ANYONE who has children or pets, or both, will know that keeping furniture clean and in good condition can be a challenge.

Home furnishings often fall victim to the spillages, sticky hand prints and stray dog hairs that are commonplace in an average family home, not to mention the general wear and tear of daily use.

When Helen Cook took the opportunity of leaving behind a career in banking to set up her own business, she had the idea of producing something as practical as it was stylish.

The result was Mellow Duck, a range of upholstered furniture which is striking and colourful, but also low maintenance and affordable. The range consists of pods of several different shapes which can be used as pouffes, stools and side tables.

"Not only are they comfortable to sit on, they're also firm enough to take items like mugs, glasses and books - so each piece really earns its keep!" says Helen, who launched Mellow Duck online last October.

Based in Ilkley, the business offers handcrafted pods in a variety of shapes, colours and sizes to enhance both informal and formal room designs. The fabrics are inspired by tones of the Yorkshire landscape, with designs such as Grassington faux suede and Saltaire dappled wool, and are stain-resistant and easy to wipe clean - particularly handy when there are children, pets or house guests around.

Helen had always wanted to run her own business and with her partner, Michael, running Craftwork Upholstery, a Leeds-based business, designing furniture was an obvious choice. A restructure at Sainsbury’s Bank in Edinburgh, where she worked, offered Helen the opportunity to quit her gruelling weekly commute and move back to Yorkshire, and after spending time researching the market, she came up with Mellow Duck. Eager to throw herself into a new project, away from the corporate confines of the banking world, she set about designing stylish pieces of furniture for people who want their homes to look good, but also want friends and family around without worrying about any damage.

"I've always been interested in furniture, and I move my rooms around a lot," says Helen. "I wanted to design furniture that was practical and versatile, but also attractive. It seemed very hard to get both, particularly in upholstery."

The range is available in seven different shapes, which includes interlocking designs, and 24 colours. Hand-crafted in Michael's factory, the pods are crafted with sustainable hardwood frame and robust fabric. "It's stain-resistant and easy to look after," says Helen. " It's furniture for people with busy lifestyles who want stylish, durable and affordable pieces. They're easily moved around from room to room and can be used as footstools, bedside tables, bathside tables - perfect for tired feet, handy seating for unexpected guests and an easy way to bring a dash of vibrant colour to contemporary or traditional design schemes.

"There are three different fabric types; wool, faux suede and faux leather, with a matt grained finish that can be wiped clean. We take a lot of time to choose the most suitable fabrics; we consider how a fabric looks, how it feels and how well it stands up to regular use, as well as the practicalities of keeping it looking good. The pods work in all rooms, including moist bathrooms and kitchen environments."

Mellow Duck is a bespoke service, allowing customers to choose the shape, fabric and colour of the furniture. "We provide instructions on how to care for each individual fabric on the website," says Helen. "All our products are made from high quality hardwood, kiln-dried for stability, and quality foam which retains its shape over time. Each piece is individually upholstered by skilled craftsmen.

"Our factory has been making furniture for hotels and other contract markets for over 25 years; at Mellow Duck we have built on this experience to produce retail furniture which is robust and good quality."

So why the name Mellow Duck? "I did a lot of brainstorming with a panel of friends and former colleagues who had PR and marketing experience," says Helen. "It's amazing how many potential brand names have already been taken! I thought Mellow Duck had a nice ring to it and it stands out."

A selection of Mellow Duck pods and cushions are available to buy in two Ilkley shops - Anna Morgan and Waltons. The complete range is available at mellowduck.co.uk. To discuss bespoke orders, call (01943) 816474.