We thought it would be interesting to look at your favourite, 5 star reviewed products. These reviews are sent in by customers who have purchased that item already and are their views and opinions on what our service was like, how delivery was, what the product was like and any other information that they felt was relevant to include.  We have chosen 10 of the most popular 5 star reviewed products and a selection of their most recent reviews…

Myakka is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Our summer sale starts Thursday 1^st July until the 25^th July 2010.  There is an amazing 30% off a selection of our best selling furniture, kilim rugs and soft furnishings, all of which is available online, through our mail order catalogue and at the Warehouse Outlet in Wincanton, Somerset.

Some of the best furniture bargains include: Mallani Open Sideboard was £499 now only £349 – saving a massive £150; Mallani Wardrobe was £499 now only £439; Portcullis Hall Cupboard was £289 now only £239; Khimsar Slat Shelf Coffee Table was £199 now only £149 along with many more pieces to add to your home.

Accessorise your home with perfect soft furnishings and kilim rugs.  Examples of the great offers include:  handmade patchwork footstools in fuchsia and purple were £39.95 now only £34.95; Rajpoot sofa-king bedspread, choose from 5 colours, was £34.95 now only £29.95; Pali Kilim rug (180×180cm)  was £139.95 now only £99.95.

As specialists in fair trade Indian furniture, Myakka offers a comprehensive range of exclusive furniture and home accessories and with such fantastic offers in the Summer Sale, there is a bargain to be had for every style of home.

As well as our Summer Sale, we are also offering up to 70% off all of customer returns and end of line furniture exclusively at our Warehouse Outlet in Wincanton, Somerset.  Doors open at 10am on Saturday 3^rd July and everything is sold on a first come, first served so arrive early to grab the best bargains!

Myakka is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Hallways are one of the most commonly overlooked rooms in the house. With first impressions crucial and the need to find your keys on the way out essential, hall furniture has to be both functional and decorative. With this is mind we have come up with our favourite pieces for the hall.

The Mallani Storage Seat has been designed specifically for the hallway with a depth of only 35cm it is perfect for narrow spaces. The storage seat includes a 100% natural cotton seat pad as well as four good sized storage compartments, ideal for shoes. 

If you are looking for somewhere safe for you to store your keys in the hall then a console table may be the ideal solution. The Petite Console is ideal for smaller spaces with two handy drawers to stow away your keys and a useful slatted shelf for shoes and bags, this unit is available as both a Mallani Petite Console  and Khimsar Petite Console. The Thakat range also features a Console Table in the same proportions  without the shelf but with classic turned legs, a feature of the this range.

If the Petite Consoles aren’t quite right, then the Mallani Large Console table may be your ideal solution.  With an extra drawer and shelf this piece oozes storage space. It is both taller and longer but still maintains the useful depth of 35cm so it won’t consume too much floor space. 

If you are looking for something to hide away some of your belongings then the Elephant Cupboard may be right up your street. With six intricately hand carved elephant panels this has been a favourite with customers for years. It has a useful fixed shelf for storage and is beautifully proportioned to fit neatly into any space.

If you want something with a cupboard and drawers then the Mallani Hallway Cupboard fits the bill. This unit has a tall cupboard and three drawers to keep all your belongings close to hand.

If you need somewhere specific to place your telephone then this Mallani Step Telephone table is ideal. This ‘L’ shaped unit is ideal for smaller spaces but doesn’t lack in storage capacity. A cupboard with a removable mid height shelf and an open shelf ideal for storing your telephone directories, this little unit has big potential.

If you are looking for something to display some precious possessions, the Mallani Mini Corner Bookcase could be your ideal solution. With two deep shelves and a useful cupboard this piece will fit snugly into the corner and hold all of your most prized belongings.

If you want a real show stopper in your hallway then the Portcullis Hall Cupboard may suit. With hand crafted portcullis carvings this is a real eye catcher. This classic Indian piece with decorative iron work and made of solid Sheesham wood it is sure to add a touch a drama to any hallway.

Whatever piece you want for your hall,  make sure it is going to fit and not take up too much space and there is enough room to allow people to make their way in and out of the house easily. Hall furniture needs to be strong and long lasting as it will get used everyday and in every way, so make sure it is hardwood and hardwearing.

Myakka is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

We all have the constant problem of where to store all of our bits and pieces. Fortunately we have come up with a list of our top ten space saving storage solutions. For any room in the house and for storing anything form keys to blankets we have the perfect storage solution for your home and all is fair trade, hardwood sheesham or acacia and all made to the highest standard in India  you really cant go wrong. 

1. Mallani Large Console Table –perfect for the hallway, always a place to put your house keys
2. Khimsar Stoarge Coffee Table – for all your TV paraphernalia and lounge goodies
3. Thakat Blanket Boxes – for anything and everything!
4. Mallani Glazed Dresser – perfect for displaying and hiding bits away
5. Elephant Cupboard – as decorative and it is useful
6. Khimsar Corner TV Unit – for your TV, digi box, DVDs…
7. Binary Box – with a deep box and useful drawer
8. Thakat Trunk Table – Can store a  massive amount and it’s a coffee table
9. Mallani Corner Bookcase – tucks neatly in the corner to store your books and ornaments
10. Mallani Storage Seat – take a seat in your hall and tuck your shoes away

See all of these items and more clever storage ideas at www.myakka.co.uk.

With all these ideas and many more clever ways of tidying your clutter away you can create the perfect sanctuary in your home.

Myakka is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Traditional carving techniques add an element of individuality to solid hardwood furniture. Many companies are striving to have ranges that are clinically consistent, avoiding the issues with varying quality that are often associated with handmade furniture pieces.

With advancements in furniture design it is now possible to have hand crafted individual features within a cabinet which is consistent in both dimensions and quality. The hand carved elements are brought into places where they are focal, rather than structural. By utilising clever design hand carving and other traditional craft skills are being saved from extinction.

An example of this can be found in one of Myakka’s best selling pieces the Thakat Elephant Cupboard where the doors are made up of six individually hand carved elephants. Produced in India following Fair Trade principles the solid Sheesham wood cupboards have been so popular they are being made into a range for 2010.

“The craftsman use traditional tools and techniques to hand carve the elephants into solid pieces of Sheesham wood. It is a skill we are helping retain by creating furniture that is really popular here in the UK. Fair Trade is even more powerful if you can create products that the UK market really want to buy,” commented Georgie Hopkins – Director, Myakka

The hand carved designs combine beautifully with the natural pattern of the timber to create unique pieces of furniture that are consistent in quality and operation.

“The way we meet with our stringent quality control and still add hand carved details into pieces is through the clever integration of man and machine. By using the machines in the production of the furniture carcases we can guarantee consistency in the dimensions of the pieces.” Commented Simon Whitehead – Director, Myakka

For more information images and a video about the process behind the production of the Thakat Elephant Cupboard please follow this address to Myakka’s blog:

http://furniture-home.myakka.co.uk/

Myakka is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

A trip around one of the biggest trade shows for the furniture industry left me aghast last month at the lack of interest, product lines or even marketing towards sustainable design or production.

In 4 halls of the NEC, I spotted one small sign for PEFC timber and just two companies selling products made with the planet in mind – one of those was a Portuguese company over here for the first time.

One other company handed out free bags to entrants advertising special ‘trade show’ deals. One such deal offered an upholstered dining chair covered in ‘eco leather’ selling at a trade price of £42.99! As a retailer of recycled leather and knowing the prices involved I was intrigued to find more. I spoke at length to one of the sales people who was surprisingly knowledgeable about the recycled leather he was selling. The product was indeed waste off-cuts from hides used in the tanning industry that were headed for landfill. This waste product was then shredded to form fibres, which were then bonded back together and given a PVC coating for durability. This is in fact how recycled leather is made and it has environmental credentials because it diverts a waste product from landfill. I enquired about the sales for this particular product. Recycled leather cannot be sold as ‘leather’ because it is classed as bonded fabric and so it has a lower price point. That is the reason for any sales made – i.e. lower price points!

Speaking later with the one FSC certified company in the whole show, they had received a great deal of interest. Their stand was suitably decorated with a large overhead hoarding depicting the great work that their chosen charity Tree Aid was doing in the third world. The FSC logo was clearly visible and many people stopped to ask about the bedroom ranges on offer. The reaction from the industry however was incredulity. What was this FSC logo all about? How do you expect to compete with prices that are so high? I can buy that bed frame for my shop for half the price in another hall! Once again price point is king!

Interestingly, when I spoke at length with the Portuguese company, whose business ethos was built around sustainable design and production, they informed me that on the Sunday, during public access, their stand had been extremely busy, but that interest had waned during the trade only days.

Perhaps it would be wise for those doing the purchasing in the furniture trade, to read up a little about how the products are made and the impact those products are having on the planet. In addition they might want to check if the consumers give a damn, I think they could be surprised.

Gecco Interiors Limited is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

In Association with Warren Evans and Supported by the FSC UK

8th – 21st February

Wood you… like to sleep with a clear conscience in a beautiful handcrafted wooden bed built from responsibly managed forests? Now you can this February with Feel Good Wood Fortnight.

Award winning bed and sleep specialist Warren Evans has launched the inaugural Feel Good Wood Fortnight, supported by the Forest Stewardship Council UK (FSC UK), a registered charity that promotes responsible management of the world’s forests.

The Fortnight, which runs from 8th-21st February, highlights the many benefits of buying responsible forestry products, and aims to encourage more consumers to invest in sustainable products for their home and beyond.

Here are just five reasons why you should look for the distinctive FSC logo when buying wooden products:

1. FSC certified forests are cared for and managed with consideration to people, wildlife and the environment, so you can buy with a clear conscience
2. The FSC protects the rights of all indigenous people who live and use the forest where the wood is harvested
3. The FSC is the only wood certification scheme in the world that is supported by major environmental charities including The Woodland Trust, the World Wildlife Fund and Greenpeace
4. All FSC certified wood is tracked from the forest to the store and carries the identifiable FSC symbol so consumers know that the wooden product they are investing in does not have a negative impact on the environment
5. Forest owners are committed to using only locally sourced labour, and to providing fair working conditions and a decent salary for all workers.

Warren Evans is proud to be the first bed maker in the UK to be FSC certified, having gained the prestigious certification for his handcrafted beds in 2007.

Zoe Robinson, Sustainable Development Manager at Warren Evans, says: “Since inception, Warren has ensured that the wood he uses does not have a negative impact on the environment. And as such, he works exclusively in FSC certified pine. We do hope that this event will become the first of many.”

Warren’s dedication to the environment and to his customers has earned him six influential awards including an Observer Ethical Award, a Sunday Times Best Green Companies Award, a BCE Award and most recently a Growing Business Award.

Rosie Teasdale, Deputy Director at the FSC UK, adds: “We are pleased to support this Feel Good Wood Fortnight, raising awareness of FSC and the importance of sourcing responsibly.  Consumers tend to associate the FSC logo with garden furniture more than household furniture and promotions such as these help to highlight the range of FSC products now available.”

Warren Evans’ official FSC number is SA-COC-1742.

www.warrenevans.com & www.fsc-uk.org

Warren Evans has triumphed at The Growing Business Awards 2009. The award winning bed retailer was named Green Business of the Year 2009.

The London-based bespoke bed maker business beat stiff competition from E-Stack, Good Energy, pall-Ex and Wiles Greenworld to win the Green Business of the Year category.

The Growing Business Awards, organised by Caspian Publishing, celebrates the best entrepreneurial and business talent in the UK. The awards are judged by leading business figures including Dragon’s Den star Theo Paphitis, John Caudwell, founder of Phones4U and Sir Andrew Cahn, chief executive of UKTI.

Warren Evans, founder and designer, is delighted at the win. He says: “It’s an honour to be named the greenest business in the UK. We are constantly looking at new and innovative ways to make the business as sustainable as possible. Over the past three years, we have invested in innovative low energy appliances for our workshop and our stores, working in conjunction with Envirowise, The Carbon Trust and Business Link. We’re thrilled to win this award.”

This is the third award this year for Warren Evans – earlier this year, they also picked up a Sunday Times Best Green Companies Award and an Observer Ethical Award.

Sustainability has been at the heart of Warren’s philosophy since he established the company over 30 years ago. And over the past three years, Warren has worked hard to ensure that measurable changes are made in store and to his team’s day-to-day working practices to minimise the impact that his business has on the environment. These include:

• Moving to a new and unique sustainable workshop, With help from an interest-free loan by the Carbon Trust, Warren was able to make this super green by purchasing environmentally friendly equipment including a bio-mass boiler and intelligent wood cutting machinery to minimise waste
• Consulting Government green body ‘Envirowise’ and government funded service Business Link for practical advice on efficiencies such as workflow, machinery and gaining staff support
• Avoiding packaging; Warren only wraps his beds and furniture in reusable blankets rather than cardboards or plastics, minimising unnecessary waste
• Signing up to pioneering carbon management schemes, including London Green500 and the 10:10 Initiative
• He is still the only bed maker in the UK to be officially certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, which means that all beds and furniture are made using wood from renewable sources 
• All staff uniforms are also fair-trade; Warren ensures that all t-shirts are made from organic cotton, while the fleeces are made from recycled material
• Only using recycled stationery, including envelopes made from elephant poo!

 This has resulted in:

• Office recycling increasing by 50%
• Water usage reduced by 38%
• Disposals reduced by 5%

 The awards ceremony was held on Thursday evening at the London Marriott Hotel, Grosvenor Square, London, with Warren Evans receiving the prize from award sponsors Stephen Pegge of high street bank Lloyds TSB and Julie Meyer of Ariadne Capital.

For interviews with Warren Evans or images please contact Sophia at PR4 on 020 7637 1237 or Sophia@pr4.com.

Warren Evans is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Gecco Interiors, a new online environmentally friendly interiors company has launched with a full collection of products for the home. In addition to being beautifully designed in mind, each of the products sold by Gecco also helps preserve the planet.

Founders Angie and James Kraft pride themselves on sourcing products
that are genuinely stylish but also environmentally friendly.
Passionate about green issues and sustainability in design, they have
sourced a range of home interiors products that all have green
credentials.

Each item sold online has been created by
entrepreneurs who have had the courage and vision to look at their
industry and to try to do things differently. This may come in the form
of taking timbers from derelict factories in India and turning them
into beautiful pieces of furniture, a four year long research project
into the use of stinging nettles in upholstery fabric, or it may even
be the massive financial investment in a purpose built factory in
Stoke-on-Trent, where broken ceramic pottery is crushed and turned into
new ceramic bathroom tiles.The team at Gecco Interiors sources only the
best products designed to appeal to stylish eco-conscious consumers.

The site is easily navigated and broken down into seven sections:

1. Furniture – beautifully handcrafted and made from reclaimed timber
2. Curtains and blinds – made to order and hand finished with exclusive soft organic bamboo lining
3. Floor coverings – made from recycled materials
4. Fabric – using leading edge, organic and sustainable textiles
5. Lighting – elegant collection of the most up-to-date energy efficient lighting
6. Wall coverings – FSC certified wallpapers with natural dyes and non-toxic paints
7. Accessories – perfect for adding the finishing touches to an eco-friendly design scheme

www.geccointeriors.co.uk

ITV’s popular show ‘60 Minute Makeover’ features fair trade Indian furniture.  With just 60 minutes to turn a home from drab to dazzling, Myakka’s British designed Indian solid wood furniture has proved a winner for the interior designers in seven episodes of the new series.

For those unfamiliar with the show, 60 Minute Makeover challenges top interior designers to update and upgrade the decor of three rooms in a house in just an hour (not including the all important tea break!), with work beginning and ending at the blow of a whistle.

Richard Randall’s transformation of Terry and Richard’s house in Surrey was aired on ITV on Monday 21^st September.  The two unsuspecting homeowners’ lounge looked fabulous with furniture from Myakka’s Khimsar range.  The lighter colour of the Acacia solid hardwood furniture combined with a cream suite from Harvey’s and oak wall decoration to create a relaxing and neutral ambience.  Perfect for Richard to unwind in preparation for one of Terry’s massages in her new treatment room!

Jackie and Chris spend all their time caring for their daughter in Swanley, Kent.  They were the unsuspecting recipients of a 60 Minute Makeover, an episode which was aired on 30^th September.  Interior designer Kathryn Rayward transformed Jackie and Chris’s home with furniture from Myakka’s sleek and contemporary Mallani range.  It just shows that great looking furniture can be good value, versatile and fair trade.

Georgie Hopkins, director for Myakka comments, “The interior designers have a tough job to complete the transformations in just an hour. We were delighted to have our furniture selected for seven of the 60 Minute Makeover shows.  It’s great exposure for our brand and encourages people to think about the sourcing of products in their home.”

The shows can be watched online through the ‘ITV Player’ for the coming weeks. See http://www.itv.com/ or http://www.myakka.co.uk/ for more information.