< Previous20 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYThe bedroom has long been one of the mostneglected spaces in one’s own home. Of course,it’s the room for resting, but how much time canyou honestly say you spend in there? The livingroom, conservatory or kitchen tends to get muchmore attention. But the bedroom is a versatilespace, one which is just begging for some loveand attention.A good bed is the cornerstone of anybedroom, and given there’s so many shapes,styles and sizes to pick from, it’s important toensure you select a bed that’s both right for youand your partner and for the space itself. There’sno good having a huge revolving bed if thereisn’t enough space to accommodate it.Aside from a wardrobe and perhaps a dresser,there are really no hard and fast rules about whatyou can and can’t have in the bedroom. Anottoman at the end of the bed is a nice addition,while a bookcase would look wonderful. Pottedplants would add an airiness, while a desk wouldbe pleasant with space permitting. Although inspiration can often be hard to find,we’ve gathered up some great pieces that wouldmake an impact in your own home. © Shutterstock/Stelmakh OxanaBeautifulbedrooms 1220-21_Layout 1 21/02/2018 10:27 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY21HOMES1) Incredibly functional but stylish, the top ofthis mango wood trunk from Swoon Editions ishand-painted in three shades of blue then lightlydistressed. It would be perfect at the end ofthe bed. 2) This unique 4 poster bed from the4You collection by Vox (and availablevia Cuckooland) is perfect for roomswere space is short, but you don’t wantto compromise on style. 3) Realised in white glass and rose gold,this dressing table from MY Furnitureoffers contemporary design withelegance and durability. Perfect for aman or woman. 4) This beautiful French style wardrobefrom The French Bedroom Co boastsexquisite detailing and is hand-carvedfrom solid mahogany before being hand-painted in a fawn grey with ivory accents. 5) This striking bed from VG New Trend offers Italiancraftsmanship at its finest, ensuring you’d have a statement piece for your room.The twin heart-shaped mirror headboard is striking, while the bed structure itself ismade from solid wood and covered in Rubelli velvet. 6) Masquerading as a simple, elegant mirror, this freestanding armoire from DomuBrands hides a cleverly concealed storage cabinet and jewellery holder. 7) This unique design via MY Furniture combines glamorous and industrial stylingfrom something truly unique. 34567FOR THATOLD FASHIONEDPERSONAL SERVICEBRIGG BEDSCome visit our showroom at Princes Street, Brigg, DN20 8HGTel: (01652) 651828 Email: briggbeds@hotmail.co.ukwww.briggbeds.co.uk10% OFFVOUCHER**OFFER TO BE USED ONLY ONCEPER CUSTOMERSUBJECT TO TERMS AND CONDITIONS20-21_Layout 1 21/02/2018 10:28 Page 222 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYHOMESCustomers are increasinglyshopping online, how has thisaffected furniture retail andwhat has Askews done to keepup with this trend?Well there is no doubt that onlineshopping has affected almost every sectorof retail, and the furniture industry is noexception. When we took over Askewsfour years ago, the business hadn’tpreviously promoted itself online at all, infact the store had no website to speak of,and little attempt had been made tokeep up with this shift because it simplyhadn’t been necessary as Askews hadbeen successfully ran on word of mouthand recommendations alone for over twodecades.When we took the helm in 2014,however, we could see that it wasimperative for the business to make aswift and coordinated fortification in thisarea and launch a broad online presencein order for us to keep up with moderntimes. Not only was a website neededbut also coverage on social mediaplatforms and search engines alike.Therefore our recent focus has been onpromoting what we have already beendoing well for years, in a whole new wayand to a new generation of shoppers.Our new website has recently gone live,and this coupled with our social mediapages on Facebook, Twitter andInstagram and a dedicated AskewsFurniture YouTube channel, we areadvertising in a new way to a newaudience and it is very exciting for us. All this having been said, the internet isno substitute for “bricks and mortar”retailers, who provide a valuable servicewhere you can visit and really get a feelfor what you’re paying for, as sadly alltoo often we have new customerswalking through our doors who havebeen burned by “buying blind” off theinternet and learned the hard way. Withthis in mind we are also in the process ofshifting over to as much UK madefurniture & upholstery as possible as wantto champion British products much in thesame way that we want customers to buylocally from us retailers still on the highstreet. More and more people areprioritising spending time intheir homes rather than goingout – what impact has this hadon the sales of sofas, beds andother interiors?This has definitely become moreapparent in the last couple of years as wehave seen an increase in sales, not onlyon the large ticket items such as bedsQ&AMark & Helen Lawrence, owners of Askew’s Furniture in Alford22-23_Layout 1 21/02/2018 10:30 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY23HOMESand sofas, but also with the occasionalitems too – lamps, mirrors, and curtainsare now purchased at the same time. Customers are choosing products thatsuit their personal lifestyle and oftenselect items based on what is trending atthat time, so we see their entire roomsets having a facelift from top to bottom.With people spending more time athome, they want to live, work, entertainand relax in a place that reflects theirindividuality and of late we have beenselling far more comfy “relaxed sit” sofas– as an example. What are the major trendstaking place in interior design?We are seeing a rise in rich pigments,bold painted pieces and warm solidwoods complimented with softeraccessories and fabrics. Three piece suites(sofa and two chairs) are less popularinstead being replaced by sofas and/oraccent chairs in an eclectic mix of fabricsand tones. Minimalism is being traded forwarm cosy spaces. Greys are still thepopular choice for many interiors, butbolder colours are set to steal the showthis year with braver choices to walls,furniture and accessories. Moody interiorsare more popular than ever with decadentNavy, striking Emerald Green and MustardYellow all key colours for 2018. The newcollections are now starting to trickle intostore. Keep an eye on our social mediapages for up to date ranges.As a family-run business basedin Alford for the last twentyfive years, you’ve survived therecession and come out theother side, how is Askewspositioned for the future?We believe very well indeed. We havebeen through many changes over the lastfew years since the retirement of John &Elsie Askew. There has been a completeover hall of the showroom andmodernisation of all areas within thebusiness. We have increased our diversityof products and now have many moreaccessory lines such as Scented Candles,Curtains, & Throws etc. And we haveintroduced new furniture and upholsterythat we hope will appeal to youngergenerations. This shift has helped usenormously through the uncertain timesand has helped to push us forward. Wehave the highest of expectations for thecoming years and hope to grow andimprove the business further still. We planto install a customer lift in 2018 makingthe entire store wheelchair and pushchairaccessible, opening up all areas to allcustomers.And don’t forget we deliver, unpack,build (where necessary) and set up yourfurniture in your home. We can moveother furniture to a new spot and wedispose of all rubbish and even your oldfurniture too giving a truly unique serviceand leaving you with nothing to do butenjoy your new products. All of this isfree of charge so the prices you see instore, are what you pay. No hidden costs.What is the secret of Askewssuccess?This really boils down to a few simplethings that we feel passionately about –to offer a great customer service,products at excellent value for moneyand knowledgeable, friendly staff with aneasy going, non-pushy approach to sales.That’s how our founder John Askew did itand that’s the way we will always do it.It’s this approach that most internetbusinesses and large faceless chainfurniture stores struggle to offer.Whether you pop into our store,Facebook us or call us on the phone,you’ll always get the same staff respond,trained in the same way. Many of ourregular customers know us by first nameas we do them. For us it’s aboutaccountability. For us it’s personal. For more information, visitwww.askewsfurniture.co.ukor call 01507 462 936.22-23_Layout 1 21/02/2018 10:30 Page 224 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYARTISTIC LINCOLNSHIRE George GaleA child of the swinging sixties,George Gale hails from Nottinghamwhere he enjoyed a happyupbringing. Inspired by his dad – atalented artist in his own right –George followed a similar path andenlisted in art college. He leftcollege in the seventies at the heightof the Winter of Discontent, with theminers’ strikes and the three-dayworking week. Circumstance andpolitical turmoil forced George toput away his palette and focusinstead on finding work. The next few years held anumber of different jobs, a periodwhich has no doubt imbuedGeorge with a wealth of experiencethat’s such crucial fodder for thecreative mind. However, heeventually had an epiphany. Inorder to make good on his dreams,he needed to commit fully to hispassion for fine art and become afull-time artist. To this day, Georgesays he has never once regrettedmaking that decision. Art is an ongoing process,something George intimatelyunderstands. His creations havebeen in a constant state of evolutionsince 1989, drawing inspiration fromtrundles through the DerbyshireDales and visits to Cornwall. All ofthis has culminated in his uniqueand instantly appealing style. Hisworks boasts quirkiness by thebucket-load, helping him earnnotoriety and a loyal following. Quirky is definitely the right wordfor his oeuvre, which is full offlamboyance, psychedelic colourpalettes and a playful humour.There’s a sense of the fantastical too,a lovingly rendered caricature ofreality in a poppy style. But lookcloser and there’s genuine emotionalweight. Many of his pieces fill youwith optimism, others with humour,but some have an inexplicablepower to move the viewer. It mightbe that he has such a fundamentalunderstanding of colour and whatemotions it can evoke in the viewer,that he is able to convey suchfeeling. Conjuring humour insomeone is as potent a skill as beingable to impart a sense of mourningor longing, and George seems ableto do both.Christopher Bell Born in 1960, Christopher Bellwent on to read art andphotography at university whichprovided him the right environmentto develop his style and form. Thiscrucial period of experimentationlaid the groundwork for whateventually became his signatureVisions ofspringIt’s officially the beginning of spring which means Lincoln’sLittle Red Gallery has some blooming great art. Its diversecollection boasts original paintings to limited editions,ranging from the masters such as L.S. Lowry and AndyWarhol, to an array of local talent and contemporary artists,two of which feature in this month’s Artistic Lincolnshire. To see more of George’swork, visitwww.georgegale.co.uk.24-25_Layout 1 21/02/2018 10:30 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY25THE LITTLE REDGALLERYLove art? Then we’d love to meet you, please call in for a cup of tea and a chat.The Little Red Gallery are feeling ‘Love’ with a fantastic range of pieces and perfect gift ideas.8 Bailgate Lincoln LN1 3AE01522 5891348 St Mary’s Hill, Stamford, PE9 2DPart@thelittleredgallery.co.ukwww.thelittleredgallery.co.ukARTISTIC LINCOLNSHIRE style. Of course, this isn’t something thathappens overnight, instead taking yearsof hard work, practice and no shortamount of dedication. Even now, Christopher admits toconstant experimentation with his style,capturing that great truth of art – thatnothing is ever fixed or finished, thateverything is a constant process andcreativity is never still. The artworks wecreate are the spaces in between thismotion; glimpses of ourselves insnapshots of time given form. Christopher’s works reveal his biggestinspirations in colour and perspective. Hehas long been fascinated by both, whichhave inspired his lustrous backgrounds aswell as the striking colours that coalesceand startle within his work. His latestcollection is the apotheosis of thisfascination and offers vibrantexaggerations of the natural world andrural England. Achieving this effect, however, requiresmore than just paint and paper.Christopher’s love of glasswork pavedthe way in his approach, including hiscanny use of materials and medium. Heapplies tints and colours to both sides of aspecial iron free piece of toughened glassbefore he bakes them in an oven –sometimes for days at a time – while thepigments grow, fuse and merge. Thisallows the colours to blend togetherwhilst ensuring that none of the vibrancyis lost. In depicting the natural world, it’sonly fitting that Christopher’smethodology should revolve aroundtransformation. Christopher currently bides his time in astudio in rural Dorset which he shareswith his black Labradors, Daisy and Louie.The county’s harbours and waterscapescan be found in his latest efforts, and onecan only imagine what his visions ofLincolnshire would look like. 24-25_Layout 1 21/02/2018 10:30 Page 226 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYGARDENSIt’s highly likely that most of us wouldprobably have spent less time in thegarden than we’d have liked to this winterthanks to the big freeze. In fact, if youcould even see your plants and flowersunder the blanket of snow it would havebeen something. It wouldn’t besurprising, then, if many decided that aconservatory or orangery would be awelcome addition to their home.The first question is, inevitably, what’sAt this time of year, you might not want toventure out into the garden so much – but everthought about bringing the outdoors in with aconservatory or orangery?the difference? Well, orangeries are theoriginal, having first appeared on grandhouses in the seventeenth century tohouse, as the name would suggest,primarily citrus trees but also anincreasing number of plant specimensgathered by plant collectors for thearistocracy. These buildings were grandstructures, fitting in alongside the homesthey were part of – generally constructedin the classical style with large windowsand doors set between stone columns,with solid roofs.Throughout the centuries, many stylesand variations developed, materialschanged and glazed roofs wereintroduced, yet current interpretation ofan orangery still follows the classicaltradition. It may be constructed indifferent materials such as stone or timberframework, columns and entablatures, butroofs are still predominantly glazed.Get closer tothe gardenGet closer tothe garden26-29_Layout 1 21/02/2018 10:32 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY27GARDENSBy contrast, the conservatory, which reached itsheight of popularity during the Victorian age, has aless generous framework because the aim is to achieveas much light as possible, and they also tend to be alittle smaller. Yet again, the actual interpretation of aconservatory has changed on many occasions.Thriving indoorsAlthough many people use a conservatory as28 Á© Shutterstock / Lucy Clark© Vale Garden House© Vale Garden House26-29_Layout 1 21/02/2018 10:32 Page 2simply an extension of the home, andtreat it as they would any other room,others view it instead as a part of thegarden, taking advantage of its uniquecondition, and thus make it home to anumber of plants. Indeed, a wide varietyof species thrive in conservatoryconditions, so this means you canexperiment with more tender and exoticplants.But what are the best plants to grow ina conservatory or orangery? As JaneHindmarch of Vale Garden Houses ofGrantham points out, “If you’re planningto house a large number of plants in yourconservatory, you’re well advised in theearly stages of the project to think aboutsome of the plants’ requirements.”Sometimes your options when planningwhere a conservatory goes will be slightlylimited based on the size and shape ofyour house. However if there are optionsthen it’s worth considering what plantsyou want to grow. A south-facingconservatory will be subject to more direct28 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYGARDENSsunlight than any other direction. Sometender plants are prone to scorch and youmay need to budget for blinds if thiscould be a problem.Also in the design stages, allow foroptimum air change within the room.Plants require a lot of water and,particularly in the summer, it’s easy togenerate an uncomfortable humidatmosphere which may lead to mildewon paintwork and other adverse affectson the conservatory. Allow for goodventilation in the roof and low down,taking into account periods you aren’t athome. Automatic and thermostatic roofvents and “hit and miss” vents at thebottoms of doors will provide ventilationin your absence.A water supply within the conservatoryis very useful, particularly if you’reconsidering a water feature, or chose aplant watering system which can be preprogrammed to deliver water at set times.On the floor, avoid warm floor heating asthis will heat the plant pots and, at thesame time, their contents. Instead,choose a sensible floor covering whichwill not mind frequently getting wet andwill clean easily.If you’ve got a lot of plants in yourconservatory, plant staging can make fora really attractive feature, as canextending the window sill to form a moregenerous ledge to provide room for largerplants. Alternatively, internal ground levelor raised beds can be designed into theroom, although these will have to bedecided upon at the planning stage orit’ll be too late.The bonus of a conservatory is that youcan use it as an extension of your garden© Vale Garden House26-29_Layout 1 21/02/2018 10:32 Page 3LINCOLNSHIRETODAY29GARDENS© shutterstock.com / Monkey Business Images– don’t forget also that a conservatorywall, thanks to the heat, will provide amicroclimate on the outside so you cangrow tender plants up it, and link thehome and garden together. You can startgrowing peach trees indoors and movethem outside in the warmer weather,with added succulence created thanks tothe extra protection. When it’s a littlecooler in the conservatory, spring bulbssuch as narcissi, hyacinths and cyclamenwill make for an excellent use of thesurroundings.A conservatory or orangery can ensureyour garden can be enjoyed all yearround – whatever the weather.© Vale Garden House26-29_Layout 1 21/02/2018 10:33 Page 4Next >