Hello, I am broadcasting live from the beautiful Palma in Mallorca this week and I have brought you a good old fashioned Splurge or Save. If you’re new here, this is where I take a designer or high end item and find you a budget friendly, pound saving, guilt free alternative. The majority of this week’s picks are for the home, although I have thrown in a little electrical gadget and a designer handbag too, so let’s dive straight in.
Just a little note before we start. If you ever want to look back and save yourself some money, there is now a whole plethora of Splurge or Save editions waiting for you, including a brilliant Soho Home special which I will link (Click Here). If you’re furnishing a house or simply love spotting a bargain, it is well worth a scroll.
We're kicking things off in luxury territory this week with the Loewe Anagram Bucket Bag, which has become such an iconic design from the Spanish fashion house. It constantly sells out and, at the time of writing, I could only find a pre-loved version available. Since making the images before flying out here it has actually been reduced from £1,228 to £1,091, which is a decent saving but still rather eye watering. The laser cut leather anagram logo forms the bucket itself, while the canvas drawstring pouch sits neatly inside. It is instantly recognisable and one of those bags that quietly says luxury without shouting about it.
So what are the alternatives that are a little kinder on the bank balance? First up is the smaller designer brand Coccinelle, with the Koi Bag. Don't ask me to pronounce Coccinelle because I absolutely cannot. Their Spring Summer 2026 collection introduced the Koi bag in a few different sizes and this smaller version comes in black or Crab, which I would describe as a lovely warm orange toned tan. Both colours are currently reduced from £330 to £165, making them a far more attainable designer option.
But if you fancy saving even more money then Tu Chocolate Cut Work Bucket Bag from Sainsbury's is just £18. Yes, it isn't leather, but for a little summer holiday bag I genuinely think it is an absolute steal. Even if it hadn't taken inspiration from the Loewe design, I would still think it was incredibly cute. What I particularly love is that the canvas drawstring insert simply pops in and out on press studs, meaning you can remove it to clean it or even use it as a separate little bag. After last week's Morris & Co tote bag, Tu at Sainsbury's really are stepping up their game.
Links:
Loewe Anagram Bucket Bag (pre loved) £1228.00 - Click Here
Coccinelle Koi Bag (small) reduced to £165.00 - Click Here
TU Chocolate Cutwork Bucket Shoulder Bag One Size £18.00 - Click Here
Now we move into the garden, or should I say outdoor living. The Hay Palissade Garden Bench has become something of a Splurge or Save veteran. It is an absolute modern classic. At the moment it is reduced from £859 to £645 in Olive Green, Anthracite and Sky Grey, while the White and Iron Red versions are still sitting just under the £700 mark. It has been around for years for good reason and is one of those pieces that somehow looks just as good in a contemporary courtyard as it does in a country cottage garden.
If you love the look but not the price, Habitat Indu Two Seater Bench is currently reduced from £130 to £85.80 and offers that same simple slatted metal aesthetic. Habitat have been quietly producing this bench for years and although I've featured it before, it deserves another mention because it really is that good. You all know I cannot resist a little bit of green garden furniture.
If you don't quite have space for a bench but still want that painted metal look, La Redoute Manni Garden Chairs come as a set of two and are currently reduced to £240.49. Pop these either side of a little café table in a courtyard and you've got the perfect morning coffee spot while scrolling Jack D March's Substack or Instagram. Pure bliss.
Links:
HAY Palissade Garden Dining Bench reduced to £645.00 - Click Here
Habitat Indu 2 seater Bench reduced to £85.80 - Click Here
La Redoute Manni Pair of Chairs reduced to £240.49 - Click Here
I absolutely love my Our Place cookware. We were lucky enough to be gifted some a few years ago and every autumn and winter they barely leave the hob. The Our Place Perfect Pot comes in several colours including Sage and Spice and retails at £135 for the 5.2 litre version. It even includes the wooden spoon, which somehow makes me irrationally happy.
If £135 feels a little rich for your blood, then George Home All In One Stock Pot is just £38. It measures 28cm, is made from cast aluminium and comes with a 100 day guarantee. It is available in both Clay and Green, making it a brilliant budget alternative.
Another option I spotted recently at the Dunelm press show is the Aluminium Casserole Dish for £35. I particularly love the little gold knob handle because it instantly makes it feel more expensive than it is. This version is slightly smaller again at 20cm with a 2.7 litre capacity, but if you're cooking for one or two people it could actually be the more practical option. It is also around £100 cheaper, which leaves plenty of money for ingredients.
Links:
Our Place Perfect Pot in Spice £135.00 - Click Here
George at ASDA All in one cast iron Stock Pot terracotta £38.00 - Click Here
Our Place Perfect Pot in Sage £135.00 - Click Here
George at ASDA All in one cast iron Stock Pot Green £38.00 - Click Here
Dunelm Cast Aluminium Deep 20cm Casserole Dish £35.00 - Click Here
I mentioned the Ninja Creami Ice Cream Maker on Instagram Stories during the recent heatwave and honestly, you all went absolutely mad for it. Dave loves ice cream and he has even converted the dog into an ice cream lover. He now makes him his own dog friendly frozen treats, which I never thought I'd be writing. At £199.99 it is definitely an investment and probably one of those appliances that earns its keep during the warmer months. I do own the Ninja Slushi and can genuinely say Ninja products are brilliantly made and do exactly what they promise.
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However, Aldi have now released their own Ice Cream Maker for just £69.99 as part of the middle aisle. It feels like the perfect little bit of summer holiday fun, whether you're entertaining the grandchildren, keeping the kids busy over the six weeks or simply fancy making your own frozen yoghurt, sorbets and ice cream at home. The only downside is actually getting your hands on one before everybody else beats you to it.
Links:
Ninja CREAMi Ice Cream Maker £199.99 - Click Here
Aldi Ice Cream Maker £69.99 - In Store NOW
I mentioned Soho Home at the beginning because it feels like everybody is obsessed with the brand at the moment, myself very much included. I also have a huge soft spot for burl wood, so I absolutely adore the Dawson Side Table. My grandma had lots of burl wood furniture from the 1950s, 60s and 70s, which is probably why I find it so nostalgic. It has such a timeless shape and would work beautifully as either a bedside table or a side table. It feels quietly luxurious and gives me understated French apartment vibes. At £995 though, it certainly asks for some commitment.
Thankfully I have found some brilliant alternatives. Dunelm Seana Burl Side Table at £179 is probably the closest in shape and proportions. It doesn't have quite the same inlaid top, but considering it is nearly £800 cheaper I think we can let that slide.
The Marks & Spencer Burl Side Table is £199 and offers a slightly more squared off silhouette. It feels a little cleaner and more contemporary, but still captures the same overall look. Finally, La Redoute Burl Effect Side Table comes in at £229.99. It is a little chunkier in design but I absolutely love the lighter elm toned finish. Sometimes it isn’t about finding an exact copy, it’s about finding something that gives the same feeling.
Links:
Soho Home Dawson Side Table £995.00 - Click Here
Dunelm Seana Burl Side Table £179.00 - Click Here
Marks & Spencer Burl Side Table £199. 00 - Click Here
La Redoute Loupita Elm Side Table £229.99 - Click Here
A spicy little number next. Oliver Bonas Pressed Chilli Glasses come as a set of two for £24.50. Everybody seems obsessed with a spicy margarita this summer, so naturally we've seen chillies popping up absolutely everywhere in interiors too. These have that lovely handmade blown glass quality and, to be fair, £24.50 for the pair really isn't outrageous. Plus we know Oliver Bonas is a hill i am prepared to die on.
If you’re after a bargain though, Dunelm Pressed Glass Tumblers are just £4 each. You could buy six of them for roughly the same price as the Oliver Bonas set and they still have that lovely artisan feel.
Argos also have a Chilli Tumbler and its another brilliant alternative at £6 each. The design is slightly smoother and more refined but still captures the same playful look, meaning you could buy four for the same price as the original splurge.
Links:
Oliver Bonas Spicy Margarita Tumblers Set of Two £24.50 - Click Here
Dunelm Chilli Pressed Tumbler Glass £4.00 each - Click Here
Argos Chill Tumbler £6.00 each - Click Here
This next one definitely isn’t for everybody because not all of us are shopping for sofas every weekend, but if there is one thing I love almost as much as scallop edges, it is stripes. I have admired the Sophie Conran Hickstead Sofa for years. This Cocoa 2.5 seater in Sea Holly comes in at £5,800 and although I absolutely adore it, I could never quite manage to justify pressing buy.
I’ve always said that if you’re somebody who constantly redecorates, keep your biggest investments, sofas. flooring, curtains, etc neutral. My cream sofa is now 11 years old and has worked with countless different rooms. Having said that, I have recently taken the plunge with a coral sofa in our snug and I absolutely love the personality it brings.
If you love the striped look but £5,800 is still a little eye watering, then John Lewis x Sophie Conran Coco Bell Sofa is probably the closest you'll get while staying within the Sophie Conran family. I always think of this as being a little like the Ivy Café versus The Ivy. It's the same DNA, the same design language and the same aesthetic, just in a more accessible format. It still isn't cheap at £3,249, but if you've fallen in love with that Sophie Conran look, this is definitely the place I'd start to own a piece of her icon design.
The one that really made me stop scrolling though was the DFS x Joules Port Haven Sofa, currently £1,879. It is slightly larger than the original but comes in several different sizes, making it a little easier to fit into a typical living room. What really won me over were the different stripe colourways. There is a classic blue and white, a gorgeous mustard and white and, perhaps unsurprisingly, a green and white version that I am absolutely obsessed with. When you think you're saving around £4,000 compared with the original, I genuinely think this is one of the strongest saves in this week's list.
I always love including an independent business where I can, so I was really pleased to come across the Cottonfy Retro Striped Sofa, currently reduced to £1,250 on the Living and Home website. Before featuring it I had a little look through the Trustpilot reviews, which were really positive, and I have to say I think they've absolutely nailed that relaxed vintage stripe aesthetic. The blue is a little brighter than the Sophie Conran version, almost giving Cornishware vibes, and I actually think it would look incredible in a coastal home, country cottage or colourful family snug.
Links:
Sophie Conran Coco Sofa £5800.00 - Click Here
John Lewis X Sophie Conran Cocobella Sofa £3249.00 - Click Here
DFS x Joules Porthaven 4 seater Sofa £1849 - Click Here
Cottonfy Retro Striped Sofa £1250.00 - Click Here
If you're a horse lover or simply adore that classic Neptune country house aesthetic, this next one is for you. The Hickstead Horse Bust has that beautiful stone effect finish and would look gorgeous styled on a bookshelf or console table. At £45 I actually think it is fairly reasonable by Neptune standards.
But, of course, Dunelm have a option with their Concrete Horse Ornament and it comes in at just £16. These are all hand painted, and with them being concrete have natural holes and pit in them, so I would definitely have a rummage through the shelf to pick the best one. Personally, I actually prefer the flowing mane on the Dunelm version and I like how it finishes on the plinth rather than cutting off quite so abruptly.
Links:
Neptune Hickstead Horse Figure £45.00 - Click Here
Dunelm Concrete Horse Ornament £16.00 - Click Here
Finally, because every home deserves a little candle lantern moment, The Nkuku Naryla Mango Wood Lantern which comes in two sizes, with the larger version priced at £75. Nkuku really are one of the best when it comes to these timeless decorative accessories like this.
Once again Dunelm come riding in to save the day with their Mango Wood Hurricane Pillar Candle Holder for just £16. The timber is slightly lighter, although you could easily stain it if you preferred a darker finish. It also doesn’t have the recessed candle holder that the Nkuku version has, but actually I think that gives you more flexibility because you aren’t limited to one particular candle size.
And on that note, I think we’ll call it a week.
Links:
Nkuku Naryla Mango Wood Lantern - Dark Stain Large £75.00 - Click Here
Dunelm Mango Wood Hurricane Pillar Candle Holder £16.00 - Click Here
As always, thank you so much for reading, for sharing, for commenting, for sending me your finds and for supporting this little corner of the internet every single week. It genuinely means more than you know and I never take it for granted.
We are getting so close to my target of 3,000 subscribers by the end of August, so if you’ve been enjoying The Love List but haven’t yet hit subscribe, I would absolutely love it if you did. Every single subscription, like, comment and share helps this community continue to grow.
Have a wonderful weekend wherever you’re reading from, and let me know in the comments which Splurge or Save was your favourite this week. I have a feeling there are going to be quite a few votes for those striped sofas.
P.S. This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you buy through them. It never affects what I share, it just helps keep this content free and the comparisons coming.
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