Today our blog post is focusing on our beautiful old Hollywood glamour prints, but keep checking back as we have blog posts coming that will have more information on the rest of the range!

Swarovski Crystal Adorned Old Hollywood Glamour Prints

If the ladies in your life enjoy a touch of old Hollywood glamour then we have a few options that would be sure to put a smile on their face.

This gorgeous & iconic Audrey Hepburn image is from a famous scene in the world renowned film, Breakfast at Tiffany's.  This print features poured liquid art highlights on Audrey's glamorous attire and hand placed Swarovski crystals on her tiara and bracelet.  Your teenage daughter would adore this girly picture in her bedroom, whilst the lady of the household may be more inclined to put it in her dressing room or in pride of place on her living room wall.

Audrey Hepburn Swarovski Crystal Embellished Print

Marilyn Monroe really could do no wrong, could she?  The world renowned starlet gives off more personality than one woman should be allowed to possess!  In this famous image she stands above a subway grate in New York and allows her dress to billow up whilst photographers capture the moment on film.  Our unique take on it has poured liquid glass highlights on the detail of her dress and also Swarovski crystals hand placed throughout to help catch the light.

Marilyn Monroe Windswept Embellished Print

If you have enough wall space to take more than one image, then we have plenty of Marilyn Monroe to go around!  We have two different wall arts with similar pictures.  The first features one large image of Marilyn sitting down in a full skirt looking as glamorous and flirtatious as ever!  The hand poured liquid glass and Swarovski crystals really do add a sparkle to the images that a plain image cannot rival.

Marilyn Monroe Swarovski Crystal Embellished Print

The last offering we have in our old Hollywood glamour style is an eye catching print of four Marilyn Monroe pictures all taken at the same shoot but with her sitting in different poses in each one.  This wall art captures her personality perfectly as the star sits in different positions and plays with the camera.  As before, this piece features hand poured liquid glass highlights on Marilyn's dress & also Swarovski crystals placed throughout the image.

Marilyn Monroe Quad Swarovski Crystal Embellished Print

What more could a girl ask for?  If diamonds are her best friend then Swarovski crystals are the new, exciting girls in town!

Keep checking back to the PAGAZZI blog for more posts which will feature other styles in the range such as famous city scenes and hand painted mirror art.

We did our research and had a look at the current market to make sure that we were going to produce wall art pieces that would fit into your home and also reflect your personality.  It became clear that items that bring a smile to your face each and every time you looked at them was important!  We feature classic but exclusive wall art themes in the new range that may take you back to a time or place with good memories.  We can organise this exclusive wall art into 4 categories: Old Hollywood Glamour, Famous City Scenes, Moments in Time and Hand Painted Art.

Just like an episode of 'How It's Made' our buyers spent a few hours walking through the studio to get an understanding of the processes involved in creating all of these gorgeous one-off exclusive wall art pieces.  After the prints have gone through a hand framing process they are taken to a separate part of the studio to be finished with the poured liquid glass artwork and Swarovski crystals that add extra sparkle to each and every piece.

These are then packed in specially made & sourced packaging to ensure that they travel well and arrive with you in perfect condition.

Keep checking back to our Blog for more posts which will go into the detail of each of the four different types of wall art work - it might help making your decision on which one will take pride of place in your home!

Lisa Henfield is an exterior designer who spent a few years designing patio furniture covers for hotels along Las Vegas. She mostly writes about her design experiences, providing tips on outdoor accessories and furniture for both businesses and the average person's home.

While it may not seem like an exciting or diverse topic, awnings are a fascinating topic by the simple fact that there so many iterations and what that specific design of awning is used for. Sure you've got the awning attached to your local café but is that a concave, convex, a straight slope awning? Have you ever wondered what type of awning is typical for back patios or popular night clubs? This article will answer those concerns and at very least propagate a bit of knowledge that you were likely unfamiliar with.

There are two types of awnings: stationary and retractable. While probably seeming self-explanatory, there are some unique differences. These canopies are projections that overlook the outdoor entrance of a building. The support of a canopy consists of lightweight frame, usually bendable metal strips which act as the skeletal structure of this type of awning. These are by far the most common type of awning and widely used by cafes and restaurants.

Retractable awnings are versatile structures that, at the push of a switch, may extend to provide shade to customers or retract when the sun goes down. Automatic retractable awnings can be set to retract or extend at a specific time or time of day, as well as being equipped with sensory modules that detect sunlight. While a bit more expensive than a standard manual or automatic retractable awning, automatic retractable awnings can be programmed to function at any point during the day or night and are quite handy.

Stationary awnings are the most common form of awning for homeowners. This type of awning provides a degree of shelter, protecting homeowners and guests from rain, hail, and UV rays. Stationary awnings may be customized by shape, color, and style to best fit the exterior of the home, providing a stylish yet useful structure with multiple uses. Perhaps a homeowner desires covering the outdoor patio, windows, doorways, and balconies.

Perhaps you weren't aware of why awnings are so popular here in Australia, but hopefully this article shed a bit more light (pun intended) on the various reasons and rationales many Australians choose to utilize awnings for their home or business. On a business level, providing an awning covering the entrance way to your restaurant or office can say put forth a positive message that you care enough about the customer that you provide a bit of shelter before they step into your restaurant. Maybe you provide an elongated awning to shade customers sitting outside your restaurant or bar. Perhaps a bus stop is nearby with no overhead cover, so travelers are able to temporarily use the awning while waiting for transportation. Sure it may be simple, but awnings do much more than simply matching the walls of the building they are attached to.

Do you think an awning is something you would consider for your property? Given the climate that we are used to in the UK? Let is know in the comments or like us on Facebook and keep up to date with new product news and offers.

Choose Soothing Bedroom Colors and Decor

Colors have a measurable effect on our brain function, especially relating to our emotional states. This is why some colors feel more soothing than others do. Shades of blue, green and soft earth tones facilitate a relaxing environment. Use these colors for your bedroom walls, instead of sunny colors like yellow, orange, or red. You may wonder why colors matter since your eyes will be closed as you sleep. However, in the moments spent in your bedroom before sleep, you should feel relaxed and comfortable. Stimulating colors can keep the brain from relaxing.

In addition to color, bedroom decor should be calm and comforting. Keep the bright lamps and vibrant artwork for another room of the house. Bedroom decor should consist of serene photos or paintings and items that help your mind relax after a busy day.

Choose Better Window Treatments

Whether you live in the heart of a city or in the countryside, light can play a significant role in your sleep quality. Shades and curtains often do not block out enough light for good sleep. While this is the biggest issue for anyone who works late shifts and sleeps during the day, light is an issue for first shift workers as well. The light from the moon or from street lamps can signal the brain to awaken the body.

Instead of thin curtains or other inadequate window treatments, choose quality shutters, such as Riverview shutters. When closed, these block out far more light than most shades or curtains.

Remove Distracting Technology

Many people enjoy watching television right before bed. Once the show is over, however, turn the television off. Even if your eyes are closed and the set is not near you, the changing, flickering glow can disrupt your sleep. This also includes computer monitors. Shut down everything that may emit disruptive light while you are trying to sleep at night.

Sound can also become a source of sleep disruption. While the hum of a fan is soothing for many, the ticking of a clock is rarely so. Replace ticking clocks with digital clocks to cut out this common distraction.

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Whether you are moving into a new home or you feel it is time for a refresh in one or all of your rooms the colour you choose can have a lasting effect and is not a decision to be taken impulsively. Colour has an effect on the whole feel of the room; does it relax you? Does it make you feel at home? There are many considerations to be taken before you settle on your final colour choice.

Colour Considerations

You have to consider what surface you are painting as this will decide what type of paint and what tools you are going to require before you even get started. Many paint companies offer you a variety of finishes, consider how ‘high-usage’ is the room you painting? If it is a high traffic area such as a hallway or entrance you will need a paint that is hard wearing. If you are painting a kitchen or bathroom you will have to choose a paint that can withstand grease or humid conditions. There are several types of paint finishes available; flat/matte, satin, egg shell or low-lustre paints all the finish you pick is dependent on the room and the effect you want.

Light

Another important consideration when choosing a colour and finish of paint is light. Consider how light moves throughout your home during the day, what rooms are lit and at what time of day? The colour you select can depend upon which direction the rooms in your home face and the amount of daylight they receive each day.

If you have a North facing room which is notoriously difficult to bring light to them sometimes it is best not to fight nature and go with dark rich purple. Creamy neutrals and bright new whites will bounce and reflect as much light around the room as possible. Large mirrors placed above the fireplace on the focal wall of a dark living room will compliment your colour choices and bring light.

Another important consideration when it comes to colour choices and light is – what time of the day are you going to be using the room? If it is your living room or kitchen and you are going to be using it during the day then consider how colour appear in daylight. If however, you are decorating you dining room them consider how colours appear in the evening.

Websites such as Farrow and Ball, Lowes or Sanderson have helpful advice on colour guides and paint finishes.

You can also bring light into your home with Pagazzi - shop online easily and securely.

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A lot of people choose their homes based on how good they are going to be for entertaining guests. Some people might be in a new house a while before they decide to start hosting dinner parties and having people round for drinks.

Regardless of what you are looking for in a house, there are a few things to keep in mind when creating a space that’s great for entertaining.

The space

Although you can entertain anywhere in your house you need to think about where you can fit the most people. If you are planning a dinner party then you’ll only be able to invite as many people as your dining table can hold.

Kitchen

The kitchen is often a hive of activity during parties. People tend to congregate in kitchens because this is where the food and drink is. You can encourage this with lots of comfortable seating. An open plan kitchen-dining area can really draw in guests too. This sort of entertaining space is great for house parties as well as barbecues that need to be moved inside due to the weather.

If you do have a selection of drinks in the kitchen then the best way to get people to help themselves is with a bar area. A full bar with complete with tall bar stools and optics will certainly make your guests eager for your next party.

Pub stools from Bar Stools Warehouse are great for a rustic-looking kitchen with its own bar.

Dining room

If you are more the dinner party type then focus on the perfect dining room. Again, it’s best if you can have an open plan kitchen-dining area because you can still entertain your guests while you are preparing food or fetching drinks.

An extendable dining table will give you more options when it comes to hosting. If you don’t have a large dining room then a table that folds up quite small can be really handy. You can keep it small for evening meals but extend it when you have the guests to fill it.

Living room

Living rooms can be too cosy for parties and are a haven for people to fall asleep in. You have two options here: Either keep it bright and lively with great lighting and soft music or turn the lights down and the music up for a makeshift dance floor.

Some people want to keep guests out of the living areas of their houses. You can keep people in the kitchen, garden or conservatory by making sure that’s where the action is.

Food

You’ll need somewhere to serve food. For a dinner party this is simple but if you’ve got buffet food then you’re going to want an area where you can lay it all out.

The kitchen is the best place for this. If you have a long kitchen counter then the food and other bits and pieces can be laid out here. If you don’t want a crowd of people in your kitchen (perhaps it’s not big enough) then lay the food out on the dining table.

You could also have nibbles on other surfaces around the house.

Drinks

A bar area is the obvious solution as to where to store and show off your drinks. Especially if you have the full set up of bar stools, bar, optics and fridges. This isn’t always practical, though. Make people aware that they can help themselves to drinks from your fridge, or fill up a huge ice bucket with ice and leave bottles in there for people to take as and when they need a drink.

This isn’t a problem if you’re going to be serving drinks yourself but you will need a quiet area in which to prepare them.

Author bio

Jess Shanahan is a writer who loves to entertain. Her idea of a good party involves a lot of food, a few cocktails and great company.

Let us know what your favourite interior inspirations from around the world are either in the comments or on the Pagazzi Facebook page.

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Tired of coming home after work not to relax but to slave over a hot oven making dinner for yourself and your family? Stop, right now! We’ve searched high and low to bring you 10 of the very best home appliances that are designed to take the hard work out of cooking and general household tasks. Cooking needn’t be laborious as these clever and innovative appliances make it a breeze so release your inner Ramsey with one of these fantastic gadgets!

1. The Kuru-Kuru Nabe

The Kuru-Kuru Nabe is a self-stirring pan, invented by Japanese dentist Hideki Watanabe. It is uniquely designed with a sculptured base and sides that uses thermodynamic technology to automatically stir the contents in the pan when it is heated. Not only does it give you a break from stirring, it also provides an efficient and speedy way of cooking, not only that, but you don't have to worry about the pan boiling or spilling over as the 'whirlpool' generated by the pan compacts the foam.

2. The Keurig Brewing System

Get a perfect cup of coffee in an instant with the Keurig Brewing System. Available in a range of systems for your own needs, you can have a hot, fresh cup of tea, coffee or any beverage in under a minute. It can provide a fast, quiet and efficient way to brew your morning tea or coffee. No more waiting for the kettle to boil, which is perfect for those of who need a caffeine fix before you rush out to work in the morning, making the Keurig Brewing System the perfect addition to any kitchen.

3. Artisan Food Mixer

Whether you're a seasoned chef or prefer to do the bare minimum when it comes to cooking, the Artisan Food mixer does it all. The Artisan Food mixer takes out the preparation time by mixing practically everything you can think of; sauces, dough, cake mix, eggs, flour, in fact anything that requires mixing! Available in a variety of sizes, with different attachments, and prices to suit all budgets, the Artisan Food mixer is an all-encompassing product that is a necessity for any kitchen.

4. Built-in Microwave With A Grill

A Built-In Microwave with grill such as the Bosch HMT85GL53B Microwave not only prepares food quickly but with its built-in grill facility it can double up as a grill, cutting down cooking time by browning off food at the same time. It also features 3 automatic defrost programmes and 4 automatic cooking programmes allowing you to correctly time and cook your meals promptly. It has 2 memory settings which allow you to cook your favourite meals with a touch of a button. This is the microwave of the future!

5. Cuisinart Soup Maker

Peel, chop, fry, boil, blend, season, eat. Sound like a lot of work? Well The Cuisinart Soup Maker allows you to prepare fresh, delicious homemade soup in just 20 minutes! Its powerful blending facility can blend and sauté vegetables while simmering and boiling soup to your preferred consistency. It can also be used to make smoothies, sauces (hot and cold) and makes a hand ice crusher. Whilst it is a bit on the expensive side – it’s a small price to pay for a gadget that does so much! (Psst – soups and homemade sauces are a great way to sneak veggies into your kids tummies. They’ll never know!)

6. Russell Hobbs 18036 Bread Maker

You just can’t beat the smell of freshly baked bread in the morning. Don’t think you have time? Thinking again! The Russell Hobbs Breadmaker can make 1 lb., 1.6lb and 2.2lb loaves in an hour thanks to its ‘fast-bake’ function. You can make various kinds of breads, as the programmable settings allow you to bake not only a regular loaf, but also French, whole wheat, pizza dough and cake. The Breadmaker also enables you to custom-bake your crust to your preference – dark, medium or light. Its ‘delay-bake’ setting means you can set your bread to bake overnight and wake up in the morning to the smell of freshly baked bread.

7. Miele Washer Dryer

The Miele Washer Dryer is a two in one combination of a washing machine and tumble dryer. Especially useful for those with limited space in the kitchen and those with busy lifestyles who perhaps don’t have the time to do several loads of washing, they can simply set the washer dryer before they go out to work and come home and the washing is all done and dried. (All you need now is someone to fold it and put it away – time to call in some favours?)

8. Bosch Classixx Slimline Dishwasher

If you have a small kitchen, a slimline dishwasher is compact enough to fit into the most smallest of spaces. The Bosch Classixx Slimline dishwasher has a variety of washing settings even for the most lightly soiled crockery and cutlery, an adjustable top basket and a foldable plate rack. The ActiveWater hydraulic water system means no water wastage ensuring maximum performance for minimum consumption. The Bosch Classixx also uses a heat exchanger to dry thoroughly and hygienically.

9. Rangemaster French Door Style Fridge Freezer

The Rangemaster French Door Style Fridge Freezer comes with a very flexible four door capacity, ideal for making the most of the space available. The streamlined drink dispenser gives you free flowing filtered water, it also comes with a handy alarm setting to warn you when the fridge door has been left open.

10. Winware Robot Coupe Automatic Juicer J80 Ultra

The Winware Automatic Juicer is suitable for all vegetables, soft and hard and all varieties of fruits allowing convenient, easy and quick blending to make smoothies, juices and even sauces. The Winware has a powerful yet quiet motor with easy programmable settings allowing you to juice even the largest loads in the quickest time. This super speedy gadget just proves that fast food doesn't have to be unhealthy!

This guest post for the Pagazzi Blog was written by Lauren Roitman who works with Appliance City.

Do you  have any top tips on how best to make life a bit easier? Let us know in the comments below and don't forget to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Pantone has even declared emerald green their Colour of the Year for 2013, to the relief of many interior designers seeking a break from the intensity of last year's colour of choice - Tangerine Tango!

Shades of green are relaxing, and evoke feelings of peace and a sense of being close to nature which makes it the perfect colour for a spring makeover. The mentally rejuvenating properties of green make it a good choice of colour for the living room or the bedroom.

Emerald green in particular is a good choice for interior design because it is such a luxurious shade, giving a sense of wealth and elegance. Spicing up your existing decor with green accents is easy, and there are some beautiful shades of paint, and tiles, available for those that want to take their decor a little further.

Decorating With Emerald Green

Green is a powerful colour, and it's easy to over-do it if you use it for too many parts of the room. However, as an accent or a focal point, it works incredibly well. Deep greens are great to use for door colours, especially when complimented with patterned wallpapers that use just a splash of green.

For something a little more earthy and rugged, why not breathe a new lease of life into older furnishings? Taking old items and painted them a gorgeous emerald green can add a touch of shabby chic to the room.

If you're not sure whether emerald green is the best colour choice for you, then there are plenty of ways that you can try the look in your living room without the permanence of paint. Blinds, curtains, cushions and throws are all available in luscious green, and are perfect for adding a splash of colour to any living room.

For best results, pair this beautiful, elegant green hue with crisp whites, dramatic ebony, or neutral earthy shades.

Emerald green can even work well in the bathroom. Instead of opting for a deeper version of the shade, opt for a lighter version such as Pantone 13-0550TPX, or 15-0146TPX.

These lighter shades work well with red (especially tones towards the lighter, pinker end of the spectrum), and split complementary colours such as purple and orange. For a refreshing bathroom look that will leave you feeling energized from the moment you step out of the shower, use clean white and cream fixtures and fittings, and accessorise with these bold, contemporary colours.

Versatile and Powerful

It should be no surprise that a shade associated with growth, renewal and prosperity has been picked as the colour for 2013. Designers love to play up to the concerns and desires of the general population, and if there's one thing that most of us wish for today, it's a chance to get away from it all and recharge our batteries.

Green is a versatile colour which can be used to add elegance to any room. Choose cooling shades with blue undertones for the bedroom, and lighter, or lime greens to brighten up smaller spaces.

Article written by A. Elliott on behalf of Vibrant Doors.

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When it comes to decorating a room, there are so many possibilities available that it can all become a little overwhelming. Wallpaper or paint? Colourful or minimal? Will I still like it in six months? There are plenty of things to consider and it can almost make you want to step away from the paintbrush and stick with the peeling wallpaper a little while longer. One of the easiest ways to rejuvenate your home without the hassle is to incorporate an accent colour into a room. As a base, white or cream walls will always make a room feel clean and fresh and they create the perfect blank canvas to build upon. Choosing a colour to incorporate is easy too, it isn’t going to take over the entire room so it’s easier to be adventurous and play around; it can be a navy accent in the bathroom, or maybe a calming olive green in the bedroom, the choice is yours.

Accessories are a great non-committal way of bringing an accent colour into a room and they are relatively inexpensive compared to updating wallpaper and furniture. Cushions, rugs, and lighting, are all great ways of incorporating colour; check out our high gloss Easilite shades (link to red shade)– how great would that look in a crisp white kitchen paired with glossy red appliances? Even simple things like colour-coordinated flowers can bring life into the room and help tie the colour scheme together, plus they can be bought with pocket change.

If you’re feeling brave you could also paint an accent wall in your chosen colour. The wall opposite the door is often the best wall to paint and paired with a large mirror hung in the center it will give any room a great focal point and make it look instantly larger. Creating a room with a rich colour accent such as royal navy or charcoal grey is also particularly effective when aiming to create a high-end look for a fraction of the cost.

The great thing about having an accent colour in a room is that it is easily interchangeable; if you fancy varying the colour to go with the seasons then having just an accent wall to paint makes the job much easier than re-painting an entire room and by simply changing the accessories you can breathe a whole new lease of life into your home.

Accent colours in the home? What's your thoughts or do you have some advice which would be useful for our readers? Then let us know in the comments below or like and comment on the Pagazzi Facebook Page - we'd love to hear from you.

This guest post was submitted kindly by Kirsty if you'd like to read more of her work you will find her blog here - Bows and Belles.

One way of bringing light into the kitchen is through use of colour, both on your walls and work surfaces. Obviously lighter colours will reflect more light, whether that’s natural or artificial, and this all white Corian kitchen by Diane Berry shows just how much a blanket of white on the walls and worktops can really open up a room, even when the blinds are closed.

While white is an obvious winner when it comes to the kitchen, it is possible to use bright pops of deeper colours to bring light into this most functional of communal spaces. Feature walls, whether painted or wallpapered, and huge decal stickers have done this in kitchens for a long time, acting as a focal point of contrast with the rest of the room. If you’re not keen on the commitment of daubing an entire wall in one colour or pattern, using coloured cupboard doors, pictures or accessories/appliances can provide the same level of contrast in smaller amounts.

In terms of enhancing light, pale colours are clearly going to reflect well, but don’t be afraid to experiment with deeper colours too. Acid yellows and oranges, as well as bright blues and turquoises are great for reflecting light and will add real interest to your room.

A great way to add light to a room without taking up space is to integrate your lighting into worktops and cabinets. Under ­cabinet spotlights have been popular for many years, but with new technologies come plenty of new ideas and designs. Ben Rousseau’s kitchen extension has incorporated LED strip lighting underneath the worktop to pick out the cupboard detail and give the space an ethereal glow, even at night time. Using just a fraction of the electricity of incandescent bulbs and with a lifespan as much as fifty times longer, LED lighting is ultra ­green and can be incorporated into versatile Corian worktops with ease.

Another consideration when it comes to light in the kitchen is the finish of your work surfaces, units and flooring. High gloss has been taking a backseat to matt hand­painted kitchens lately, but if your kitchen is particularly small and/or lacking natural light a gloss finish might be what you need. Shiny tiles and laminate flooring can achieve the glossy look on a really tight budget and there are a whole range of work surface materials that glisten to choose from.

Finally, there are a couple of quick fixes that can be applied to your kitchen while you are deciding or saving for those longer term changes:

1.     Mirrors are a cheap and easy way to reflect light around the room. You could hang one large mirror or a series of smaller ones.

2.     It sounds like a silly thing but cleaning your windows regularly will ensure that the maximum amount of light can get through.

3. Plants add a bit of interest and can brighten up a room with a quick splash of green. Even adding a few small pots of live herbs to a windowsill can help.

Let us know what your favourite interior inspirations from around the world are either in the comments or on the Pagazzi Facebook page.

Have you seen our Bright Lights, Great Prices sale? We're cutting the price of some of our most popular lights by up to 80%!