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 and trends

‘Casual living is all about confounding design expectations. The combination of old store cabinets and high-gloss ultra-modern kitchen units gives a young, funky look. The kitchen (shown here) has been given a streamlined finish with a custom-made Corian worksurface.’ Judith Wilson

Judith Wilson’s new book, Casual Living, focuses on homes that are fuss-free, welcoming and cocooning, where you can chill out and forget about the stresses of busy modern life. (Ryland,Peters & Small £19.99)
www.rylandpeters.com


Members' News

Would you love an amazing statement room? A new Channel 5 interior design show is looking for luxury home owners who would love a room designed by Kelly Hoppen MBE. If you’d like to take part, or know a suitable canditate, email hoppen@optomen.com or call 020-3227 5846.

Oficina Inglesa, specialists in French reproduction and bespoke furniture for over 25 years, have just opened a London showroom at the Business Design Centre in Islington. You can also view their vast range of over 600 products on their website. www.oficinainglesa.com

Drummonds have commissioned Sophie Conran to create a range of ten paints for their free-standing cast-iron baths. With names like Mrs Peacock, and Pistachio ice-cream, the glossy shades give them a new, contemporary look. www.drummonds-uk.com

And a few on a gardening theme, for the sowing and growing season ...

To celebrate their impressive 160 year anniversary, Clifton Nurseries has a packed 10-month schedule of events planned, including an exhibition of the history of the nursery and gardening in London, with reproductions of original documents including brochures and catalogues from the 40s and 50s, and original 19th and 20th century photographs of the development of Clifton over the years. For more info on the program of events, and for their new range of heritage gardening tools and accessories, see www.clifton.co.uk

The Balcony Gardener have some gorgeous newly-designed packets of seeds, all of which can be grown in window boxes, pots or large containers on the smallest of patios or roof terraces. £3.25 each, from www.thebalconygardener.com

Our friends at Trouver Antiques have launched a website to sell their favourite garden tool, whose design was perfected over centuries by Asian farmers. The Ho-mi is a hand-hoe that you use by pulling rather than pushing, so is more comfortable to use. It comes in two sizes, at £14 and £15. www.ho-mi.co.uk







Sales

Lewis & Wood Grand Annual Sale (11-12 March, 10am-4pm), Woodchester Mill, North Woodchester, Stroud, Glouc. Great discounts and bargains on a range of selected designs, seconds and discontinued fabrics and wallpapers from the entire range, as well as lighting. Also a good opportunity to see Lewis & Wood’s fabulous new range of linens and velvets.Tel 01453 878517. www.lewisandwood.co.uk

Turner Pocock Cazalet are offering our readers 20% off all their graphic wallpapers (designs include zebra, polar bear, ostrich, ibis, tennis and cricket). Simply go to www.turnerpocockcazalet.co.uk and use the code ‘House’ at the online checkout (valid until 31 March).





New books

Decorate, by Holly Becker, founder of www.decor8blog.com, and British writer Jo Copestick, offers creative and quirky advice from the world’s best designers and architects. The book is packed with expert guidance, featuring both quick fixes for small budgets and indulgent ideas for more ambitious projects.

And if you haven’t been chosen to take part in Kelly Hoppen’s forthcoming TV program (see above), you will find plenty of guidance and inspiration in her new book Kelly Hoppen: Ideas. Using photographs of some of her latest projects, Kelly reveals her tried and tested ways of giving your home a designer touch.

Both books are published by Jacqui Small (£30 each), www.aurumpress.co.uk



Don't miss this month (free tickets and 2 for 1 offers !)

The Modern Danish Warehouse (5-20 March), The Garage, North Terrace, London SW3. A pop-up shop with some 250 pieces of mid-century and vintage Danish furniture, priced from £100 to £1,500. www.themoderndanishwarehouse.com

Manchester Antique Textile Fair (6 March), Armitage Centre, Fallow Field, Manchester. A favourite with enthusiasts for antique and vintage textiles and costumes. Open 10-4.30. www.textilesociety.org.uk

22nd Bath Decorative & Antiques Fair (10-13 March), The Pavilion, Bath. 45 exhibitors will be offering country and painted decorative furniture from the UK and Europe, lighting, folk art, naïve paintings, needlework and textiles, unusual decorative items for the garden and more. www.bathdecorativeantiquesfair.co.uk

The Affordable Art Fair (10-13 March), Battersea Park, London SW11. Artwork to suit every taste and pocket will be on offer at this popular fair. 120 galleries will exhibit paintings, sculpture, photography and original prints – all priced between £100 and £4,000. And save 50% on your tickets if you print and present our newsletter at the ticket desk. Two tickets will be £12 on a weekday or £15 at the weekend (the normal price for two tickets is £24 on a weekday and £30 at the weekend). www.affordableartfair.co.uk

La Dolce Vita (10-13 March), Business Design Centre, Islington, London N1, Much fun to be had at this showcase for Italian food & drink , property, fashion and design. For more details see www.ladolcevitaevent.co.uk

Ideal Home Show (11-27 March), Earl’s Court, London. Harveys is the exclusive drinks sponsor of Britain’s oldest home event and to celebrate is offering 10 readers the chance to win a pair of tickets to the show. Enjoy a glass of chilled Harveys Bristol Cream over ice with a slice of orange at the Harveys Cocktail Bar in Ideal Woman, or visit their inspirational vintage garden stand in Ideal Garden (1D45). The first 10 people to email us on info@thehousedirectory.com stating ‘Harveys - Ideal Home Show tickets’ will receive two e-tickets to the show. www.idealhomeshow.co.uk.  For tickets call 0844 415 4144.

Luxury Antiques Weekend (11-13 March), Linden Hall, Longhorsley, nr Morpeth, Northumberland. Some 24 fine art and antique dealers, all members of BADA and LAPADA. Special 2 for 1 ticket offer if you phone 01797 252030 and mention The House Directory or take our printed newsletter and show it at the door. www.lindenhallfair.com

London Design Week (13-18 March), Chelsea Harbour, London W10.
Spring’s biggest decorating event takes place in The Design Centre showrooms and at the premises of well-known names on the nearby King’s Road. See the latest collections (from 360 brands!) and take part in forums, design lectures and masterclasses. 13-15 March are trade days, and the general public is welcome from 16-18 March. For event details call 020-7225 9166 or look at www.dcch.co.uk

Pick Me Up (17-27 March), Somerset House, Strand, London WC2.
Launched last year, this contemporary graphic art fair is back, with an exuberant mix of artworks for sale, at accessible prices. www.somersethouse.org.uk/pickmeup

Antiques for Everyone (17-20 March), 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

The Art Master (18 March-23 April), Robert Young Antiques, 68 Battersea Bridge Rd, London SW11. A show of the previously unknown artist Stanley Dyson (1920-2007) whose work Robert and Josyane Young spotted at an auction in Norfolk four years ago. Struck by the extraordinarily sensitive use of colour of the artist’s naïve artworks, they bought the entire collection of 500 pictures. www.robertyoungantiques.com

Shepton Mallet International Antique & Collectors Fair (18-20 March), Royal Bath & West Showground, Shepton Mallet, Somerset. A vast fair, with up to 600 stands, housed in four halls and over 40 shopping arcades. Find everything from paintings and antique furniture to vintage teddies and luxury leather luggage. A favourite hunting ground for London’s top dealers. www.iacf.co.uk

BADA Antiques & Fine Art Fair (23-29 March), Duke of York’s Square, off Sloane Square, London SW3. One of the UK’s smartest art and antiques fairs and a major showcase for about 100 members of the British Antique Dealers’ Association. All items on sale are carefully vetted for quality and authenticity. Take advantage of the special offer of '2 for 1’ for £10 with a copy of the BADA handbook, and two re-entry passes on presentation of this page at the ticket office (normal admission is £10 single and £15 for two). For more information visit www.bada-antiques-fair.co.uk

The Chelsea Antiques Fair (23-27 March), Chelsea Old Town Hall, King's Road, London SW3. A popular event, known for its wide range of affordable antiques. www.penman-fairs.co.uk

Country Living Magazine Spring Fair (23-27 March), Business Design Centre, Islington, London N1. Spring is in the air at this event, which is always strong on pretty home accessories. www.countrylivingfair.com

The National Homebuilding & Renovating Show (24-27 March), NEC, Birmingham. Find the right products and services to convert, extend, renovate or build a house from scratch. Over 500 exhibitors plus lots of free seminar and masterclasses. www.homebuildingshow.co.uk

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