31st January 2012

Spring cleaning has come early at Homes & Dreams! Last week we decided to reorganise our category pages on the website to make it easier for our customers to find what they are looking for as over the next few months we will be increasing our ranges to offer a larger variety of products.

So now when a customer clicks on one of the main categories on the 'Home' page rather than having to scroll through all the products in that category they will now be able to choose which section they wish to view. We hope that this will make it easier for our customers to find just what they are looking for.

If you are having an early spring clean why not check out out new 'Utility & Boot Room' section. We'll be adding lots of new products over the next month ready for some serious spring cleaning!

3rd January 2012

Happy New Year!

It's that time of year when we have a clear out to make way for our lovely new ranges that will be arriving over the next few months! In order to make way for them we are having an end of line clearance sale so why not take a look and see if you can grab yourself a bargain!

7th November 2011

Have you seen the Homes & Dreams blog yet? To take a look and read about our upcoming news and reviews just click on the link in the side bar. Why not join our followers or like us on Facebook and be one of the first to hear about any sales or promotions. We look forward to seeing you there.

19th October 2011

This week we have been photographing our ranges of Country Christmas accessories and decorations in preperation for the website. We stocked up with mince pies, lit the candles, wrapped the presents (well empty boxes!).

Lantern & Candle Sets £8.95

Stags Head Decoration £3.75



Set of 6 Tags £3.95

 

Mistletoe Wreath £9.95

3rd October 2011

We have been busy lately sourcing a selection of original vintage kitchenware for the website. I have to admit to having a weakness for kitchenalia, there is something about the way it instantly adds character and a nostalgic look to a kitchen.

For me one thing that is sure to evoke a trip down memory lane is enamelware. Now I know that you can buy reproduction enamelware (we even have some on the website) but for me nothing beats the slightly shabby look of vintage enamelware. 

Enamelware is manufactured by fusing a thin layer of glass-like material on to a base of steel, iron or aluminium. The process - which takes its name from the Latin for glass, vitrum- is akin to the ancient method of making enamelled jewellery. But its widespread use for kitchen utensils dates from the 1840s following the introduction of a lead-free enamel with a china clay base as an alternative to tin for lining saucepans.

Compared with the heavy, coal-black iron pots and pans in use at the time, enamelware offered many advantages. It was smooth, light, and easy to clean. Soon, almost every item in the kitchen from flour bins and bread bins to fish slices, funnels, bowls and measuring jugs was manufactured in enamelled steel and exported all over the world.

So if you want to add a little character to your kitchen why not take a look at our range of nostalgic kitchenalia? Prices start at £5.00

13th September 2011

We have a busy week ahead here at Homes & Dreams as this weekend we shall holding a stall at the Nostell Priory Steam Fair. We have bags, brochures and products to pack and price lables to prepare!

At this annual event there will be all kinds of attractions within the beautiful setting of the National Trust's Nostell Priory.

22nd August 2011

We are pleased to announce that we are now stockists of a range of Creamore Mill hand crafted wooden products.

Creamore Mill is a design and wood turning workshop located in rural Shropshire, England. They create an innovative range of functional home and garden accessories which evoke traditional style.

Established in 1981, operations began in a ten foot square former wash house at the family’s previous home with a handful of tools and a wood lathe, and working locally sourced timber. Through this initial period a selection of designs came to the fore and developed the focus of the business.

Having soon run out of space the family moved to Creamore Mill which was formerly both a corn and wood mill dating back many generations. Taking on the Mill in a state of disrepair was a great opportunity, and the renovations carried out revived the Mills past association with woodworking and turning.

Seeing progress from design through to dispatch under one roof maintains the artisan approach of their business. All of the products are made using solid timber from sustainable sources and production waste is re-used and recycled.

Of the products that we now stock one of my personal favourites are these traditional Roller Towel Rails.

Although traditional in design they would suit both a country or contemporary kitchen and are made from solid oak with a beech roller. The roller towel holders come complete with a towel in a choice of red, blue or natural and cost £37.

Another great product and a must for any gardeners or dog walkers are these Wall Mounted Welly Racks.

Wall mounted racks free floor space and allow unhindered sweeping or vacuum cleaning. The turned pegs hold any size boot upside-down to prevent damp collecting inside.

Made from oak and available in 2 or 3-pair racks, the peg spacing is designed to mount multiple racks end-to-end, or one above the other to suit any size house or family. The three pair racks cost £35 and the two pair racks £27.50.

We hope that you like them as much as we do!

10th June 2011

Have you checked out our Facebook page yet? Why not 'like' us and be one of the first to get exclusive offers and news - we'd love to hear from you so why not pop by and say hello, all you have to do is click on the button in the side bar.

18th May 2011

Here at Homes & Dreams we understand how frustrating and time consuming it can be in locating unique items, and so this is why we are now offering our sourcing service.

We are pleased to announce that we are now stocking a range of lovely handmade kitchen textiles from Charlotte Macey.

Charlotte Macey Textiles is a small textile and homewares company based in the heart of the Cotswold countryside. Charlotte finds constant inspiration in everyday objects and these form the basis of her designs. Her illustrative stitch 'handwriting' depicts a menagerie of elongated and quirky items such as tea cups, wine glasses and boiled eggs.

Her range of textiles are entirely made by hand and she carefully sources quality cottons and linens from around the UK to use in her work.

The Charlotte Macey Textiles range can be found in the Country Kitchen Accessories section of the website.

3rd March 2011

Whilst browsing through April's edition of Period Living Magazine it was lovely to see our Vintage Wooden Shoe Lasts getting a mention.

If you are looking to borrow products for press, TV, film, catalogues, photo shoots or special events, we would be delighted to help, just contact Vicky Tipton at info@homesanddreams.co.uk with your requirements.

23rd February 2011

The other day a lovely customer called to ask about ways of displaying our vintage wooden shoe lasts and this got us thinking. After thinking of new ideas we came up with this.....

These hanging shoe lasts make an unusual wall decoration and can be hung with ribbon, twine or braid so that they co-ordinate with your room scheme. They are available now in the Vintage Home Accessories section and cost £15.00

10th February 2011

Its the time of year to have a spring clean and a bit of a sort out and thats just what we have been doing here at Homes and Dreams.

As we have been planning lots of exciting new ranges we have decided to have a sale to make way for all of the new stuff that will be arriving over the next few weeks. There are some great bargins to be found in our Spring Sale so why not take a look HERE.

2nd February 2011

We have just acquired our latest batch of vintage ginger beer bottles. These vintage bottles add a bygone touch to your home, they look great displayed just as they are or make a quirky vase for a few of your favourite flowers.

Ginger beer originated in England in the mid 1700s and was exported worldwide. This was made possible by the use of strong earthenware bottles that were sealed by a liquid and gas tight glaze known as 'Bristol glaze'. By the end of the 19th century ginger beer was being produced commercially in almost every town in the UK with there being more than 3,000 producers by 1935 - hence there being such a wide variety of these pictorial bottles.

The bottles will be introduced to our Vintage Home Accessories section throughout February.

24th January 2011

We love a party here at Homes & Dreams so we are pleased to announce the launch of our new Weddings & Parties range. There are lots of decorative accessories for your wedding reception or if your attending a wedding this year some great gift ideas for the Bride and Groom.

For those of you planning a summer wedding we shall be adding more vintage style wedding accessories to this range throughout the Spring so be sure to keep coming back and checking them out.