Wednesday 30 September 2009

interiors, interior design, 100%design,










October Newsletter

With the clocks due to go back this month and a definite chill in the air, welcome to October's Poised to Move newsletter.  

If you saw last month’s newsletter you’ll know I was gearing up for a busy September attending design exhibitions and interiors trade shows.  There was much to see and I want to share some of my favourites with you so you'll find that this month's newsletter is a catalogue of exciting and glorious images that I hope you'll enjoy discovering just as much as I did.

 100% Design www.100percentdesign.co.uk

 I always look forward to 100% as you’re guaranteed to see the cutting edge in all areas of design taking in furniture, lighting, materials, flooring, wall coverings, ceramics, glass and textiles.  So in no particular order, here are some of my favourites from this year’s show.

Anne Kyyro Quinn  www.annekyyroquinn.com


 Anne Kyyro Quinn showed a range of 3-dimensional acoustic wall panels. Made from wool felt these intricately constructed panels diffuse sound and reduce noise levels in public spaces or the home.  So functional yet so very beautiful.

 

Sarah Davenport - http://www.davenportinteriors.co.uk/pages/rockingpiano.html

 I loved Sarah Davenport's Rocking Piano shown as part of the Designers Block display.


Here's a picture of Sarah sitting on her marvellous creation. 







Boxetti - www.boxetti.com

Boxetti showed their ingenious and truly ergonomic Lunch kitchen island that incorporates a sink, fridge, drawers, cupboards, chopping board and even bar seats.  Visit the website to see the similarly multifunctional work, living, bedroom and TV and sound units. www.boxetti.com


 

 

Triflow - www.triflowconcepts.com/triflow-products

Still thinking about the kitchen, crowds gathered on the Triflow stand where everyone wanted to touch the now famous Zaha Hadid designed tap.  


The kitchen and basin versions of the tap have been on the market since the beginning of the year but the £4,500+ VAT price tag ensures sightings of this magnificent object remain a rarity!


Yu Jordy Fu - www.jordyfu.co.uk

 A major attraction on the exhibit floor was the 6 metre long Cloud Walk paper chandelier crafted by Yu Jordy Fu. You can buy smaller versions of Yu Jordy Fu’s work in the form of intricate paper lampshades at http://www.jordyfu.co.uk/shop/collection.html

 

Philip Watts  http://www.philipwattsdesign.com/info.asp?Page=AboutUs

A regular at design shows Philip Watts showed their fabulous range of door furniture along with the new Spoon basin and urinals.  Explore the Philip Watts site and make sure you look at their seating and staircases.

At 1.7 metres high surely this must be the most glamorous door handle on the market.

And bringing glamour to the washroom, the Spoon basin and urinal.


 Armourcoat http://www.armourcoat.com/index.php

Texture was much in evidence and is set to be a feature on all sorts of products and none more so than the Armourcoat sculptural wall panels which look fantastic when dramatically lit.

 

 Molo Designhttp://www.molodesign.com

Another regular at the design shows, Molo Design showed their popular soft seating and modular wall systems along with cloud-like urchin lights. 

They’re all made from stiff robust unbleached paper and are 100% recyclable.

 And so to Decorexwww.decorex.com

 The organisers of Decorex describe it as “an exclusive exhibition dedicated to bringing only the very best and latest merchandise available to interiors professionals” and it’s guaranteed that only pieces of the highest quality will be on show.

Ginny Avisonhttp://www.ginnyavison.co.uk

A noticeable trend this year, and one seen on a number of stands, was patchwork upholstery.  The most dramatic being from Ginny Avison.

If you commission one of these patchwork sofas you’ll be invited to Ginny Avison’s studio to select your own fabrics from their large catalogue of designs, ensuring that your sofa is truly bespoke.

 Wendy Cushing Passmenterie www.wendycushing.com

A regular at Decorex, Wendy Cushing showed her gorgeous passmenterie.  My favourite pieces from her large collection of tassels, fringes and edging are always the tie backs.  

They’re works of art in their own right and I’m waiting for a project where I can use some as artwork.  Just magine how stunning one would look hung in front of a textured wallcovering and lit from above by a narrow pin spot.

Tee Silkwww.teesilk.com

 And for the ultimate in boudoir flooring, Tee Silk showed luxurious crystal encrusted rugs alongside their silk bed linens and cushions.  

Trowbridge Gallery www.trowbridgegallery.com

Trowbridge Gallery had a great display of large format black and white photographic images that were just a tiny (yet very stylish) selection from their vast collection of prints.  


Fromentalwww.fromental.co.uk

And perhaps the last word in luxury – embroidered wallpaper.  Fromental showed some stunning papers, find out more at  www.fromental.co.uk

And lastly a word about Focus held at the Design Centre at Chelsea Harbour.  It looks like we'll be seeing soft colours and a wealth of embroidered silks in our future interiors.  This was a trend that all the fabric houses seemed to embrace and virtually everybody launched at least one new collection for Autumn 2009 that featured pastel coloured silks with embroidered leaves, flowers and blossom motives being very much in evidence.  My favourites were at Romo and here's a selection from their new Licia collection.

www.Romo.com



Their Samsara range is all 100% cotton or linen but still features lovely soft colours and prints from nature.


Have a great October and join us next month for another update on the world of interiors.

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Sunday 6 September 2009







September 2009 Newsletter

September heralds the start of an exciting season of events and launches in the interiors world.  

The highlight being the London Design Festival.  A full two weeks packed with design and interiors events taking place all over London that include exhibitions, talks, product launches and trade shows.   Major interiors events during the Festival are 100% Design at Earls Court, Decorex at Chelsea Hospital, Focus at the brilliant Design Centre at Chelsea Harbour, Tent at 
the Truman Brewery and if you visit the Victoria and Albert Museum you'll discover specially commissioned pieces dotted all around the museum. 




For more information on this massive event visit:  www.londondesignfestival.com


The highlight of the Festival for me is 100% Design covering everything from furniture, lighting, 
surfaces, the latest in sustainable materials as well as product launches of established design companies and brand new talent.
100% Design encompasses 100% Detail, 
100% Materials and 
100% Futures highlights the talent of tomorrow.  It's really a trade show but opens it's doors to the public on Sunday 27 September.  If you're interested in design give yourself a treat and make sure you get to 100%.

To find out more about 100% Design, click on this link to see a video of last years show:

http://www.100percentdesign.co.uk/page.cfm/link=363

If your love is fabrics and soft furnishings then the event for you is FOCUS at Chelsea Harbour Design Centre. Running from 27 - 30 September the Chelsea Harbour Design Centre is home to over 70 showrooms of the major fabrics, furniture, flooring, lighting. wallcoverings and accessories companies as well as the renowned klc School of Design.  FOCUS is a trade show but the doors open to the public on Wednesday 30 September with an excellent seminar programme where major names in the interiors world deliver a series of lectures throughout the day.  A special onsite restaurant will be created during Focus and these seminar days always make for a great day out. Visit the Chelsea Harbour site for more information (the animated features make moving around the site slow and annoying but do persevere).   Visit www.chelsea-harbour.co.uk/

Another show I'll be visiting during the London Design Festival is Decorex held in some rather glamorous tents in the grounds of Chelsea Hospital.  It's another interiors trade show but the public are welcome to attend on the afternoon of Tuesday 29 September.  Exhibitors at Decorex are high end and you can expect to see bespoke furniture, exclusive hand made tiles, custom made flooring, sumptuous wallcoverings, fabrics and lighting.








http://www.decorex.com/page.cfm/NewSection=Yes/GoSection=0

GRAND DESIGNS BIRMINGHAM
The London Design Festival is great if you live in the South but if you're further north then you won't have to wait too long until Grand Designs Live hosted by Kevin McCloud opens at Birmingham's NEC from the 9 - 11 October.  Go to www.granddesignslive.com for more information.

GREEN ISSUES
The Phasing out of incandescent light bulbs

I've been asked by a couple of clients this week to explain the EU regulations regarding the phasing out of 100 watt and all frosted incandescent light bulbs.  There's been a bit of scare mongering in the press in the past couple of weeks making people nervous about whether they'll still be able to use light fittings they already have in their homes.  The answer is there's no need to worry as the industry is working hard to produce alternative eco-friendly replacements to the old bulbs that we've become used to.  Philips and Osram lead the field so when you next need to change a light bulb check out what's available from these two companies.  The Osram website has an informative section that compares the light output of the old high wattage incandescent bulbs with new energy saving replacements.  In terms of dimmer switches, Lutron is the brand to look out for as it's a world leader in dimming technology and continues to forge ahead in the development stakes.
 
Here's the official word on the phasing out of incandescent light bulbs from the European Union,  the following is an extract from their official press release website:

"From September 2009, lamps equivalent in light output to 100W transparent conventional incandescent bulbs and above will have to be at least class C (improved incandescent bulbs with halogen technology instead of conventional incandescent bulbs).

By the end of 2012, the other wattage levels will follow and will also have to reach at least class C.  The most commonly used bulbs, the 60W will remain available until September 2011 and 40W and 25W bulbs until September 2012".

AND FINALLY

As lighting is a topical issue this month let me share the addresses of a few of my favourite lighting designers and artisans.

Firstly Robert Kaindl, a true artisan and master of glass blowing who produces stunningly beautiful fantasy pieces.
http://www.robertkaindl.com/index.htm

Sharon Marston
If you've never seen Sharon Marston's work you'll be blown away by these gorgeous waterfalls of light that give a whole new meaning to the term 'fibre optic technology'.
http://www.sharonmarston.com/

Bruce Munro
A lighting designer who is a master of sculptural lighting and dramatic light installations.
http://www.brucemunro.co.uk/home.asp

Have a great month.  
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