Today we're going back to the 1970s for some wallpaper inspiration. Yes, the swirly prints and big, graphic florals that you probably remember from your Mum and Dad's house are back.

If you're as crazy about wallpaper as we are then you may have already come across Mini Moderns, the most exciting new wallpaper and accessories company to have emerged in years. Set up by designers Keith Stephenson and Mark Hampshire, the company specialises in pattern. Their inspiration ranges from children's books to British holidays, producing patterns that are nostalgic but never twee.



Their latest range of wallpaper is called Darjeeling, and they say it offers "a kaleidoscope of cultural and design influences."



"We wanted to capture the '70s vibe of the wallpaper we'd see in our friends' houses when we were growing up," the duo explain. "Those patterns tapped into the 1970s fascination with all things Eastern."



The wallpaper is available in five colourways - Lido, Chalkhill Blue, Mustard, Harvest Orange and Concrete - and is printed in the UK.



They certainly take us back to the homes of our own childhoods, but would you be brave enough to decorate with them? We think they'd look great in a kitchen, kids' room or craft room. Our tip is to keep the furniture simple and classic to avoid a 1970s theme-look. Or go all-out and paper the ceiling. Your choice.

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Designer Wayne Hemingway is already a man with many strings to his bow. Fashion designer, festival curator and passionate advocate of affordable, well designed social housing. He's also a lover of all things retro, so we were excited to hear about his new interiors collaboration.

His latest homes collection is with wall mural specialists Surface View. Hemingway has designed a set of retro-inspired prints for the company, available either as past-to-wall murals or stretched canvases.






The designs are beautifully faithful to '50s modernism, but their bright colours and abstract patterns would look great in a contemporary kitchen or living room.







We especially love these tomato red chevrons. They'd look superb in a white gloss kitchen with some '50s accessories.



Designs in the Hemingway Collection start from £50 per sq meter at Surface View.

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Brrrrrr. As Arctic winds whip through the streets and with more snow on the way this weekend, it was good to get out and see a taste of spring last night. We were at the opening of fashion and homeware brand Toast's new shop in Marylebone High Street.

It was full of all the gorgeous bedlinen and rustic tableware that makes Toast a favourite of interiors stylists. Even better, it was packed to the ceiling with explosions of flowers.



The flowers were by young floristry duo Ellie and Anna of The Flower Appreciation Society. They had strung garlands high on the walls, created huge centrepieces for the tables, and were even on hand to make floral headdresses and buttonholes for guests.





We came away with lots of ideas that we plan to use in our own homes. The beer glasses stuffed with petals were cute, but the best of the night were the 1970s ceramic swans lining the windows, each one full of flowers.





They looked witty and pretty and we’ll be scouring charity shops and car boots to start our own swan collection pronto.

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“Half price cracked ice and miles and miles of carpet tiles. TVs, deep freeze and David Bowie LPs…”

Fans of Only Fools&Horses will recognise this list of dodgy merchandise from the show’s theme tune. And we saw all of this and more when we visited Del and Rodney’s front room. Their flat in Peckham’s Nelson Mandela House has been lovingly recreated for this year’s Ideal Home Show.



Doesn’t sound ideal to you? Well architect and presenter George Clarke has overseen a redesign of the bargain-filled bachelor pad, and we caught up with him at the show to hear about it. “I’m an ambassador for the Ideal Home Show and every year I get involved in refitting something,” George says. “This year I wanted to do something smaller and more affordable, as people are buying smaller apartments. So what better home to pick than Del Boy’s?”



George’s new design takes the same footprint as Del’s flat but tweaks the layout so the feel is more open-plan. It’s out with the swirly carpet and in with gloss white finishes and multi-functional furniture. The kitchen wall has been removed and pull-down beds allow space for guests. It certainly looks modern and comfortable, but we asked George if he didn’t still have a bit of affection for the 80s original?



“I love it,” he admits. “It plucks at my heart strings. You’ve got so many patterns and colours that it’s a mess, but it’s a powerful space. The humble little apartment was Del Boy’s castle. It was all tied up with his memories of his uncle Albert and the family being together. It proves that no matter how small it is, no matter what it looks like, home is a special place to be.”



We agree, and though the bamboo-print wallpaper of the original has been replaced in George’s version with a wallpaper mural of books, both spaces show the aspirational and inspiration power of design and decoration. We can just see Del palnning a few dodgy deals at his new pull-down desk, above.

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Heading to Earl's Court for the Ideal Home Show this weekend? We've taken the first day tour to bring you our pick of what to see and do while you're there.

Today was the opening day of the 2013 show, now in its 105th year. This year's show centrepieces include a garden designed for a prince and a revamp of everyone's favourite Peckham bachelor pad. We took a tour this morning and can't wait to share the show highlights with you.



On our whistle stop tour we had breakfast cooked for us by Aldo Zilli, in B&Q's show kitchen. He may not be serving up pancakes for all the show's guests, but he is giving four daily demonstrations, as well as judging the B&Q Bake Off on Easter Sunday.



We also got some time with George Clarke, who has redesigned the Peckham home of Del and Rodney Trotter for the 21st century. The display has both George's elegant contemporary scheme and a replica of the gaudy original. The details, down to boxes of dodgy gear to sell, were perfect. Anyone recognise this?



Elsewhere the Ideal Home magazine show home provides plenty of inspiration for the latest interiors trends. Each room has it's own identity, and we loved this 'British Boho' living room.



The garden area is also worth a visit, with a collection of gardens built inside the show for the first time. Each one has been designed by young gardeners from horticultural college, in a competition hosted by the Prince's Foundation. Our favourite was this quirky indoor-outdoor room.



We'll be back with more from George Clarke and Aldo Zilli next week. But if you are going to the show this weekend, have a great time.

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