This week we meet Simon Brown, our newest recruit and get to know him a little bit better!

As Website Content Editor you spend a lot of time online (a lot!) – so tell us – what is your favourite website and why?

Easy, got to be Maria Popova's Brain Pickings. Insightfully playful with a great book section Maria put me onto BlexBolex! She does it for the love, makes no cheesy product references and doesn't try to sell herself or anything else.

School of Life and Art of Manliness are also worth a mention.

What's your favourite book?
Without a doubt Georges Perec's Life a Users Manual

‘A dazzling, crazy-quilt monument to the imagination' - Paul Auster, New York Times

What would be your dream holiday?
Rural Japan - riding up mountains.

What’s your star sign:
Virgo - same as Peter Sellers, Sean Connery, Rocky Marciano...

Likes:
Generosity
My mini-man Fabian (after Fabian Cancellara)
Cycling
Good food
Good manners
Being outside
Arty films
Sheds
Bass
Berlin
Trying to be fit
Pool

Dislikes:
Greed
Offal
Snobbishness
Moaning
Selfishness

Do you have any guilty pleasures?
Shortbread

What's your sacred place?
My shed

Facebook or Twitter?
Facebook. Twitter is weird, it's like C.B radio.

In the last few months and particularly since Samantha Cameron's fake Arco Floor Light was plastered all over the press, there has been a real impetus to define the difference between buying the licensed original design and buying a copy!

By investing in the 'real' thing you can be sure that the quality of the workmanship, materials and design of the piece are second to none and that it will last a lifetime - not just a season or two.

This video by The Republic of Fritz Hansen clearly demonstrates the difference between the real and the fake – the footage speaks for itself. If you want good design that lasts, invest in the original and not a copy.



If you feel the same and want to make a change then why not get your voice heard and sign Elle Decoration UK's Equal Rights for Design ePetition to 'Fight the Fakes' and protect original design and help change the law.

We truly believe in the design of the products we sell and in the craftsmanship and materials used to make them and that is why we only sell licensed original's.

The Milan Furniture Fair in Rho took place on the 17th-22nd April and we were there to check out the latest products and brands.

This year was the 51^st edition and it really was bigger than ever, with 20 halls at the fair and nearly 400 events on in Milan itself - it was a very busy 4 days for us and our feet! It was great to see that even during difficult economic times, brands have still invested in new great design, whether it's launching brand new products or improving existing ones there was certainly creativity in the air.

Here's a snapshot of a few of our favourite bits!

Vitra didn't disappoint and showcased the Grand Repos Lounge Chair, the very adaptable Suita Sofa, the truly accommodating Hal Ply Chair, the simple 'Corniches' wall shelves desgined by Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec and brand new Prouvé RAW editions.

Tom Dixon's Luminosity Show at MOST was a feast for the eyes and a chance to see their new products Fin, Etch Light Web, Lustre and new extensions to the Peg collection in the flesh. The Stamp collection showcased how Tom Dixon continues to merge technology and design to create industrial chic products at their best.

A must-see brand was Established & Sons whose unique and arty exhibition was based in the Tortona zone and featured some very exciting new products and collaborations, including some fabulous new lighting.

It was also a chance to see quality workmanship in action with Carl Hansen & Sons Wishbone Chair demonstration. Their new CH163/162 Sofa and the CH33 Chair looked fabulous.

Foscarini offered visitors a 'virtual' experience in the form of a cinema room featuring massive screens showcasing their products – we just needed popcorn!

Kartell’s exhibition showed us how their products progress from the initial idea through the design stage and manufacturing to the final product, with some very interesting results.

Moooi's new products were unusual and bold – the Big Ben Clock certainly makes a giant statement being 180cm in diameter.

We also checked out the new designers on the block within the Ventura Lambrate zone and WM Studio and Coordination stood out from the crowd.

Check out our Facebook page to see even more pictures and videos from our time in Milan.

This week we meet Antony Jackson, our Website Editor.

Describe your job and what you like best about working at Nest?
My role consists of editing the content of the Nest website to keep it constantly evolving and improving. This includes everything from designing the images that appear on the homepage, newsletters and blog posts (including this one!) through to adding the latest products and improving existing ones. The best part of my job is seeing all the fresh new brands and products first and getting them online for our customers.

What's your favourite film?
Napoleon Dynamite.

Describe your perfect night in three words:
Sofa. Movie. Snacks.

What’s your star sign:
Libra. That's supposed to make me indecisive, but I'm not so sure!

Likes:
My son Austin.
Photography - just wish I knew what I was doing properly.
Instagram.
Listening to midweek football on BBC Radio 5 Live in the kitchen.
Cooking.
Vintage cars - I would love an old Mini.

Dislikes:
Pretentious food.
Facebook - I just don't get it!
Noisy eaters.
Rubber neckers.
Spitting - unless you are a goose.

Do you have any guilty pleasures?
I am slowly becoming addicted to Man v. Food on Dave if that counts?

Tell us something we don’t know about you?
I went to the same school as the Arctic Monkeys. Don't think we had the same music teacher though.

There's only a few days now until the start of the Milan Furniture Fair in Rho on the 17th-22nd April.

This year is the 51^st edition of the fair and it is bigger than ever, featuring a huge array of exhibitors, brands and new products.

We are particularly looking forward to MOST, Tom Dixon's and Martina Mondadori's joint collaboration taking over the National Museum of Science and Technology and focusing on technology, culture and design.

Tom Dixon will be showcasing brand new products Lustre, Drum Stool, Peg Barstool and Peg Lounge Chair – both available in new finish, stained brown oak, as well as, new lights Etch Light Web, Fin Light and Etch Shade newly available in copper and stainless steel within the Luminosity experience.


We will be live Tweeting and posting pictures on Facebook from the fair itself – so make sure you’re following us to keep up-to-date with the latest product news!

In honour of Arne Jacobsen, Fritz Hansen has now introduced the stacking chair collection back into its original form in a series of wooden veneer variations, including Maple, Ash, Beech, Cherry, Oregon Pine, Elm, Oak, Walnut and Dark Stained Oak. With each type of wood veneer naturally holding hundreds of shades of colour, it is always possible to find a kind of wood that matches your existing interior.

In addition, nine new colours have also being introduced, inspired by the original colour pallet designed by Arne Jacobsen in 1968.

The new colours are designed to work with the wooden veener variations and includes; white, light grey, dark grey, black, yellow, orange, red, petrol blue and sage green.

A truly distinctive collection to compliment your home or office.

Check out our great selection of outdoor furniture, lighting and accessories.

Keep your main colour scheme monochrome with pure white walls and a jet black sofa and then mix it up by adding bright accents of colour in yellow, red and blue for a modern and fun twist.