Welcome to our monthly newsletter, providing you with the latest events and courses, trend forecasts, new sources, and answers to your interior design problems.
Tips & Trends

"When it comes to choosing colours follow your gut instinct. Everyone has their own inherent colour palette so just try to notice which colours you respond positively to and go with those. Colour is totally subjective! Choose to surround yourself with colours that make you feel at ease with yourself, that make you feel good or happy"
Helen Yardley

Rug designer Helen Yardley has just launched a new website on which you can view the studio's entire collection of rugs and wall hangings. Visit the Gallery section to see all standard designs, along with alternative colourways. In Commissions, the process for customising or commissioning a design is explained whilst Craftsmanship focuses on the care and attention that is invested in the production of every hand- crafted Helen Yardley design (most of them made in Britain). www.helenyardley.com





Members' News

This month, Jamb are opening the doors of their new showroom at 97 Pimlico Road, SW1. This move was prompted by the redevelopment of the Old Chelsea Barracks. Founded in 2001 by art and antiques dealer Will Fisher, Jamb has established a worldwide reputation for dealing in the finest antique chimney-pieces in the country. They also sell antique and reproduction lighting, furniture and garden ornaments. www.jamb.co.uk

Holloways of Ludlow is showcasing some striking hand-blown glass pendants by the Vancouver-based design house Bocci. They are available in single through to 37 pendant versions, plus as customised chandeliers. Holloways of Ludlow's newly-opened contemporary showroom is at 115 Shepherds Bush Road and showcases an eclectic collection of modern lighting. They have three other UK showrooms (Brook Green, Richmond and Ludlow) in addition to a bespoke kitchen and furniture showroom & design studio in East Sheen. www.hollowaysofludlow.com

Plain English have just launched their 'British Standard' range of kitchen cupboards. Described as 'sensible cupboards at sensible prices, for people with good taste but modest means', the range includes some 40 items and a few accessories. To find out more, see our blog post: www.thehousemag.com/british_standard

Modern furniture suppliers Chaplins have opened a new trade showroom and interior design service at Chelsea Harbour Design Centre. The glamorous room sets on display showcase two of their most luxurious brands, Reflex Angelo and Ascension Latorre as well as a selection of custom lighting and accessories. Open Mon-Fri, 9.30am - 5.30pm. www.chaplins.co.uk








Sales

The Children's Furniture Company are offering an 'Easter Surprise' with 20% off all furniture sales during the Easter holidays. www.thechildrensfurniturecompany.com

During the first two weeks of April there's 25% off Sibona's pretty cotton Venice bedlinen with hand drawn ladderwork detail. www.sibona.com





New Books

In her latest book, Nomad (Murdoch Books, £25), stylist Sibella Court shows us how to bring our travels home with us in the most unexpected of ways. She has travelled to Syria, Mexico, Italy, India and Japan to be inspired by everything from door knobs and street signs to roadside shrines and household brooms. The ideas, photographs and mementos she collected are used to inspire room settings, illustrating simple, practical and surprising ways to be reminded of your travel experiences. £25. www.murdochbooks.co.uk

For another inspiring read, look no further than the latest in Ros Byam Shaw's 'Perfect English' series, Perfect English Farmhouse which explores contemporary farmhouse style: Organic, Traditional, Farm Fresh, No Frills and Funky. The houses shown are no longer working farms but have been adapted to modern lifestyles and the way they are decorated varies from old-fashioned charm to laid-back modern. At the end of each chapter a spread highlights the key elements of that particular decorative look. There is also a comprehensive list of suppliers to help readers create their very own perfect farmhouse style. Photography by Jan Baldwin. £30, www.rylandpeters.com





Happy Easter !

Check out two of our favourite companies for Easter decorations and tableware. The cute fuzzy chick, shown here, is from Seek and Adore (www.seekandadore.com) and the crochet egg cosies are from Notonthehighstreet.com (www.notonthehighstreet.com)





Don't Miss This Month (and free tickets !)

In Da Cottage (7-15 April), The Cottage, Sweffling, Suffolk. A red brick 17th century cottage in rural Suffolk is furnished for nine days, with everything for sale. www.indacottage.co.uk

Antiques for Everyone (12-15 April), The NEC, Birmingham. Over 300 specialist dealers at the UK's largest indoor, datelined event with prices ranging from under £10 to over £100,000. www.antiquesforeveryone.co.uk

Chelsea Art Fair (19-22 April), Chelsea Town Hall, King's Road, London SW3.
Quality contemporary and 20th century work, including three-dimensional works of all kinds. Prices from £200 to £20,000. For a free e-ticket, go to www.chelseaartfair.org

Newark Antique & Collectors Fair (12-13 April), Newark & Nottinghamshire Showground, Winthorpe, Notts. Europe's largest antiques event with up to 4000 stalls spread over 84 acres. www.iacf.co.uk

Tinsmiths Spring Exhibition (31 March- 28 April), Tinsmiths Alley, 81 High Street, Ledbury, Herefordshire. Tinsmiths are known for their lighting, fabrics and accessories, but they also promote UK printmakers. This show will prints, originals and textiles by Christopher Brown, Mark Hearld, Ed Kluz, Angie Lewin and Emily Sutton. www.shop.tinsmiths.co.uk/artists-prints/cat_4.html

Adams Antiques Fair (15 April), Horticultural Hall, Elverton St, London SW1. The biggest monthly antiques fair in central London. www.adamsantiquesfairs.com

Vintage & Olympic Icons (18 April), Christie's, South Kensington, SW7. This sale features eye-catching and decorative posters of past Olympic Games. www.christies.com

Giuseppe Cavalli: Master of Light (18 April-17 June), Estorick Collection, 39a Canonbury Square, London N1. One of the key figures of 20th century Italian photography, Cavalli is surprisingly little known outside his native country. His compositions of everyday domestic objects are vehicles for his true subject: light. www.estorickcollection.com

London Original Print Fair (19-22 April), Royal Academy of Arts, Burlington Gardens. The longest-running specialist print fair in the world is celebrating its 26th year. It covers all eras of printmaking from the early woodcuts of Dürer and his contemporaries, to the graphic work of contemporary artists such as Hockney and Hirst. www.londonprintfair.com

The Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair (24-29 April), The Marquee, Battersea Park, London SW11. This fair is fun, fashionable and well-known as an excellent source of painted furniture, Gustavian & Swedish design, 20th century design, lighting, accessories and named-design furniture, and excellent mirrors. www.decorativefair.com . For a free email ticket for two, contact pr@pipparoberts.com, quoting The House Directory.

The Chelsea Gardener's Spring Shopping Evening (Wed 25 April, 6- 8pm). 125 Sydney Street, SW3. Up to 20% off The Chelsea Gardener's products and services, plus drinks & canapés, free prize draws and goody bags (limited to the first 200 people). Also free skin consultations and arm massages from skin company Kiehl's pop-up shop, gift wrapping and a 20% discount. www.chelseagardener.com. RSVP: marketing@chelseagardener.com














Date In Your Diary (and more free tickets !)

Grand Designs Live London (5-13 May) ExCeL, London's Victoria Docks. This vast show - with Kevin McCloud as event presenter - has over 500 exhibitors and is packed with products, information, services and advice - whether for self-build projects or refurbishment. We have five pairs of tickets to give away to readers of our newsletter, so email us your address on info@thehousedirectory.com stating 'Free Grand Design tickets'. It's first come, first served!For those not lucky enough to win, tickets can be either booked online at www.granddesignslive.com or by calling the Ticket Hotline on 0844 854 1348. Kids go free.




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