The View XMAS 2016

2017 is set to embarce Darker Tones.
We reveal the winner in Decora's
first ever window display
competition.
Seasonal reds are in! We take a look
at this emerging interior trend.
We check out some of
the latest gadgets in the
year homes got smart.
Metallic Mania has hit &
we're loving it.
DEC ‘16 | ISSUE 15
1

WE ALL KNOW AT THIS TIME OF YEAR SANTA IS
FINALISING HIS “NAUGHTY AND NICE” LISTS...
HERE AT THE VIEW WE HAVE MANAGED TO GET
OUR HANDS ON SANTA FE’S CHECKLIST FOR THE
“NEVADA NICE LIST”
2
*Data Source: Thermal performance of traditional windows. English Heritage and Glasgow Caledonian University

Welcome to the View
A welcome to the View, from us to you.
Merging Media
A look at Decora's press exposure in both traditional &
new media.
A Very Berry Christmas
Seasonal reds are in! We take a look at this emerging
interior trend.
Escapism
We investigate the growing interior design trend of
digital escapism.
And The Winner Is...
We reveal the winner in Decora's first ever window
display competition.
Metallic Mania
Metallic Mania has hit & we're loving it.
The Year That Was
From Bowie to Brexit; we take a look at the years
major events.
05
06
10
12
16
20
22
24
26
28
30
32
34
Home & Away This Christmas
Find out why more & more people are spending
Christmas away from home.
Movers & Shakers
Bloggers are having a big impact on the interior design
world. We check out some of the rising stars.
Embrace Your Dark Side
2017 is set to embarce Darker Tones.
Automation Sensation
We check out some of the latest gadgets in the year
homes got 'smart'.
Stuff the Turkey
Are you getting a little tired of the old bird? Check out
how the rest of the world does Christmas dinner.
Pay It Forward
It's easier than ever to do your bit for charity this
Christmas, all it takes is a little good will.
3

4

ELCOME TO THE FINAL VIEW
FOR 2016.
With the year that brought us Brexit,
a new American President & Pokemon
Go! We also must remember that
March saw the launch of the new
Fabric Box, Sunwood introduced
several new colours to the Fauxwood
range and Santa Fe brought a stylish
presentation box to showcase the
latest collection. We hope you have
loved these additions as much as we
have enjoyed launching them!
As we look ahead to 2017, this edition
of The View provides some insight
into projected trends – get ready to
embrace metallic mania! Along with
modern metals, we take a look at the
must have home technology gadgets
for 2017, which are sure to ease
everyday life! Not only focusing on
the home, this is the year to focus on
you – we provide some tips and tricks
for creating the perfect environment
to escape and relax.
Embracing all things new, we also take
a look at alternative places to spend
Christmas across the UK and Ireland
and discover how Christmas dinner
is celebrated around the world – with
these ideas you might even think
about breaking tradition!
We look forward to 2017 and our
continued journey with you all! We
hope you have a very Merry Christmas
and wish you a prosperous New Year!
THE DECORA TEAM
5

Embracing the digital
world is The Fabric Box.
With presence on Twitter,
Facebook and Instagram in
addition to an online blog,
The Fabric Box intertwines
digital marketing into the
marketing mix for a smarter
marketing approach.
Frame with a flourish: Smaller details such as
window dressigns are key to finishing off a
new kitchen space. These Sephora roller blinds
in Sky, which depicts ferns against a dusky
plain backdrop, are new from The Fabric Box.
Screen Idol: These made to measure sliding
panels certainly fit the bill when it comes to
stylish screening & we’ve fallen head over
heels for this Splash Divine & Tango
feature wall.
6
A classic colour scheme: Black and white is on trend
both in fashion and homeware. Sally Chamley, founder
of Black Orchid Interiors, says: ‘A touch of black can add
structure to a room scheme. With white, it looks clean
and sophisticated.’

Social media generates a huge amount
of data about your customers in real
time. Every day there are over 500 million
Tweets, 4.5 billion Likes on Facebook, and
95 million photos and videos uploaded
to Instagram. Behind these staggering
numbers is a wealth of information about
your customers—who they are, what they
like, and how they feel about your brand.
Rosa Calico
Farah Duck Egg
Through daily active
engagement and social
listening, you can gather
relevant customer data
and use that information
to make smarter business
decisions. With Hootsuite
Insights, for example, you
can gather information
across all your social
networks in real time—
allowing you to gauge
customer sentiment, find the
conversations happening
around your brand, and run
real-time reports.
Grace Moonstone
7

• EASY USER INTERFACE & STEP BY STEP
ORDERING PROCESS.
• DESIGN SHUTTER ONLINE: SHUTTER
DIAGRAMS CAN BE PRINTED DIRECTLY
FROM THE SITE.
• TECHNICAL DRAWINGS CAN BE PRINTED
OFF THE SYSTEM.
• ORDER BAY WINDOWS: ORDER UP TO
6 BAY SECTIONS.
• EFFICIENT ORDER PROCESS: ORDERS
SENT DIRECT TO FACTORY.
• TRACK PROGRESS OF CUSTOMER ORDERS.
8
SANTAFESHUTTERS.CO.UK

SANTAFESHUTTERS.CO.UK
9

CHRISTMAS JUST ISN’T
CHRISTMAS WITHOUT SOME
RED! FROM MARKS AND
SPENCER’S CHRISTMAS
#WITHLOVE CAMPAIGN TO
STARBUCKS RED HOLIDAY
CUPS AND OF COURSE COCA
COLA’S RED TRUCK, THE
CLASSIC CHRISTMAS RED IS
BEING EMBRACED!
Starbuck’s new Christmas cups
10

Not just for Christmas, a red and white
colour scheme can be used all year
through to make a statement. Pure and
serene, crisp whites can be combined with
red for a simple yet luxuriously energetic
look. Nera Scarlet is the perfect addition
to such a design.
Mark’s & Spencers
Mrs Claus Campaign
Feeding the Christmas appetite, red is
the perfect choice for a kitchen diner
with its proven quality of stimulating
one’s appetite. This makes Vitra Flame
the perfect shade for a family dinner
environment.
Nera Scarlet
Vitra Flame
Alumitex Primary Red
Warming and welcoming this traditional
Christmas colour is perfect for creating
that fuzzy feeling in a home design.
Mixing Christmas crimson with a leafy
metallic, Satina can be used to add a
touch of magic sparkle all year around.
Not just for creating a homely feel, red
can also be used to add confidence
and flair. Bold and delightful, Mezza
embraces a hot red and quirky design
for a unique touch.
Truly embracing the Christmas spirit,
Alumitex’s dramatic Primary Red adds
glamour, spice (and all things nice!).
Fused into a black and white design the
true beauty of its metallic tone
is enhanced.
Mezza Lava
11

12

Within interior design, a growing trend has developed over time
– Escapism. People are designing areas within their home where
they can go to decompress and disconnect from electronics
in a setting that is soothing and relaxing for them. With social
media being at the forefront of everything, many people want
to be able to escape from the pace of everyday life. The desire
to create small nooks solely designed for relaxation is something
that can be easily achieved without lengthy renovation. The
colours used to create your ‘safe’ place can be anything you
want. Pastel hues evoke openness and relaxation. They are
considered relieving and soothing. The Farah range within The
Fabric Box collection is inspired by the Japanese cherry blossom
tree, the delicate detail and pastel colours brings a sense of zen
to any room. Blue is a colour which projects a sense of calm and
tranquillity increases creativity and spirituality. Sephora Sky has
a soft delicate fern which evokes relaxing while Rosa Mineral has
an elegant design that could captive your imagination. Another
E S C A P I S M
trend which will work hand in hand with the trend is the colour
dark green. This colour adds depth and can bring the colours
from the outdoors inside. The dark green can be complimented
by natural wood tones such as Sunwood Beech and Chestnut
or Timberlux Walnut. Soft cloth inspired fabrics from The Fabric
Box collection such as Costello Stone will complement the dark
green while adding texture and a sense of luxury to the serene
environment. Technology, for the most part, is one of the greatest
creations in our generation. Tech-filled homes certainly aren’t
going anywhere, but more and more families are opting to keep
their family rooms unplugged in order to facilitate more family
time. If you have noticed that your family have begun to drift
apart due to the amount of technology in your home, it may be
time to re-evaluate the impact it has on your life. Minor changes
within the home can help bring the family together by making
certain areas more appealing, inviting and relaxing.
13

14

THIS YEAR SAW THE
EXPANSION OF THE
SUNWOOD FAUXWOOD
COLLECTION, WITH
6 NEW COLOURS
INTRODUCED TO
THE EXISTING
RANGE. EMULATING
A SOPHISTICATED
WOOD GRAIN OR
A CONTEMPORARY
SMOOTH FINISH, FAUX
WOOD BLINDS ARE NOW
AVAILABLE IN 8 COLOUR
OPTIONS RANGING FROM
WHITE TO A RICH DARK
BROWN WOOD GRAIN.
Crafted using high quality PVC,
Sunwood Fauxwood blinds meet the
demands of consumers who want
to introduce elements of nature and
wood to every part of their home.
The fine grain re-creates the warm,
homely effect of natural wood. The
durability and versatility of PVC
enables a faux wood blind to be the
perfect window covering for areas
of high moisture content such as
kitchens and bathrooms. The highquality
PVC absorbs less moisture
which means the slat will not warp,
yet still retaining the natural look.
The new Sunwood Fauxwood colours
include a rich warm cream, Linara
available in both flat and finegrain;
Stratus, a warm grey wood grain is
the ‘must-have’ colour in any room
as it compliments many colour
schemes. Four other wood tones
finish the palette ranging from Desert
Oak, perfect accompaniment to
oak flooring and furniture to Callo,
a dark rich grain which can create
a sophisticated modern look when
mixed with a clean white interior.
The Sunwood Fauxwood collection
can also be enriched by adding tapes
to the blinds. The option to choose
flatweave tapes will allow you to add
a more refined look on your blind
and help you tie in with your current
interior trends.
The Sunwood Collection now
totals 38 colours and wood tones
that will truly enhance and further
strengthen the Sunwood brand as
one of the most comprehensive and
competitively priced wood venetian
ranges in the market.
15

AND THE
WINNER IS
Competition was fierce
as customers tapped into
their creative sides to
produce an eclectic mix of
retail displays. The Final
selection was eventually
narrowed down to four
possible winners.
SIMPLY BLINDS
Each of the four finalists clearly grasped
the conceptual theme of the competition,
with a theme / message evident to support
the visual element to each of the displays.
Blinds 2000 creation of clothing from The
Fabrics Box collection delved into the
made to measure theme of The Fabric Box,
while Amber blinds chose to make a visual
statement with a monochrome display with
the eye-catching Mezza as the centre piece.
M&S Blinds Belfast’s, colourful paint pots
have created a splash of interest with
passing trade. Siobhan from M&S Blinds
commented “we have received great
feedback from customers, it has drawn
them instore and created a buzz around
the collection”
Trailored:
A strong concept
Genius use of the
Fabric Box accessories
& materials
16
Eye catching & colourful
merchandise display

AMBER BLINDS
The judges felt that the winning display
showed a great understanding of the
conceptual theme, combining The Fabric
Box’s recognisable green branding through
the choice of product and by utilising props
to capsulate The Fabric Boxes ability to be
tailored to individual consumer needs.
The mixture of contrasting colour on display
falls in line with a key merchandising theory
that states that “A mixture of colours to create
a contrasting background to the products
on display can have a high recall rate by
consumers”. The judges loved the visual
“tailored” message created with the 89mm
vertical dress. Overall the visual elements
combined with the written message to create
an eye-catching conceptual display.
As noted many times the
power of the window display
cannot be underestimated.
The window display is the
first physical interaction
a potential consumer has
with a brand, it provides
an understanding of what
goods are sold in store as
well as communicating
the brand image and how
it is distinguished from
competitors.
BLINDS 2000
A study of the pharmacy and
beauty retailer Boots, found
that products introduced in a
window display increases the
sales of those products and
even help with increasing the
sales of products which have
low sales. Overall, stores
who had a window display
had a positive increase in
sales compared to those
who did not. Entrants to The
Fabric Box window dressing
competition have seen the
impact on their business
and with the increased
interaction with consumers.
M&S BLINDS BELFAST
17

18

19

THIS YEAR THE HOME DÉCOR, FASHION AND BEAUTY
INDUSTRIES HAVE BEEN MAD FOR METALLICS. FROM
COPPER VASES TO GOLD DRESSES AND EVEN ROSE
GOLD TINTED HAIR, METALLICS HAVE BEEN A PROMINENT
FEATURE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR 2016!
The metallic trend has its roots in the
copper craze which began in 2015.
As popularity increased through 2016
we saw the addition of bronze, rose
gold and gold adding to the glamour
and warmth of existing copper tones.
Assisting in setting the trend was the
colour of the year choices made by
Pantone, the colour experts; Rose
Quartz set the culture for a rise in pastel
shades and warm metals. As such they
were introduced into the home in a
variety of ways from wallpaper, tiles
and flooring to accessories, appliances
and furniture.
Today, chrome taps meet copper baths,
ceramic tiles and wooden floors are
intertwined with rich metals, furniture
pieces infused with metal become
statement pieces and home furnishings
set out to dazzle. The Fabric Box
collection carries the love of metallic
through to window design with various
shimmering options; Reflection, Nina,
Treviso, Satina, Midas and Grace
utilise distinct metallic patterns whilst
Luxari, Albany, Sahara, Samba, Metz,
Diva and Linos incorporate a subtle
metallic sheen. With a range of options,
metallics can be used to not only create
an elegant glow in a room, but to also
add an edgy vibe for uncontrived
individualism. Suiting any scheme,
metallics can be used to emphasize any
theme from old-style glamour to exotic
bliss and modern minimalism.
Muted metals can be paired with
vintage patterns, neutral whites and
soft textiles for old-style glamour.
Grace from The Fabric Box collection
is perfect for this look with a baroque
floral design in shimmering metallic.
Additionally, Albany adds a beautiful
glow with an elegant brushed metallic
design. Stark golds and silvers can be
paired with cobalt blues, lime greens
and quirky patterns for exotic bliss.
Pefectly adding to such a design is
Reflection Olivine with a bright green
base and metallic pattern, Satina Vanilla
with wild gold leaves on a neutral base
or Treviso Citrine with its forest flair.
Additionally, subtle hints of gold and
copper can be used to create warm
sophistication within a modern design.
Reflection and Nina from The Fabric
Box collection add a homely touch to
a minimal design whilst the leathery
metallic sheen of Metz adds a little
touch of drama.
20

Satina vanilla Midas Vibe
Grace Moonstone
Reflection Antique
Metz Ivory
Nine Duck Egg
21

JANUARY
FEBRUARY
MARCH
APRIL
Thousands of hearts across
the world are simultaneously
broken when One Direction
announce their split.
At the 6th time of asking
Leonardo DiCaprio finally
wins his first Oscar for
‘The Revenant’.
England won the 6 Nations
and Grand Slam
World’s first baby born with
new “3 parent” technique. It’s
a boy by the way.
MAY
JUNE
JULY
AUGUST
Leicester City fight their
way to a historic fairy-tale
Premier League victory.
The Queen celebrated her
90th birthday while the UK
voted to leave the European
Union.
Pokemon Fever took over the
world, with people giving
up jobs to chase Pokemon
around the world
Team GB finish 2nd on
the medal table at the Rio
Olympic Games
SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
NOVEMBER
DECEMBER
Samsung had to recall
millions of phones as many
have started exploding while
the iPhone 7 was launched
The Great British Bake Off
appeared on the BBC for the
last time
Donald Trump is elected
President of the United States
of America, defeating Hillary
Clinton at the polls.
Santa sleeps in...

HOME OR AWAY
This Christmas?
CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS
FEATURE HEAVILY IN OUR
ANNUAL FESTIVITIES; WE
ALL HAVE THEM EVEN IF
WE THINK WE DON’T.
From the Christmas jumpers, the carrots
left out on Christmas Eve, champagne for
breakfast on Christmas Day to visiting
every family member over the festive
period. Why not step away from the norm
and do something totally different
this year! Leave the madness of the ‘big’
Christmas food shop and the stress of
cooking the turkey behind you, instead
have someone cater to your every need
while you spend quality time with your
family – after all isn’t that what Christmas
is about?
5 STAR LUXURY IN
IRELAND
Cork City’s premier 5-star hotel, Hayfield
Manor. Relax and enjoy the entire festive
season in tranquillity. Arrive to a reception
of warm mulled wine and the sound of
heart-warming Christmas carols. Children
will enjoy their time here as the hotel plan
little surprises to delight the junior guests
during their stay over the festive season.
They will relish all the fun and excitement of
decorating their very own Christmas tree in
the luxurious bedrooms, then on Christmas
Eve the little ones can gather around the cosy
fireside and enjoy some festive stories before
all the excitement of the arrival of Santa
Claus later that night.
24

FESTIVE
EDINBURGH
CASTLE RESORT
Carlowrie Castle is an alternative
way to spend Christmas.
Take in the breath-taking views
of the 32 acre grounds by taking
a stroll or sip on festive bubbles
while relaxing beside the open
fires. Christmas Eve the butler
will serve boozy mince pies while
listening to Christmas songs
around the decorative tree. Wake
up on Christmas morning with a
stocking full of goodies on your
door followed by a festive turkey
dinner with all the trimmings
then settle down to watch your
favourite classic movie.
CHRISTMAS IN
THE ENGLISH
COUNTRYSIDE
Re-enact the popular Christmas
movie ‘The Holiday’ and enjoy
Christmas in a secluded cottage in
the English countryside. Get away
from the hustle and bustle of the
big cities and explore the lovely
towns, villages and countryside
of the region, while visiting local
pubs and coffee shops to indulge
in a mulled cider or hot chocolate.
Stay in the Cotswolds and relax
this Christmas while enjoying
all the countryside has on offer,
take leisurely walks admiring
the landscape or retreat to one of
the many spas to enjoy some selfindulgent
pampering.
FESTIVE FUN
IN WALES
Located on the west coast of
Wales in Pembrokeshire, enjoy
an action-packed Christmas with
lots of festive fun to suit the whole
family. Blue Stone National Park
is ideal for families dreaming of a
traditional Christmas break,
while enjoying some actionpacked
fun such as rock climbing,
kayaking or simply relax and
watch the Christmas pantomime.
Whether you’re an outdoor
adrenaline chaser, a fanatic foodie
or a wound-up workaholic in need
of some winding down, you’ll find
your perfect adventure in Wales.
25

26
Social media is said to be the most powerful
form of marketing. With a few keystrokes and
the touch of button, you can target any market
in the world! True success, however is knowing
what content your market wants to see and
how to put it in front of their eyes…follow our
tips and tricks to help you get started!

USE THE POWER OF IMAGERY
With an average of 7,000 tweets per second, 48,000
Instagram posts per minute and 1.3 million posts per
minute on Facebook, the use of eye catching images is a
must! Take inspiration from Instagram user
@brightbazaar. With an impressive 161K Instagram
followers @brightbazaar uses a mix of images to appeal
to various personas…
USE THE POWER OF #HASHTAGS
Hashtags identify content on a specific topic and increase
the chance of it being found by the right people. To get
started simply use words that describe your content to
form hashtags within your post. A key point here is to
ensure you use words which are relevant to the topic of
your content. Twitter user @mikeahern_, author of the
blog Brit décor, embraces the power of hashtags to attract
people with an interest in home interiors; as a result his
following is growing and as it stands he has a total of
5.7K Twitter followers.
BUILD RELATIONSHIPS
As your social following increases it is important to
nurture the relationship with your potential customers
– enhancing trust through communication is key - speak
to your followers, ask questions and listen to what they
have to say! Home Interior blogger @lovechicliving is
not afraid to connect with others and openly engages
with her multitude of followers (10K Twitter followers
& 975K Pinterest followers!). She often poses questions
to entice conversation and always responds to their
comments. As a result she oozes likeability.
27

MODERN INTERIOR DESIGN TRENDS ARE IN A
STATE OF CONSTANT FLUX, ALTHOUGH VIBRANT
COLOUR SCHEMES ARE ALWAYS AT THE FORE
FRONT, A NEW TREND HAS TAKEN A DARK TURN
AWAY FROM THE CONVENTIONAL AND DARKER
SHADES ARE SET TO MAKE A HUGE IMPACT ON
FASHION AND INTERIOR DESIGN.
Dark stains can help make a statement in your
home, creating a bold and dramatic look. The
Timberlux range which includes darker shades like
Wenge and Walnut will add a sense of elegance to
any living space. The Fabric Box Collection picks
up on the grey trend with many of the top sellers
incorporating tones of grey in the designs, textures
and plains ranges.
If you’re worried the dark colour may make your
living space appear small, remember to pair your
dark stained woods with lighter accents of colour.
For example, light or white coloured walls, coloured
cushions or rugs can create the perfect balance
where the dark wood can become the focal point.
28
Sin Gloss 89mm

Bedrooms should be calming and
seductive spaces. This can be obtained
through a pallet of natural tones kept
interesting through a mix of textures
such as woods, velvets and silks.
Sunwood Fauxwood Acacia is an
example which is ideal in bedrooms
as it shows the fine grain of the wood
which will compliment light coloured
walls and accessories.
Smooth shiny textures such as
chrome lamps, glass tables or gloss
finishes reflect more light, these make
rooms such as kitchens or bathrooms
feel cooler and also add a sense of
modernity. The Alumitex range has a
variety of metallic or textured darker
options such as Orion and Rapture
Rebel available in 25mm slats which
will tick multiple design trends while
keeping your room modern and allow
you to move with changing trends
Mezza Noir
Blacks, browns and greys are colours
that will always be considered when
designing a home. Darker shades
create a dynamic and bold ambiance
in your home. Even in small spaces,
darker colours can give depth and
volume and won’t overpower a space
when used strategically. Be sure to
apply lighter shades such as light
greys or whites to floors or ceilings
to enhance the dark colours and
maximise the feeling of space.
Fauxwood Acacia
Orion
Toro Pewter
Henlow Shadow
During the winter months, we tend to
gravitate towards the darker, richer
tones. However, these colours can
last all year long if matched correctly.
Alessi Jet from The Fabric Box
collection is a subtle self-patterned
fabric that presents a feel of luxury
with the mix of matt and sheen Italian
yarns. This design would fit perfectly
in both a contemporary and classical
interior setting using whites and light
greys. Toro Pewter also allows you to
add warmth and texture to any room
with its subtle two tone leather effect
print, this easy wipe fabric makes it
ideal for kitchen areas.
The Fabric Box, Treviso Shadow will
bring a touch of nature inside with a
linear tree print. The Metallic base adds
a touch of sparkle!
Treviso Shadow
29

IN A TECHNOLOGY LED
WORLD, HOMES ARE
BECOMING ‘SMARTER’
WITH THE INTEGRATION OF
SMART DEVICES, APPS AND
GADGETS CREATED FOR
ALMOST ALL ELEMENTS OF
THE HOME. FROM REMOTE
CONTROL HEATING TO
AUTOMATIC LIGHTING,
MOTORISED BLINDS AND
EVEN VIRTUAL ASSISTANT’S,
LIFE CAN BE MADE EASIER.
ALL YOU NEED IS AN
INTERNET CONNECTION, WI-
FI ROUTER AND A MOBILE
DEVICE TO START BUILDING
YOUR DIGITAL HOME!
R7 Wireless 360°
Smart Speaker
by Samsung
EASY ENTERTAINMENT
Digital music services such
as Spotify and iTunes enable
your personal music library
to be carried in your pocket.
Wireless speakers perfectly
combine to allow music to be
streamed from your phone to
fill the air with your favourite
tracks. Multi-room audio
systems add to effortless
song control and minimal
home interior, making wireless
speakers the perfect choice
for easy entertainment.
SMART LIGHTING
‘The light switch is on your
phone!’ Motion detection,
audio recognition and remote
controlled lighting means the
light switch is always easy to
find. Most versatile, remote
controlled lighting allows you
to do more than just power
the lights on and off. Products
such as the Philips Hue
range also enable automatic
activation of lights with
inclusion of a timer in their
smartphone app.
Phillips Hue
by Phillips
30

THE PERFECT THERMOSTAT
Wi-Fi connected thermostat’s
not only enable remote control
heating, they also provide a
smarter way to maintain a
comfortable temperature in
your home. Using a dedicated
app, heating schedules can
be set up at the touch of a
button. Not only that, smart
thermostats learn how to heat
your home by working out
your heating patterns. Nest
Learning Thermostat offers
additional cost savings as it
adapts heating to the weather
outside, and Hive by British
Gas tracks your location and
adjusts the heating depending
upon whether you are leaving
or returning home.
Nest Learning
Thermostat
By Nest Labs
ULTIMATE PRIVACY
Motorised
venetian Blinds
by Sunwood
Motorised blinds provide
ultimate convenience in
maintaining privacy and
controlling natural light. Using
a remote control, blinds can
be tilted and lifted at the
touch of a button. Sunwood,
Timberlux and Alumitex
motorised blinds incorporate a
linked system for synonymous
control of all blinds in a room.
Discrete motors are used
to maintain the aesthetics
of a room, and to increase
convenience automatic
functionalities can be
included; light sensors can be
added so blinds automatically
tilt in periods of sunshine, and
timer units can be added to
raise and lower blinds at set
times – this offers increased
security as blinds can be set
to raise or tilt whilst you are
on vacation to make it look
like you are home!
VIRTUAL ASSISTANT
Streaming music, setting a
timer or ordering a takeaway?
Devices such as the Amazon
Echo allow you to complete
a multitude of tasks without
having to lift a finger. Speech
recognition enables you to
simply ask for what you need,
and wireless speakers mean
you get an answer! As the hub
of complete home integration,
the Amazon Echo can also
be integrated with many
other smart systems; simply
download third party “skills”
(apps) such as Philips Hue
lights or the Nest thermostat
to power your lighting and
heating in one sentence!
Echo by
Amazon
31

It’s the most wonderful
time of the year, but
have you ever stopped to
wonder what Christmas
is like around the world?
For us, there is no better feeling than
tucking into a turkey dinner that has
more than likely been on our minds all
day. It’s a part of Christmas that brings
everyone together and helps keep you in
the Christmas spirit.
As we celebrate Christmas in the Winter
season, sitting down to a warm Turkey
dinner always gives you that feel-good
feeling. However, other parts of the world
tend to find themselves celebrating the
Christmas season in the sun. With a
turkey dinner not looking so appealing
look at what some countries class as a
‘traditional’ Christmas dinner!
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In Italy, you won’t find the same
Christmas dinner on every table. Each
region of Italy has their own traditions.
The first course is either broth or pasta
followed by a second course generally
based on meat or fish.
Christmas Eve is when the main meal
is eaten which includes all of Sweden’s
classic dishes, such as, Christmas ham,
pork sausage, an egg and anchovy
mixture (gubbröra), herring salad,
pickled herring, home-made liver pâté,
wort-flavoured rye bread (vörtbröd),
potatoes and a special fish dish, lutfisk.
3.6 million Japanese households celebrate
the Christmas holidays with a takeaway
from KFC. This food trend started back in
the 1970’s and has continued to grow in
popularity ever since.
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PAY IT FORWARD DAY
ON THE 27TH APRIL
2017 IS WHEN PEOPLE
WILL BE INVITED TO
JOIN A WORLDWIDE
MOVEMENT IN
PERFORMING RANDOM
ACTS OF KINDNESS TO
3 OR MORE PEOPLE AND
ASKING THOSE PEOPLE
TO DO THE SAME.
FOR THIS YEAR’S
PAY IT FORWARD,
THE AIM IS TO GET
OVER 10 MILLION
ACTS OF KINDNESS
AROUND THE
WORLD.
You might be thinking why just one
day, should we not be kind to people
every day? Of course, the answer is
yes, however Pay It Forward Day is
giving people that little reminder of how
important and empowering it is to be
kind to others. Why not try out some of
these different ways in which you can
get involved in Pay It Forward Day:
• Donate to a charity.
• Buy someone at work a cup of coffee
• Hold the door open for someone.
• If someone you love likes something,
give it to them when they least
expect it.
• Compliment someone who deserves
it, or doesn’t. Remember, it’s
about charity.
“BUY A MEAL FOR A
HOMELESS MAN”.
A girl set a £10 note in the street with a
note that said: ‘Hi! This £10 is for you: I’d
like you to pay it forward. Buy a meal for
a homeless man, plant a tree, whatever
strikes you.’ She left her email address
on the note and told the person who
found it to email her and tell her what
they did.
THINK ABOUT PUTTING
SOME MONEY DOWN
FOR A PENDING COFFEE
In a small coffee shop two customers
arrived. ‘’5 coffees, 2 for us’ they said.
They paid for 5 but only drank two.
A poor man enters the shop. With a soft
voice, he asks ‘Do you have any pending
coffee?’ So, what’s a pending coffee?
People pay in anticipation for the coffees
and even meals for others who can’t.
A HOMELESS MAN GAVE STUDENT
DOMINIQUE HARRISON-BENTZEN
HIS LAST £3 SO THAT SHE COULD
GET HOME. SHE THEN RAISED OVER
£21,000 FOR THE HOMELESS MAN
AS HE HELPED HER GET HOME SAFE.
‘My dad was a soldier. He’s
in heaven now’: Touching
note of thanks that the
eight-year-old son of a
dead Iraq veteran handed
to a soldier in a restaurant
along with $20 note.
Myles Eckert, aged eight
When thousands of
people were left without
electricity after hurricane
Sandy hit the East Coast
of the US. These People
allowed complete strangers
to charge their phones to
let their relatives know
they were alright.
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To see more amazing stories like this or to read more about Pay It Forward Day
go online to payitforwardday.com/get-involved

COLOURS | TEXTURES | DESIGNS
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