easier. It features this little fellow - the Okko alarm clock, which I first blogged about in a post on the birdy interior trend last year. A year on and birds are still hot property in interiors; Habitat have released the Okko alarm clock in bright red as part of their new SS10 collection. Fancy a chance at winning it? Pop a comment on this post telling me why you would like to wake up to the sound of bird song in the mornings! Good luck and thank you to all of you who have posted lovely comments on all the birthday giveaways this week.

Image: Habitat

T's and C's: This giveaway is open to UK readers only. The giveaway closes at midnight on 12th March and the winning comment will be chosen by random.org. The alarm clock cannot be exchanged for cash or any other product.

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{Birthday giveaway: Office accessories}

Today's birthday giveaway is my favourite of the week because I think the Palaset drawers and Osk photo frame combo not only looks great in bright fuchsia (a fab colour of SS10) but it's practical as well. From my Office Inspiration posts you'll know I think it's important to make the space you work in a colourful, pleasing and efficient environment. So, if you like this set of Habitat desk accessories, then it could be yours if you comment on this post telling me what you think makes a great office.

Images: Habitat

T's and C's: This giveaway is open to UK residents only and closes at midnight on 11th March 2010. The products cannot be exchanged for cash or any other products. The winning comment will be chosen by random.org. Thanks for entering.

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{Birthday giveaway: Stationery loving}

I can't believe we're already half way through my week of birthday giveaways. Thank you to all of you who have joined in with the fun and commented so far, it's been lovely hearing about what you would do with the various potential additions to your homes. Today I have a nice and simple giveaway for you. For the chance to win two packs of Habitat postcards by John Murphy and Thierry Bisch, please leave a comment explaining who you would send a postcard to and why. Today's giveaway is open worldwide, so to my friends around the world, I'm so pleased you can enter this one. Best of luck!

Images: Habitat. Art: John Murphy and Thierry Bisch

T's and C's: This giveaway closes at midnight on the 10th March 2010 and is open to readers worldwide until it closes. Only one comment per reader, please. The postcards cannot be exchanged for cash or any other product. Thanks for entering.

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{Birthday giveaway: Kitchen goodies}

Today's birthday giveaway is one for the foodies. I recently blogged about how I often find myself inspired by food styling and the photography of recipe books. The kitchen is often full of exotic smells and exciting colours; it's one of the most sensory experiences inside the home and, I think, a place for endless inspiration when it comes to interiors.

If you're a fan of baking or kitchen paraphernalia, then you are luck because there are two prizes up for grabs today. The fun and funky Poppie muffin tray not only looks good when it's not in use, but being made out of silicone it makes baking so much easier. Whoever wins this has to bake me mini muffins, though...just kidding!

The second of today's prizes is the Lapu Lapu chopstick set, which sees a collaboration between Habitat and Italian designer Paola Navone. The collaboration includes bowls, plates and more, all of which feature the signature fish logo of Navone's studio. Win this funky chopstick set and Asian dining will never be the same again!

Images: Habitat

To enter this foodie giveaway, leave a comment explaining why your kitchen is in need of these stylish utensils. I'll randomly pick two comments when it closes at midnight tonight, and the winners will get either the Poppie tray or the Lapu Lapu set. Best of luck!

T's & C's: This giveaway is open to UK residents only, due to Habitat's delivery policy and closes at midnight on 9th March 2010. Only one entry per reader, please. The winner will be chosen at random by random.org. The Poppie tray and the Lapu Lapu set cannot be exchanged for cash or any other goods.

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{Birthday giveaway: Tommy desk lamp}

Image: Habitat

I've always enjoyed blogging about office interiors, both big and small and my regular feature, Office Inspiration has peeked into a diverse range of workspaces over the last twelve months. Some of my favourites include the colourful office of Orla Kiely, the gorgeous Urban Outfitters/Anthropologie headquarters in Philadelphia (proving big companies can encourage creativity) and the effortlessly cool yellow and black office of stylist Tim Neve.

This is why I'm delighted that the first birthday giveaway this week is a Habitat classic in the form of the Tommy desk lamp. Understated, yet ever so stylish this little fellow would add instant style to any workspace. Fancy a lovely new addition to your office? Leave a comment on this post about why the Tommy lamp would look great on your desk, and I'll randomly pick a winner from all comments by midnight tonight. Good luck!

T's & C's: I'm afraid this giveaway is open to UK residents only, due to Habitat's shipping policy. The winner will be decided by random.org when the competition closes at midnight on 8th March 2010. Only one entry per reader please. The lamp cannot be exchanged for cash or any other item.

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{Birthday celebrations with Habitat}

Bright.Bazaar turns one year old this week! So, in order to celebrate with, and thank you - my lovely readers - for your support over the last year, I've teamed up with Habitat to giveaway a different product from their latest collection every day this week.

Colourful spaces are those that get me most excited, they are the homes that make me excited about the prospect of living in, they are hotels I would most like to visit... you name it - colour is essential to what I enjoy about interiors. Be it the soft hues of a grey and mauve restaurant to the colourful pop of zesty orange brights in my kitchen at home. I'm always looking at the colour of what surrounds me and enjoy calm and serene schemes just as much as bold and bright accents. That's one of the reasons why I've always liked Habitat; they produce collection after collection of accessible, affordable and super stylish homewares in a truly inspiring way.

The picnic image here is from the SS10 catalogue and screams high summer - pimms o'clock, barbecues and of course, plenty of bright, warming colours. These next two images are my favourite, though. Don't you think there is something so romantic about sharing an impromptu tapas lunch with someone special on a tiny balcony just like this one?

So, make sure you check back here for the chance to win a Habitat product in my daily birthday giveaways. Plus, I'm going to be sharing some extra special spaces with you this week. There will be an Office Inspiration post from one of the world's most inspiring designers, a gorgeous Canadian home tour (look out for the stunning kitchen) and a round up of my blogging highlights over the past year. Interiors rock! Who's with me?

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