Here at iTravel iShop, we're big fans of Timorous Beasties- and as soon as I get a dressing room one day, I'm planning to paper one of the walls in their signature William Morris on acid prints. In the meantime, check out their newest project. The designers have collaborated with Brintons create a new carpet design collection, First Weave. Brintons will be exhibiting the collection as part of the Salon de Mobile. But there's more from the Beasties: the designers, Paul Simmons and Alistair McAuley, are about to open a London store later this year in Clerkenwell. Timorous Beasties, 384 Great Western Rd, Glasgow, G4 9HT, Phone: 0141 337 2622.

The last time we were in Glasgow, we spotted hair straighteners in the bathroom at a major mall and thought, “What a good idea.” We promptly forgot about it until we spotted a news item about the machines in this week's Springwise newsletter. Here's the scoop. Straight Up is a machine that lets women use a ceramic hair straightener for a quick touch up on the go, and 90 seconds of use costs just one pound. The company which markets the machine is called Beautiful Vending, and the entrepreneurs behind the idea say they were inspired to invent it after hearing their female friends complain about the effects of Britain's humidity and constant drizzle to their hair.  So far there are 500 machines in the UK. Its such a good idea that we expect to see even more of them rolled out soon. Now there will never be an excuse for a bad hair day.