|
|
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
‘One of the most distinctive interior trends in recent years has been the resurgence in popularity of patchwork. Not only in the traditional way of quilting but in a variety of ways throughout the home. This year this trend is taken one step further with upcycling. Our interest in ethical and sustainable production has now morphed into making the most of "waste" products. Hatty Fawcett, Founder, SeekandAdore.com
SeekandAdore.com brings together the work of designer makers - from homewares to jewellery and fashion accessories. Among their continually evolving range of products are cushions and quilts by Ao Textiles, who take fabric remnants from the Gainsborough Silk Weaving Company and "upcycle" them to create new and beautiful products. The pieces of silk are patched (using traditional patchwork-making skills) and then over-dyed using natural plant colour. Their favourite red dye comes from a madder root grown in Plumstead in South East London. www.seekandadore.com
|
|
|
|
Members' News
Lewis & Wood are opening a stylish new showroom in collaboration with C&C Milano at The Design Centre Chelsea Harbour on March 11 (it opens to the public on March 14). Their beautiful and eclectic collection of fabrics and wide-width wallpapers will be on show alongside C&C Milano's exquisite linen collections and home accessories. 105 - 106 First Floor Design Centre East, Chelsea Harbour, London SW10 0XF. www.lewisandwood.co.uk
Felt’s newest collection of geometric wool rugs (called Shyrdacks) includes brilliant shades as well as calm, sophisticated neutrals. Made by tribal women in Kyrgyzstan, each one takes 10-20 days to complete. www.feltrugs.co.uk
From artist and maker Bridie Hall comes a new collection of fantastic objects inspired by the Grand Tour and historic England, but with a quirky contemporary spin. It includes beautifully packaged scented candles, vibrant intaglio boxes and Hall’s unique decoupage plates, all made in her London studio. See Bridie Hall at Home at Ben Pentreath Ltd at 17 Rugby St, London WC1, www.benpentreath.com
Gaze Burvill are holding a Workshop Open Day on 9-10 March. It’s a chance to pick up ex-display bargains, and to see demonstrations of some of the techniques they use to create their garden furniture, including steam-bending. They will have finished pieces and also recently commissioned work in progress. Plus flatbread cooked on site in one of Jamie Oliver’s new wood-fired ovens ! www.gazeburvill.com
See Architectural Heritage’s latest interesting and unusual finds in their new Spring catalogue of Period Garden Statuary, Architectural Elements and Modern Sculpture. www.architectural-heritage.co.uk
Curtain & soft furnishings maker Gina Moore has launched a new business. Gina Take a Bow sells embroidered borders that are perfect for embellishing curtains, blinds and cushions. You can buy them by the metre, or buy a DIY kit to make your own tie-backs, cushions or shoulder bags. Plus there’s a 10% discount for all orders in March. www.ginatakeabow.co.uk
The Harlequin Group has just launched a new brand of fabrics and wallpapers called Scion, aimed at ‘trend-savvy’ customers. The first collection, Melinki, has a really good mix of designs - from 'coastal calm' to 'retro kitsch' - all made in the UK and accessibly-priced. www.scion.uk.com
For all budding design students – the annual GoodWeave UK rug design competition is back and open to entries from students aged 18 or over. This year the theme for the brief is ‘retro funk’. This charity, which works to end illegal child labour in the rug industry, organizes the competition to highlight the importance of ethical manufacturing processes to new designers at the very beginning of their careers. Our member companies Rugstore NE and Bazaar Velvet are partners. www.goodweave.org.uk
|
|
|
|
Sales
Celia Birtwell Clearance Sale (Mon 5-Friday 16 March), 71 Westbourne Park Road, London W2. Pick up some of Celia Birtwell’s iconic fabrics from as little as £10 a metre…
www.celiabirtwell.com
|
|
|
|
New Books
Living in Style London (£45, www.teneues.com). This book takes you on a tour of some very different London residences. Ranging from stately classical to forward-looking, they all have a ‘London attitude’ - a mixture of comfort and glamour - often with an unusual choice of materials. It’s a lavishly illustrated book which showcases the work of some of the best-known interior designers - Tara Bernerd, Rabih Hage, David Carter, Stephen Ryan, Veere Grenney and last but not least Geraldine Apponyi and Monika Apponyi, who are also the editors of this book (and who will be signing copies at London Design Week on Sunday March 11 at 1pm at RIBA Bookshop at Chelsea Harbour Design Centre). www.ribabookshops.com
Interiors stylist Selina Lake and writer Joanna Simmons’ bright Homespun Style showcases homes around the world in which a homely, crafty look has been given a modern twist with vivid colours, tactile fabrics and bold combinations. It also focuses on imaginative ways to recycle and reuse, from transforming furniture with a lick of paint to finding inspired new uses for everyday items. The photographs are by Debi Treloar.
www.rylandpeters.com
And there’s more recycling and upcycling in Fleamarket Chic by Liz Bauwens and Alexandra Campbell. In modern rooms, a distressed chair or a vintage mirror adds a perfect finishing touch. And in traditional decorating schemes, fleamarket chic is a key part of the mix: faded textiles, weathered furniture, mis-matched china and the occasional flamboyant lamp or work of art are all part of the charm. (£19.99 www.cicobooks.com)
|
|
|
|
Don't Miss This Month (free tickets and 2 for 1 offers !)
Manchester Antique Textile Fair (4 March), Armitage Centre, Fallow Field, Manchester. A favourite with enthusiasts of antique and vintage textiles and costumes. Open 10-4.30. www.textilesociety.org.uk
International Antique & Collectors’ Fair (6-7 March), South of England Showground, Ardingly, West Sussex . One of the antiques world’s best-known fixtures, this fair boasts up to 1,700 stalls and is only one hour from London. Tuesday is trade day, Wednesday public entry. www.dmgantiquefairs.com
23rd Bath Decorative & Antiques Fair (8-10 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. And on Thursday 8 March at 3 pm the television presenter Kirstie Allsopp will present the awards to the lucky winners of Britain's Best Antiques Shops as part of National Antiques Week. www.bathdecorativeantiquesfair.co.uk
La Dolce Vita (9-11 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
Luxury Antiques Weekend (9-11 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 take a printed copy of our newsletter and show it at the door. (tickets are £5) www.lindenhallfair.com
London Design Week 2012 (11-16 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 over 500 brands and 91 showrooms!) and take part in forums, design lectures and masterclasses. 11-13 March are trade days, and the general public is welcome from 14-16 March. For event details call 020-7225 9166 or look at www.dcch.co.uk
Embroidery Workshop (12 March, 5-7pm), Maharani, 173 Fulham Road, SW3. Indian-inspired textiles: Thomas Wardle and the Leek Embroidery Society. Mrs Elizabeth Wardle and the Leek Embroidery Society created beautiful embroidered textiles for church and domestic use from c1880. This two-hour workshop (with tutors from the Royal School of Needlework) consists of a short introduction followed by stitch tuition on hand-block printed Indian cotton using stitching techniques, including long and short, back, stem, buttonhole, French knot and couching. For tickets (£25) email sarah.mahaffy@zen.co.uk www.maharanitrading.com
Landscape Show (15-17 March), Olympia, London. Launched last year, this is a trade exhibition for all those involved with interior & exterior landscaping and landscape gardening. Manufacturers and suppliers of everything from cut flowers and vases through to pots and flag stones, conservatories and water features will be exhibiting. www.landscapeshow.co.uk
The Affordable Art Fair (15-18 March), Battersea Park, London SW11. This popular fair is celebrating its return to Battersea Park this spring by offering our readers a 2-for-1 offer on admission tickets. The fair offers contemporary photography, paintings, prints and sculpture from both big names and up-and-coming artists all for under £4,000. To redeem the offer, simply print this page and present it at the ticket desk when purchasing your tickets (usual price £12-15). www.affordableartfair.co.uk
Shepton Mallet International Antique & Collectors Fair (16-18 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
Ideal Home Show (16 March- 1 April), Earl’s Court, London. Harveys is the exclusive sherry partner 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 ‘Harveys Half Hour’ with a chilled Harveys Bristol Cream over ice with a slice of orange on their stand in Ideal Garden (1E46). The first 10 people to email us on info@thehousedirectory.com stating ‘Harveys - Ideal Home Show tickets’ will receive two tickets to the show. www.harveyshalfhour.co.uk For tickets call 0844 858 6763 or go to www.idealhomeshow.co.uk
Ecobuild (20-22 March), Earl’s Court, London. Billed as the biggest event in the world for sustainable design and construction. Over 1,300 exhibitors, plus seminars, demonstrations and new product launches. www.ecobuild.co.uk
BADA Antiques & Fine Art Fair (21-27 March), Duke of York’s Square, off Sloane Square, London SW3. Celebrating its 20th anniversary, this is 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 (21-25 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 (21-25 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 London Antique Rug & Textile Fair (22-25 March), The Showroom, 93 Penfold Street, off Church Street, Marylebone, London, NW8. Launched last year, this souk-like fair is dedicated to antique rugs, carpets and textiles. View and purchase exotic items originating from Anatolia, the Caucasus, Persia, Central Asia, India and China as well as from Europe and Africa, and from all periods up to the early 20th century. Entry is free. www.larta.net
Pick Me Up – Contemporary Graphic Art Fair (22 March-1 April), Somerset House, Strand, London WC2. This contemporary graphic art fair is back, with an exhuberant mix of artworks for sale, at accessible prices. www.somersethouse.org.uk
The National Homebuilding & Renovating Show (29 March- 1 April), 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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
www.thehousedirectory.com
|
|