Some 45 years ago pantone first introduced its colour matching system for us designers and as a result it’s now a worldwide industry standard for graphics and print. In later years, the company started producing lifestyle products such as stationery, bikes and those gorgeous mugs no self-respecting design studio would be without.

The latest addition to its weighty portfolio is somewhat of a grander scale, as Brussels now plays resident to The Pantone Hotel. Yes, I know a hotel!

Created by Belgian architect Olivier Hannaert and interior designer Michel Penneman the hotel boasts seven floors and 59 rooms and suites in a variety of colours and hues. Guests are invited to choose rooms based on their mood – each of which have stunning facilities and enviable views of the city. In fact the rooms even come with their own range of Pantone toiletries, talk about deep branding!

In addition there are meeting rooms,a stylish roof terrace and a bar when you can even order colour matched cocktails, such as the Daiquiri Green 12-0435.

Oh well, just as long as they can ensure my croissant is a scrummy PMS 144 and not a 447!

Woweeeeeee! I am not sure that the Fire Safety Officer that came to Purple Circle the other week would appove but I do  – these things are damn hot. They are produced by a french company called Fire Design and look fabulous, you can even create your own. But in honesty, when push comes to shove I am more likely to care about getting the hell out of there than thinking about how good I look weilding a cow hide extinguisher. But they did bring a smile to my face and therefore I’m favouring form over function (you know the rule – if it’s fabulous it’s in)….just to work out which one is foam and which is the CO2…..

Come on baby, light a fire!

Hurrah for Rebecca Proctor who has launched a book jam packed with design loveliness and the best bit is: you can buy it all with a clear concience! Its called ‘1000 New Eco Designs and Where to Find Them‘ and its full of stylish buys including the Seat of London cushion which is made from recylced bus and tube fabrics. I spotted these delights last year when in Covent Garden at the London Transport Museum store, the cushions are made from a fabric called Moquette and you can purchase your own bit of transport history by choosing from designs initally launched in 1937 through to 2007 and applying them to cubes, cushions, chairs and all manner of things.

So buy the book, buy the products, and sleep soundly at night.

Now I don’t want to come over all slushy but I do believe in love at first sight because every so often a piece of design hits you smack between the eyes and that’s what happend to me when I spotted this at the weekend. Minding my own business whilst visiting family in Wales I was trolling the streets of Cowbridge looking for the delectable when there it was – I stood rooted to the spot, through my hands up to the heavens and cried ‘I need this in my life’. So for you like minded folk I have the pleasure in telling you it’s from Sanderson and despite being fully aware that I am self-confessed 50s-holic, well you just can’t fault this design – it’s availiable in  wallaper, fabric and readymade cushions for those of us who like it easy.