Toast is a company with a strong ethical policy. As well as supporting a different charity every year, it uses organic cotton, only uses animal products which are a bi-product of the meat industry and doesn’t sell throw away fashion goods. The ethos of the company is very positive and additionally there is a good selection on the website.
The house and home section of the website is divided into different sections with plenty to choose from. Here are ten of our favourites.
1. Crochet throw
Handmade from heavy lambswool this crochet throw is available in two colours – ecru and heather. We prefer the heather colour as it is more unusual and a lovely warm colour. Measuring 180 by 135cm it is handmade and dry clean only. The price is £175.
2. Storm lantern
We love these storm lanterns, available in a variety of colours. Paraffin fuelled, the steel and glass hurricane lamps are made in Germany and cost £29 each.
3. Bolster pillow
This bolster pillow is something I have been searching for for some time. If you ever find yourself waking up in the middle of the night, having moved off the pillow you may well long for an extra long pillow such as this. It is filled with curled duck feathers and sells for £35. This is a popular product with only a few left.
4. Tin trunk
Here at Home Gems we love trunks. Today there is such a good choice of trunks which are both practical and attractive looking. Toast sells this tin trunk in three different colours – dark olive green, mushroom and tuscan red. It also comes in three sizes – small, medium and large, with prices starting from £49. The fasteners are a major feature and are rather striking looking.
5. Organic braided jute placemat
From Bangladesh Toast brings us these organic braided jute placemats which are also waterproof and machine washable. The placemat is multicoloured, 33cm in diameter and made from 100% jute. The price is £12.50.
6. Mango wood bread board
The mango wood bread board comes in two sizes – long, and large. Both are rounded and slightly irregular bread boards with a natural finish, made from mango wood. The breadboard needs to be handwashed and can’t be put in the dishwasher. The bread board costs from £35 to £39.
7. Linen apron
The trend in recent years is for aprons to be bright and colourful, usually with a theme. This linen apron, costing £55, goes totally against the grain. It is a plain linen apron, with no colours, no logos, and with nothing commercial on it. Made from natural Baltic linen with contrast cotton herringbone straps, it has a single deep patch pocket, and is 98cm long. When all other aprons are trying so hard, this plain one makes for a refreshing change.
8. Kantha cushion cover
This artisan-made, 100% tussah silk cushion cover is made in India. The intricate, hand-done, kantha stitch embroidery depicts market life in the country. It is made from 100% silk and 100% cotton so needs to be dry cleaned. The picture doesn’t do it justice as the pictures on the cover are so beautiful, yet so simple. The price is £59 and you can buy it in parchment and slate grey, and parchment and red.
9. Crochet hangers
These crochet hangers are the kind you keep for years. They don’t break easily like many plastic hangers you get in the shops, and they are decorated with a beautiful hand crocheted covering. Each hanger costs £19.50 and you have a choice of two colours – fossil grey and ecru, and soft sienna and faded duck egg.
10. French cookware – cocotte
The final item on the list is this cocotte. This piece of French cookware is hand thrown and hand glazed in France, and is made from ovenproof clay. It is great for several reasons – it is good for emphasising the flavours of food, it can be used directly on gas and electric, and it is safe to put in the dishwasher. Because they are hand made, each pot will vary slightly from the next in shape, colour and texture. The price is £75 and it is available in three colours – apple green, bluebell and tangerine.
