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

‘Whether an interior is to be highly decorative or minimalist in style, it should be approached with an architectural eye.  That is to say, the furnishings should be sympathetic to the space and proportions of the area in which they are to be placed.  You could find a beautiful one-off chandelier but if it is the wrong size for the room the effect is ruined’

Patrick Tyberghein, CarterTybergheinLtd
www.cartertyberghein.com
This month don't miss

Exhibitions, sales, fairs, courses and events you should know about.

Olympia International Art & Antiques Fair (5-14 June), London W14. With over 250 stands, this is a great opportunity to see and buy from the world’s leading international dealers exhibiting together. Just the brilliant displays and room-sets make it worth a visit. Collectors’ preview on 4 June. 2 tickets for the price of one with a print-out of this newsletter. Tickets: 0871-2305592 www.olympiaartsinternational.com

Hand Sale (11 June 6-9pm, 12-13 June, 10-6) 20th Century Theatre, 291 Westbourne Grove, London W11. A twice-yearly sale with an inspiring mix of stands including Trouver Antiques (decorative French furniture) and Kirsten Hecktermann (embroidered cushions); plus unusual clothes, homeware and jewellery. For more info call 020 86771848 or 0788 768 0672.

Cockpit Arts Open Studios (12-14 June in Holborn; 19-21 June in Deptford). Meet hundreds of designer-makers, watch live demonstrations and buy their products. www.cockpitarts.com

The International Ceramics Fair & Seminar (11-14 June), The Park Lane Hotel, Piccadilly, W1. This fair brings together top ceramics dealers from around the world to display and sell exceptional quality European pottery, porcelain, glass and enamels. Plus a popular lecture series. www.haughton.com

The Grosvenor House Art & Antiques Fair, Grosvenor House, Park Lane, London W1 (11-17 June) Now in its 75th year, this fair boasts some of the most exceptional works of art on the market today. www.grosvenorfair.co.uk
Open Garden Squares Weekend, London (13-14 June) Your chance to visit gardens in London not usually open to the public or that you didn’t even know existed! For more details, visit www.opensquares.org

10th Anniversary Show (13 June-25 July), North House Gallery, Manningtree, Essex. A selling exhibition of work by 12 artists, including Sue Skeen, Alison Wilding RA, Norman Ackroyd RA . For details look at www.northhousegallery.co.uk

Vauxhall Art Car Boot Fair (14 June, 12-6pm), 146 Brick Lane, E1. Now in its fifth year, it’s what the Independent has called ‘the hippest car boot sale you’re likely to come across in quite a while’. www.artcarbootfair.com

Beyond Bloomsbury: Designs of The Omega Workshops 1913–19 (18 June- 20 Sept), The Courtauld Gallery, Somerset House, WC2. A look at this creative company whose dynamic abstract designs for a wide range of crafts were ahead of their time. www.courtauld.ac.uk

Plant Finders Fair (26-28th June), Cottesbrooke Hall, Northampton. A showcase for dozens of specialist nurseries and garden accessory suppliers plus a plant swap – bring your surplus plants to exchange. www.cottesbrookehall.co.uk

Salvo Fair (26-28 June), Knebworth House, Hertfordshire. The UK’s largest fair for architectural salvage, garden antiques and reclaimed building materials. An outdoor exhibition, with some 65 dealers from all over the UK, and everything is for sale. For more details, visit www.salvo-fair.com

Southbank Centre E4 Udderbelly (until 19 July), Southbank Centre, Jubilee Gardens, Belvedere Rd., SE1. It’s not every day that you see a giant purple cow grazing between the London Eye and the Royal Festival Hall. The beast will be hosting a seven week season of comedy, circus, music, magic, theatre and children’s shows. Tickets at www.underbelly.co.uk or from 08716 632538.

British Silversmith Dynasties (until 4 Oct), The London Silver Vaults, London WC2. A selling exhibition of silver 1750-1950 from the family workshops of Bateman, Elkington and James Dixon & Sons. www.thesilvervaults.com
















Sales & Offers

Beaumont & Fletcher, (6-27 June), 261 Fulham Rd, SW3. Up to 50% off showroom stock and 20% off all new orders of sofas & chairs, fabrics & wallpapers, lights & mirrors. www.beaumontandfletcher.com

Leather furniture specialists Darlings of Chelsea, are offering readers of our newsletter £100 off all online, telephone or in store orders over £1000 (just quote ‘housedirectory100’). www.darlingsofchelsea.co.uk

Osborne & Little (4-6 June), Battersea Arts Centre, Lavender Hill, SW11 (Thurs, Fri 10-6; Sat 10-4). Special sale of fabrics, wallpaper, furniture, trimmings, cushions from current and past collections. 020-73521456 www.osborneandlittle.co.uk

Kingcome Sofas (6-20 June) , 114 Fulham Rd, SW3. Substantial reductions on ex-display models. www.kingcomesofas.co.uk

Roger Oates Clearance Room Web Sale (17 June- 1 July). Up to 50% off selected runners, rugs, fabrics and accessories. Cheltenham Old Raspberry (shown here), was £95m, now £49. www.rogeroates.com



Members' News

If the snagging list is getting you down, give our new members Urban Solutions a go. They will tackle anything from assembling flat-pack furniture to changing a boiler, and offer a competitive property maintenance service to homeowners and landlords alike. www.urbansolutions.co.uk

Soane have launched a new range of contract furniture based on some of their core designs which have been adapted for commercial use. Spot their furniture and lighting at all the smartest venues: Cecconi’s and Shoreditch House, The Connaught and Bentley’s Oyster Bar and Grill… www.soane.co.uk





Sources of the month

Step forward …SHEDS!

Shed Chic by Sally Coulthard will make you want to move your office straight into the garden. It has advice on creating a home office from scratch, and hundreds of inspiring ideas for making the most of outdoor space. Published by Jacqui Small (rrp£25). Readers can order it at the special price of £20 with free p&p. Call 01903 828503 quoting ref JS 231. www.aurumpress.co.uk
While we’re talking about sheds, this lovely Victorian summerhouse is available to hire as a photographic location. It belongs to Jane Cumberbatch (author of Pure Style and Pure Style Outside), and comes with a huge South London house with great natural light which makes it perfect for shoots www.lightlocations.co.uk For bookings contact Jane@purestyleonline.com or Sophie@lightlocations.co.uk

Still on the self-sufficiency theme, full marks to The Allotment Shop for their brochure based on a wartime Ration Book. Visit their website www.theallotmentshop.co.uk to see their garden tools, homeware and replica WWII ads and stirring public information material.







New Book

SAVE’s 2009 Buildings at Risk lists over 100 delightful buildings begging for restoration, from weather boarded Essex farmhouses to ex-town halls. Every page is a cry for help…It’s £15 + £2.50 p&p www.savebritainsheritage.org
www.thehousedirectory.com