Welcome to our monthly newsletter, providing you with the latest events and courses, trend forecasts, new sources, and answers to your interior design problems.
NEWS: COME AND VISIT US THIS MONTH !

We will be promoting The House Directory at both Decorex (stand K320) and 100% Design (stand C101) this year. See below for details.

Tips & Trends

Over the years, I have amassed a motley collection of ethnic textiles and rugs. Last month, I moved my goods and chattels less than a mile down the road and those rugs either the worse for wear, worn or simply riddled with moth holes should have ended up in the dustbin. Instead I packed them …

Having recklessly ripped up the bedroom carpets that I acquired with my new property, I was faced with an unfeasibly expensive replacement option. So, starting with the rug in the worst condition, I have covered the bare wooden floorboards in layers of exotic colour and texture, regardless of pattern or provenance. My bedroom now resembles a souk, is soft underfoot and, best of all, the new look has cost me nothing! Karen Howes

Karen Howes is a director of The Interior Archive, a stock photo library that specialises in images of the world’s most distinctive properties, selling single images and editorial features.
www.interiorarchive.com


This month don't miss


International Antiques & Collectors Fair (7-8 Sept), Ardingly, nr Haywards Heath, West Sussex. Around 1700 stands selling (almost) everything you could possibly imagine. www.iacf.co.uk

Heritage Open Days (11-12 Sept), National Trust properties nationwide. Over 190 historic properties will open their doors to the public for free. To see which are taking part, visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk

Top Drawer Autumn (12-14 Sept), Olympia, London
A trade show with 700 suppliers of gifts, home accessories, jewellery, cards & stationery, outdoor products and more. www.topdrawerautumn.com

20/21 British Art Fair (15-19 Sept), Royal College of Art, Kensington Gore, SW7. Now in its 23rd year, this fair brings together 60 exhibitors selling paintings, original prints, drawings and sculpture. Over a hundred years of British art, with prices from the low hundreds to hundreds of thousands. www.britishartfair.co.uk

Brighton Art Fair (16-19 Sept), Corn Exchange, Church St, Brighton.
The largest art exhibition on the South Coast brings together about 130 of the most talented national painters, printmakers, photographers and sculptors along with artist groups and Sussex based galleries. www.brightonartfair.co.uk

Luxury Antiques Weekend (17-19 Sept), Stapleford Park Country House Hotel, Stapleford, near Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire. Twenty antiques dealers from around the country (mostly members of BADA or LAPADA), will be selling town and country furniture, jewellery, oriental rugs, oils, watercolour paintings and original book illustrations, 19th century and contemporary sculpture to fine porcelain, glass and objets d’art. www.staplefordparkfair.com

Open House London (18-19 Sept). The capital’s largest architectural showcase is now in its 18th year. Hundreds of great buildings of all types and periods open their doors to the public, with FREE admission (NB some tours must be pre-booked). www.open-city.org.uk

The London Design Festival (18-26 Sept). An annual event celebrating British design. Visit over 200 specific events and activities over nine days to sample the extraordinary diversity of world-class design talent in the capital. For more information, visit www.londondesignfestival.com or call 020-7734 6444.

Off the Floor (21 Sep-2 Oct), Retrouvius, 2a Ravensworth Road, Kensal Green, London NW10. Salvage and design business Retrouvius is opening its expanded warehouse space for the first in a series of collaborative exhibitions. Two new designers, Fabien Capello and Daniel Heath, re-fashion salvaged materials. Open 10-8 (Sun 12-6). www.retrouvius.com

The Lapada Art & Antiques Fair (22-26 Sept), Berkeley Square, London W1. After its successful launch last year, this glamorous fair returns to its purpose-built marquee in Mayfair. Some 80 members of the UK's largest association of art & antique dealers will be selling contemporary and traditional fine art, furniture, sculpture, jewellery, silver, watches, clocks, glass and ceramics. www.lapadalondon.com

The Chelsea Antiques Fair (22-26 Sept), Chelsea Old Town Hall, King's Road, London SW3. Thirty-five dealers take part, offering formal and country furniture, ceramics, oil and watercolour paintings, fine silver and jewellery. Prices from under £100 to over £20,000.Visitor Information Tel: 01825 744074 www.penman-fairs.co.uk

Autumn Colour Planting (22 Sept, 6.30-9.00pm), Clifton Nurseries, Clifton Villas, London, W9. Get your hands dirty and plant up and take home a window box-full of richly coloured autumnal plants.The evening costs £25 per person, which includes all materials (box, soil and plants) and light refreshments.Discounted shopping on the night. For tickets contact: guy.pullen@clifton.co.uk or call 020 74321866.

Origin: the London Craft Fair (23-29 Sept), Old Spitalfields Market London E1. Now in a new location in the refurbished Old Spitalfields Market, Origin is an annual showcase of original contemporary craft, presenting 220 of the most innovative UK and international makers. It offers a rare chance to buy directly from the makers and meet them face to face. www.originuk.org

100% Design (23-26 Sept), Earl's Court Two, London, SW5. The UK’s best-known contemporary interiors event. Presenting big brands, emerging talent and new building materials, 100% Design attracts leading manufacturers, star designers and specifiers from the UK and overseas. For more information or to register, log on to www.100percentdesign.co.uk

Tent London (23-26 Sept), Truman Brewery, Brick Lane.
In a vast, reclaimed industrial site in Brick Lane, Tent London is a diverse design exhibition consisting of shows, competitions and installations covering art and architecture, vintage and contemporary design by emerging and established designers, dealers, retailers, manufacturers and brands from around the world. www.tentlondon.co.uk

The London Art Book Fair 2010 (24-26 Sept), Whitechapel Gallery, London E1. An annual event which brings together individual artist publishers, galleries, magazines, colleges, arts publishing houses, rare book dealers and distributors, plus a programme of talks and events. Admission free and books on sale at up to 40% off. www.whitechapelgallery.org

The Textile Society’s London Antique Textile Fair (26 Sept), Kensington Town Hall, London W8. The Textile Society are launching their first London fair. There will be 130 stands piled high with textiles and garments from all over the world from 17th century to the 1970s. www.textilesociety.org.uk

Vintage Fashion & Textiles Fair (26 Sept), The Armitage Centre, Fallowfield, Manchester. Vintage clothes, antique textiles, couture designer items and accessories. www.decorativefairs.co.uk

Focus 09 (26-29 Sept), Chelsea Harbour, London SW10. The Design Centre showrooms (and selected showrooms in Chelsea) present their latest collections. The first three days are trade only, and on Wed 29th everyone is welcome. For information, call 020-7225 9101 or email enquiries@chelsea-harbour.co.uk

Decorex International (26-29 Sept), Royal Hospital Grounds, London SW3. A place of annual pilgrimage for interior designers, buyers and architects from all over the world and a ‘don’t miss’ in the annual decoration calendar. Over 300 top interior companies take part, including The House Directory – don’t forget to come and see us on stand K320 ! Visit www.decorex.com to register.

The Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair (28-Sept-3 Oct), The Marquee, Battersea Park, London SW11. This thrice-yearly fair, in the relaxed surroundings of The Marquee in leafy Battersea Park, has around 140 exhibitors and is an excellent source of painted furniture, Gustavian & Swedish design, 20th century design, lighting, accessories and named-design furniture, and excellent mirrors. For a free email ticket for two, contact pr@pipparoberts.com, quoting The House Directory. www.decorativefair.com


























Date in Your Diary

 Palace Art Fair (8–10 October), Fulham Palace, London SW6. A new art fair organised by the team behind the Brighton Art Fair. Over 100 artists across all media will exhibit and sell their work direct to the public. To take up a special offer of 2 tickets for the price of one, simply e-mail your name and address to 241@palaceartfair.co.uk before 2nd October. www.palaceartfair.co.uk
New Books

Textile Designs: 200 Years of Patterns for Printed Fabrics arranged by Motif, Colour, Period and Design by Susan Meller (Thames & Hudson, £35)
A lavish visual encyclopaedia of patterned fabrics used for clothing and interior decoration which will be an inspiration to fashion and decoration professionals, to designers in the graphic and visual arts, and to quiltmakers and collectors.

The BIID Interior Design Job Book by Stephen Yakeley and Diana Yakeley (£49.95, RIBA Publishing). This useful manual sets out the professional standard for running an interior design project. Suitable for all interior designers – whether working alone or as part of a design team, and on projects of all sizes – it provides guidance for every stage of a job, from appraisal of the client’s requirements through to practical completion and payment.

The authors will be signing copies of their book at 12.30pm on Tues 28th Sept at the RIBA Bookshop in Chelsea Harbour, W10. For info on other ‘meet the author’ events on during Focus, or to order these books, go to www.ribabookshops.com



Sales

Surface Sale and Warehouse Clearance (17 Sept-9 Oct). Up to 30% off tiles, stones and mosaics at their London and Surrey showrooms. Plus a Warehouse Clearance Sale on Sat 25 Sept with 80% off surplus stock and end-of-line collections. www.surfacetiles.com

www.thehousedirectory.com