For me, the quaint charm that a shabby chic design offers is exactly what I’m looking for in a kitchen. Cold, hard designs are all well and good in a commercial kitchen but our homes are all about comfort and there’s nothing more welcoming that soft pastel colours and periwinkle china.

For those that don’t already know, shabby chic is a kind of interior design where your furniture and furnishings are chosen for their appearance of age and signs of wear. You could also ‘add’ the wear and tear to your existing furniture if you wanted to (believe me, it’s a fun way to spend a Sunday afternoon!)

As well as ‘antique-y’ looking items, soft, cottage-style decor can be incorporated to give a room a feminine feel. It’s all about mixing and matching. I’m thinking beautifully distressed wood, beaded mini chandeliers and old jars made new with gingham fabric tops and elastic bands. Have I painted a picture?

The beauty of shabby chic is that is can be so cheap. It’s all about what you make of it. One of my latest creations was tying ribbons to some white china plates then securing the ribbon and plates to the wall and ending up with a gorgeous piece of art.

Shabby chic fridge magnets are an easy way to update a plain kitchen. You could get yourself a decent-sized collection and turn the beautiful canvas that is a fridge like a Beko TLDA521W into something beautiful.

 

Leisure also make a selection of quirky range cookers, the CMTE95C being one of my favourites. With something like this the work is already done – you’ve got a stylish cooker shabby chic cooker that’s actually brand new!

Whether you’re into shabby chic or not, there’s no denying that our kitchens are an extension of our personality, so make sure yours gives off the perfect impression of you.

Got any tips for me? Whether it’s a cute shop or a website that’s full of little gems, leave a comment and let me know. I’m always on the lookout for great finds.

No doubt by now you’ve landed yourself a bargain in the January sales, whether it’s a flat screen telly, a corner sofa or a whole new wardrobe. I don’t blame you for braving the crowds either – January is typically the month for counting the copper, so it’s always good to find a solid gold deal or two. 

If you came back from shopping with bags heaving with new clothes, the last thing you want to do is let them go to pot within a few weeks of wearing them. This can happen if your washing machine or tumble dryer isn’t equipped to take extra care of those different fabrics. So, with that in mind, let’s have a gander at what to look out for when you’re washing and drying those new outfits.

First things first, check the clothes care labels. It makes sense to treat delicate items... delicately. If you keep putting your brand spanking new jumper on a red hot wash with a high spin speed, you’re going to end up ruining the poor thing. Make sure you pick a Wool/Handwash cycle for your woollens and silks. If your washing machine doesn’t have this or you’re in the market for a new model, take a look at the range of washing machines here that do. One in particular caught my eye – the Hotpoint AQ113D697I. This one’s Wool cycle is endorsed by Woolmark themselves, and it even comes with specialised programmes for coloured, white and dark clothes.

If you’ve recently invested in a load of gym or sportswear, look out for special sports cycles like the Sports Wear programme on LG’s F1281TD washing machine. These cycles are designed to take extra care of breathable fabrics, while giving a deep, efficient clean.

Last but certainly not least – tumble drying. There’s nothing worse than taking new clothes out of the dryer to find them creased and crinkled to within an inch of their lives. So, it’d be a good idea to take advantage of sensor drying. By using special sensors in the drum, models with this technology stop automatically once the right dryness level has been reached, making sure your new load of clothes are never over-dried. Don’t forget anti-crease and easy iron programmes too – these can help to prevent tangling and deep creases. You can find these lovely features on the Beko DCU8230.

These little tips may seem insignificant, but they can make a big difference when it comes to looking after your glad rags.

So January is well underway, the belts are getting a little tighter and the blues are starting to wear a little thin. What better way to cheer yourself up than to find yourself a tidy little bargain. While January might be the month of quick sales, these products offer you something more than a flash in the pan. I’ve put my expert knowledge to use and scouted out some of the best deals you’ll ever find on appliances.

Did you know that you can actually get an oven that doubles as a microwave? Two appliances in one! The Neff C57M70N0GB gives you an electric fan oven, a microwave and a quartz grill all in one. You can even make use of both cooking times at the same time. Roast the outside, microwave it so it’s cooked through and get a lovely golden brown colour on top. In half the time too! What’s more, you’ll even save on space. No more bulky microwave cluttering up your work surface.

Speaking of ‘two for ones’, we also offer pack deals, so you can fit out your kitchen with some products that suit each other beautifully. This Beko pack deal combines the HIC64102 ceramic hob and the OIF22100X electric oven. Amazing value as these two products will provide all the cooking power and space you could need. There’s also a gas version if you prefer a more traditional style of cooking.

Lastly, when you buy it’s important to get something that’ll last you. Keeping your eye out for the brands that are known for longevity and decent quality is key, though it’s the ones that won’t cost the earth that you need to be aware of. Bosch, Hotpoint, Electrolux are all recognised brands that are trusted the world over, yet won’t break the bank. Just another friendly tip from your expert friends at Appliances Online.

Good luck and happy hunting all you bargain-hunters.

On the first day of Christmas, my true love went on Appliances Online and they saved themselves a packet. On the second day of Christmas, my true love went on Appliances Online again and they saved themselves a packet. On the third day of Christmas... Well, you get the idea. This version doesn’t quite have the same ring, but wait until you hear what gifts we have for you in our hefty sack this Christmas.

We’ve not one, not two, not three, but 12 chances to save on everything from washing machines to range cookers. In true Appliances Online form, there really is something for everyone here and no turkeys in sight. As we’re into day four already, there’s plenty of time to check out our very best prices on a range of kitchen appliances. But be quick mind – these savings are here for 12 days only, so you’d better snap them up while you can. 

If you’ve been good this year, you might fancy a brand spanking new washing machine to give your kitchen a bit of a boost in 2012. On the first day of our 12 Day Extravaganza, we gave you the chance to save a whopping £100 on the Indesit WIXXE127 washing machine. With a 7kg drum and an A energy rating, it’s the perfect chance for families to save a little extra after splashing out over Christmas. 


Speaking of savings, on the second day we offered the chance to pick up the Beko WMB81241LW washing machine for just £240. As it’s rated A+ for energy efficiency, it can save 10% more energy than A-rated models. I don’t know about you, but I’d have either one of these over a partridge in a pear tree and two turtle doves any day.

What about if you’re in the market for a new fridge freezer? On the third day of Christmas, we slashed the price of the Samsung RL39THCSW. Spacious and brimming with modern charm, this model has an understated white finish and a 283 litre capacity – plenty of room for those three French hens.

No matter what you’re after, there’s nothing worse than missing out on the January sales. So, make sure you come back here each day to see if you can make the new year that little bit happier.

The Christmas season is upon us. Last Christmas is constantly on the radio, we’ve held our grand Appliances Online Christmas light switch on (to my dismay, local lad Vernon Kay was unavailable to make a star appearance) and we’re munching our way through our advent calendars. 

But with news hitting the headlines that this year that Britain will throw away £600m worth of food bought for Christmas Day, we’ve taken some time off from the merriment and knuckled down to make sure that you’re totally prepared when it comes to the culinary delights of the party season.  

In this blog, you’ll discover how to keep your festive food fresh for as long as possible, and how you should stock your fridge freezer to make sure that yours isn’t one of the households who waste 1/5 of the food that they buy at Christmas.

A place for everything and everything in its place.

Meat treats: It’s turkey time! When you’re storing your fresh turkey, be sure to place it on the bottom shelf of your fridge. This is the coldest part, and it means that any raw meat juices won’t contaminate items below. If you’re shopping for a new fridge freezer, look out for special meat compartments. Designed to keep your turkey perfectly chilled, features like Beko’s Chiller Compartment or Samsung’s Fresh Room Zone are festive-season must haves!

Cutting edge veg storage: Keep your Christmas veggies safe in storage drawers. They lock in the humidity of your items, protecting the fresh tastes and nutrients for longer. So if you’re panicked that your prawn cocktail salad will be damp, or your Brussels sprouts will be soggy, never fear! You might even want to check out fridges with drawers with rippled bases, which allow the air to circulate around your vegetables to keep them even fresher.

Dairy care: Who doesn’t love a bit of cheese at Christmas – or all year round for that matter? Make sure to use your dairy compartment to prevent any strong cheesy smells spreading to the rest of your appliance – no one likes to be greeted by a particularly pongy gorgonzola smell every time they head to the fridge for a snack! You’ll also want to keep other dairy items and sauces towards the top of your fridge, as this will keep them at their optimum temperatures to make sure that they can make your Christmas dinner that extra bit scrumptious. 

Take a Christmas tip from our Cooling Expert - Amy Dutton

If you’re freezing your turkey, take advantage of your freezer’s quick freeze function if it has one. It drops the temperature quickly to lock in the delicious flavours and prevent your turkey from drying out. Mmm... tasty turkey goodness. 

Make sure you keep checking back for more festive food saving tips – we’ll be ready and waiting after Christmas with some delicious leftover recipes from our fantastic cooking team.