http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/house-and-home/interiors/annie-deakin/?service=Rss http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/house-and-home/interiors/annie-deakin/wanted-interior-design-students-with-x-factor-1826347.html http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/house-and-home/interiors/annie-deakin/wanted-interior-design-students-with-x-factor-1826347.html ]]> <p> Budge over Simon Cowell, it is Ben de Lisi's moment and instead of budding singers, the talent on trial are aspiring interior designers. Launched this week, the UK's first major talent competition to find the country's next top interior designer has begun. De Lisi, a former mentor on Sky One's Project Catwalk and a celebrity favourite, is leading the panel of judges including Alex Proby, in-house interiors expert at property giant Grosvenor and Kate Kingston, from interior design firm Kingston Shaw. </p> Annie Deakin Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:42:29 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/house-and-home/interiors/annie-deakin/getting-lucky-at-auction-1822243.html http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/house-and-home/interiors/annie-deakin/getting-lucky-at-auction-1822243.html ]]> <p> Last week, we had "Friday the 13th", the alleged unluckiest day of the year and also the day that RCA Secret, the country’s biggest art lucky dip opened online and at RCA. The question of luck keeps following us around us this month; firstly the lottery jackpot winners, then the superstitious date and now the artistic gamble of sorts. </p> Annie Deakin Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:20:14 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/house-and-home/interiors/annie-deakin/have-a-bauble-this-christmas-1816438.html http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/house-and-home/interiors/annie-deakin/have-a-bauble-this-christmas-1816438.html ]]> <p> Today is a momentous day for baubles. The world's most expensive bauble, worth a cool £83,000 and peppered with 1,500 diamonds, will be unveiled this evening. The glittering sphere, which was made in a Hampshire village, is a sparkling indicator of how baubles have evolved over the years. Not so long ago, families chose to string up apples and nuts on their Christmas tree branches but the bestsellers of today show how times have changed. </p> Annie Deakin Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:37:48 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/house-and-home/interiors/annie-deakin/is-the-skull-trend-dead-or-alive-1811968.html http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/house-and-home/interiors/annie-deakin/is-the-skull-trend-dead-or-alive-1811968.html ]]> <p> Once relegated to heavy metal fans and bikers, the skull motif has truly nestled into the homes of the British middle classes. Ever since 2006, when <i>Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest </i>kicked off this disturbing skull trend, the macabre motif has run riot in fashion and the home. At the time, critics deemed the trend a fad but three years later, skulls remain a hot theme in the design world. </p> Annie Deakin Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:03:36 +0000