We all have an idea of our dream home. Be it an upmarket penthouse or a mansion in the countryside, they all tend to have one thing in common – size.

We’d all love to simply have more space. Especially at this time of year, when we seem to accumulate endless miscellaneous objects from beach balls, to wedding favours, and random travel mementos. Having a giant home with plenty of storage would be ideal, but unfortunately it isn’t a reality for most of us.

That’s where Ziggiziggi comes in. With our featured products below, you can make your home feel more spacious and turn it into a haven of organised tidiness.

1) Mirrors

Mirrors not only make a room look double the size, but they can also make a room look larger by doubling up as a shelf or a cabinet to rid of your clutter.

We have a selection of bathroom mirrors that also double up as shelves.

For a contemporary style, go for the new Bevel Edge  Mirror & Shelf – click HERE to view on our website.

For a more natural style, try the Arena Bamboo Square Mirror Shelf – click HERE to view on our website.

Bevel Edge Mirror & Shelf

Arena Bamboo Square Mirror Shelf

2) Style up your cabinets

Get yourself a stylish cabinet and you’ll be desperate to fill it up!

Try our Dark Oak Domain Revolve 710 cabinet, which also doubles up as a mirror – click HERE to view on our website.

Dark Oak Domain Revolve 710

3) Quirky storage jars

Storage jars add character to a room and are great for holding your bits and bobs. For the kitchen, our storage jars and canisters are great for storing biscuits, utensils, tea bags, or whatever you fancy.

Try our red Wesco classic cookie box to add a splash of colour – click HERE to view on our website.

Wesco classic cookie box

And there we have it. 3 nifty tips to rid of clutter and make your home feel a little bit more spacious.

Our digital marketing assistant, Lydia Aaronson, has cooked up a delicious batch of homemade granola which we simply love.
It’s sweet, nutty, healthy, and looks fabulous in our Embossed Heart Glass Storage Jar!
Take a look:

Lydia’s Granola in our Glass Storage Jar

The ingredients that Lydia used were:

2 parts oats
1 part spelt flakes
1 part brown rice flakes
1 part mixed nuts and seeds of your choice (this granola contains pecans, hazelnuts, flaked almonds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds)
1/2 part melted coconut oil
1/2 part maple syrup or sweetener of your choice
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp cinnamon
Pinch of salt
Handful of dried cranberries (or dried fruit of your choice)

To make the granola, simply mix up all the ingredients (apart from the dried fruit), bake in the oven at 180 degrees Celsius for 20 mins, mixing the granola halfway. Leave to cool and then add the dried fruit at the end.

It’s hard to resist sneaking a taste whilst the granola is cooling down!

This recipe is so easy and is one of the best granolas that we have eaten. It makes for a really delicious breakfast or snack. It is also packed full of fibre, and low on saturated fat, salt and sugar. Lydia recommends pairing with some natural yoghurt and topping with berries.

Lydia’s granola topped with berries. We promise there is some yoghurt hiding under there too!

The best part of all is how pretty the granola looks in our storage jar. It is the perfect homely touch to any kitchen.

If you’d like to make your own version of Lydia’s granola, click on this LINK to our Embossed Heart Glass Storage Jar, which  looks fab when filled with the granola.

Our Embossed Heart Glass Storage Jar is excellent value at only £7.50!

Our Creative Director, Pamela Aaronson, has given us an exclusive insight into the world of hotels, revealing what’s on trend in hotel interior design right now.

We wouldn’t mind a hotel break here!
(Courtesy of www.travelplusstyle.com)

Giving us an inside look into the world of hotel design, Pamela has picked 6 top trends for 2016…

1) Nature
One important interior design trend for Hotels for 2016 is bringing nature inside, with the emphasis moving to natural materials such as stone accents, wood features and decorative plants; there has even been a rise in indoor ponds and waterfalls. Another way to blur the line between outside and inside is using floor-to-ceiling windows and large balconies. Floral patterned fabrics are also becoming increasingly popular and featuring in many textile ranges.

Add a subtle touch of nature with a bamboo bath mat

2) Texture and Colour
The mixing and matching of fabrics with contrasting textures is very current. For example, mixing faux fur with suede or velvet creates depths of texture.
The naturalistic design trend is cropping up again but this time with the ‘Nature Luxe’ theme – the combination of nature and metallics. This uses fabrics such as skins and hides and craft textures like knitted, woven and braided textiles and mixing them with metal to create a natural and luxurious design.

3) Authenticity with bespoke furniture
Hotels have become less of a temporary shelter for guests, whilst they explore new and exciting destinations, and more of a new and exciting destination in themselves. The shift in the way hotels are being chosen and used by customers has led to the need to make them stand out. A faceless room without personality will not give them the needed nudge to pick a hotel. How do you inject this personality into your hotel? As well as many other techniques, bespoke personalised furniture and interiors.
(Source: www.curtisfurniture.co.uk)

4) Rose Quartz and Serenity
Global colour authority Pantone surprised the design community by naming not one but two colours for the 2016 edition of its Colour of the Year forecast. The pastel pink Rose Quartz and powder blue Serenity may seem like a sugary sweet selection but according to Pantone, the pairing is in fact part of a more unilateral approach to colour—a commentary on the current societal movements toward gender equality and fluidity.
Following Pantone’s prediction, British wallpaper brand Graham & Brown’s 2016 forecast was full of dusty pinks and pale blues enlivened with warm metallic accents.

5) Warm metals
Particularly effective in the bathroom and kitchen space, rose gold, brass, copper and gold will continue to dominate in 2016. Golds and brass tones warm up a space, and reflective surfaces bounce light around a room. Using a few well-chosen pieces as accents helps to create an up market ambience in a room. According to London-based interior designer, Gemma Gordon-Duff of Gordon–Duff & Linton, it helps to pair these tones with raw, natural materials such as marble and wood. “Good quality materials like this are a great investment because they will never go out of style,” she advises.

Luxury Bathroom Collection

6) 70’s Vibes
1970s-inspired furnishings are set to make a comeback in 2016 according to New York-based hospitality designer and entrepreneur Stacy Garcia. “The relaxed, free-spirited nature of that era has been attractive to the fashion industry and has quickly moved towards interiors as well. Many design elements of the 70s were bold, raw and globally-fuelled, as a response to the changing social and political environment of that time.”
Fabrics, furnishings and decorative items are incorporating updated 70’s flair, with revivals of Eames designs, and other 70’s staples such as Parker Knoll and Ercol having a revival on the high street.

Next time you check in to a hotel, try and spot some of these interior design features!

Hopefully these trends can also inspire your interior design choices in your home this year.

This Chinese New Year, we can’t stop thinking about a dreamy mug of Chinese jasmine tea.

That’s why we’re featuring our set of 2 Stoneware Mugs as today’s featured product.

For only £12.50, these co-ordinating black and neutral coloured mugs are decorated with a contemporary tree design with a trendy, oriental style.

They are simply perfect if you fancy sipping down some tea this Chinese New Year.

In fact, when we were doing our research, we found out some pretty cool facts about Chinese jasmine tea…

• Did you know that during the Song Dynasty, Jasmine tea was mainly reserved for royalty?
• Jasmine tea reduces risk of heart attack and lowers cholesterol
• Jasmine tea can prevent diabetes and cancer
• Jasmine tea can ease joint and muscle pain
• Jasmine tea is proven to reduce stress!

So de-stress this Chinese New Year, with some hot Chinese jasmine tea in a trendy new mug.

Set of 2 Stoneware mugs.
By Galzone of Denmark

Buy them HERE.

We’ve cut prices by up to 40% on Koziol home accessories. Click Here to grab a bargain while stocks last

The Herby Brothers herb chopper isn’t just an adorable addition to your kitchen, but could be the key to a better life.

Herby brothers herb chopper

According to Best Health Magazine, the simple addition of a few herbs to our meals can give us 5 key health benefits.

1. The chemicals in ROSEMARY have been linked to faster and  more accurate cognitive performance.

2.  The chemical apigenin, found in PARSLEY, has been proven to prevent the growth of cancerous tumours in the body.

3. PEPPERMINT has been found to sooth the stomach.

4. The active ingredient in OREGANO can reduce inflammation in the body.

5. THYME is a definite superherb, containing antioxidants, vitamin A, vitamin C, and iron.

Thanks Best Health – you’ve enlightened us!

So how can we add more herbs to our diet?

To start, we find the easiest way to cook with more fresh herbs is to grow them yourself. For only a few pounds, grab yourself a herb pot which can sit on your kitchen windowsill and then you’ll never be short of herbs again! Or if you’re not the keenest gardener, then dried herbs can also do the trick and can stay in your cupboard for months.

Salad. We find that a sprinkle of herbs can go a long way in your salad, upping not just the nutritional content but the flavour.

Juice. If you’re into making juice, why not throw some herbs in. A healthy green juice can be made even better with a sprig of parsley or whatever herbs you fancy.

Ice cubes. Freezing your herbs in ice cubes is a great way to preserve them and they can be easily added when making a sauce or stew or soup.

Butter. Mixing herbs in with butter is a delicious way to add flavour and nutrition to your meals. Just rub the herb butter onto chicken or fish and you’ve got an easy, scrummy meal.

Tabbouleh – one of our favourite herby salads
(Photo courtesy of www.seriouseats.com)

So go and get creative with your herbs! And let us know your favourite herby recipes, tips or tricks.

And check out the Herby Brothers herb chopper HERE if you haven’t already, for quick and easy chopped herbs.

Our Clare Mackie cheese platter can create the perfect finishing touch for any dinner party, so inspired by our ‘The Cheese Board’ platter and knife, we’ve decided to write an article celebrating cheese. If the thought of cheese, biscuits, fruits, and chutneys makes you feel all gooey inside, then you’ll probably want to read this. For the real cheesy fans out there, cheeseboards are only the beginning. There are endless ways to enjoy our creamy, salty, tangy, delicious, melty, gooey, crumbly, dairy friend (okay, we like cheese). So read on for our top cheesy combos – all of which can be found on the product page for the Clare Mackie cheese platter and knife – click HERE to have a look.

Cheddar – Apple

Cheddar and apple are a timeless pair seen on many a cheeseboard. But if you’re a little adventurous, you can try it out in quirky recipes such as a grilled cheese and apple sandwich!

Mozzarella – Basil

Creamy mozzarella is seen countless times with basil – but that’s because it can’t be beaten. Pasta, chicken, pizza, tart, you name it, these two ingredients lift any dish. We even have a pot of basil growing on our kitchen windowsill because we can’t get enough of it with our mozzarella.

Goats – Caramelised onion

A sweet and salty duo to die for. Whether in a sandwich, a salad, or tart, goats cheese is raised to new heights with this sweet, golden accompaniment.

‘The Cheeseboard’ platter and knife by Clare Mackie

Feta – Watermelon

Feta and watermelon are two simple ingredients but together, they make something magical. Keep it simple in a salad with some mint.

Halloumi – Spice

Whilst we do love a halloumi kebab or salad, there’s something special about spicy, fragrant dishes which use halloumi. Try harissa spiced halloumi, or a cheesy Indian curry.

Brie – Cranberry

Brie and cranberry just screams out Christmas. It’s an unbeatable combination that takes us to times of festivity. The sweet and creamy combination is to die for when in a filo pastry tart or twist.

Camembert – Garlic

Camembert is amazing simply baked (check out our camembert baking dish if you’re also a fan!). But with garlic it is truly sensational. Try it in garlicy pasta dishes, garlicy vegetable soups or simply bake it and serve with crusty bread and slow roasted garlic.

Stilton – Beef

If you can see past the fact that stilton is blue, mouldy cheese (ew!), it can really add great flavour to your food. Stilton adds a rich salty flavour to beef recipes. Be it steak, pie, or a burger, it makes for a great sauce or topping.

Kitchens have a tendency to  get a bit smelly – Anything from the ingredients you cook with to an overstuffed bin can cause that stink.
Sounds familiar?
If it does we’d recommend trying one of our ‘Natures Friend’ scented candles. We’ve tried them at home and love them.
Not only do they help get rid of smells, they leave your kitchen with a lovely fresh scent.

Supplied in a handy tin with lid to keep them fresh, they come  in 3 natural fragrances that will burn for up to 35 hours.
That’s a lot of bad smells you can get rid of!

We’ve added some fab new coffee cups and mugs with some great  ’doggy’ designs including this Dachshund mug that will have a special appeal for all you dog lovers and in particular for anyone who owns a dachshund. As they come in gift boxes they’ll make a great present for anyone who enjoys their morning brew.

To see these new designs plus lots more cups, mugs and even the coasters to put them on, visit our coffee cup category

These kitchen storage containers look like they’re wearing the latest designer knitwear but in fact they’re made entirely from ceramic using an ingenious embossing technique that looks even better in the flesh than in a photo.
Ideal for tea, coffee, sugar or anything else you like to store in the kitchen, they’re the perfect way to give your kitchen a ‘fashion’ makeover.
They’re just in from our latest ‘fashionable’ supplier Beau & Elliott