Poised to Move: February Newsletter

February Newsletter

I'm rather late in posting this month's design blog but nevertheless it's still packed with interesting design gems that I've come across in the past month or so.

I mentioned that I would be going to the Interiors show in Birmingham last month and sadly it was a much reduced exhibition and I have to say that there was nothing new to report. However there's still lots of cool things to tell you about.

Wallpaper-on-the-ceiling Trend

We've seen a number of trends when it comes to wallpaper in terms of style and what we paper and although the feature wall is still going strong there's been a move to doing something completely different. So where's the only place we've not yet seen it? Yes, you're right - the ceiling. I've seen a few images in the past couple of months of rooms with paper on the ceiling and it's not as odd as it sounds. I'm not sure I'll be able to persuade a client to take the plunge but I think it would be fun to try in the loo or a cloakroom.

Wallpapered Furniture

Perhaps a tamer and more easily acceptable wallpaper trend is wallpapered furniture. Byronie Porter creates really eye catching pieces and here's a favourite clad in the famous noughties version of toile de jouy from Timorous Beasties. Find out more at http://www.bryonieporter.com

And a few more little beauties.

Bathroom Trend 01 - Coloured Taps

Taking the lead from Byronie Porter and re-thinking a standard piece of furniture Vola, a manufacturer of bathroom products from Denmark, has produced a colourful range of taps. They're powder coated and available in a dozen colours and I'm sure we'll see other manufacturers following suit soon. Cute aren't they?

Bathroom Trend 02 - The Bath Filler

A fitting I've been using for a few years now when refurbishing client's bathrooms is the bath filler. Easily mistaken as the over flow it combines both functions and avoids having to sit taps on the side of the bath or on the wall and most manufacturers now include them in their range. It makes for a much sleeker look to the bathroom and is easier to clean around the bath.

Bathroom Trend 03 - Patricia Urquiola at Hansgrohe

Still in the bathroom Hansgrohe have just added a major international design name to their stylish Axor range. Patricia Urquiola has designed a free-standing bath and a basin that recall the shape of traditional washing troughs. The basin has a looped handle at either side and the bath has one which you can use as a towel holder.

AXOR/Hansgrohe: Axor Urquiola Wash Bowl small

Urquiola has designed a complementary range of taps and basin mixers that cleverly incorporate a soap dish or toothbrush/mug holder.

Bathroom Trend 04 - Planetarium in your Bathroom

Sega Toys has been selling a plug-in planetarium projection system for some time for about £160 but it's about to launch the Homestar Acqua battery powered version that you can use in the bathroom. The system projects around 10,000 stars onto a circular area of almost 2 metres onto the ceiling of your bathroom and there is even a shooting star function so you can wish upon a star as you dream happily in the bath.

Bathroom Trend no 5 - The Light Switch

Up until now all light switches have had to be placed outside the bathroom unless they're the pull-cord type. Altma Lighting Ltd have now launched a set of water-proof light switches and dimmers that meet all the safety and building regulations that can actually be placed inside the bathroom. The range includes these wafer thin single and double switches and dimmers. In fact

I had a client only a couple of months ago who was keen to have light switches inside her en-suite but the electrician and I insisted that she couldn't have that - if only we'd known about about Altma's switches then!

Homewares Bargains Online

The people from the fashion on-line store ASOS have launched a new website dedicated to Homewares. Like the fashion site there are high quality items at knock down prices and sales from different manufacturers are regularly launched. Recently they had 400-thread bed linen from Delorme and Delbanco Meyer at a third of the price and lovely glassware from Bar Originals. Go to www.achica.com for more info and to see what's coming up next.

Lighting - Balance by Windfall

It wouldn't be the a Poised to Move newsletter if I didn't include something about lighting. I went to the Arc Show which is a trade show for lighting professionals and the star attraction for me was the lovely and unique Balance by Windfall. Unlike a traditional chandelier that has a number of arms joined at a central point with lights on the end of each arm the Balance is a series of individual Swarovski candle pieces that are individually suspended and lit from above by LEDs. Because the pieces are not joined they give a magical floating effect - think of that scene in Harry Potter with candles magically floating in the air in the dining hall. The pieces can be hung in any formation or suspended individually over a kitchen island to provide good task lighting.

Upcoming Shows and Places to Visit in March

March is almost upon us and there are a couple of events I would recommend to you in you're in the London area.

Firstly the Affordable Art Fair held in Battersea Park, London. Over 120 galleries will be representing their artists and pieces can be bought from £50 to a maximum of £3,000. This is the place to discover who or what you like and maybe you'll even pick up an investment for the future too. Tickets cost £12 each but if you go to this site you can print off a 2-for-1 voucher to present at the door.

http://www.thegoodwebguide.co.uk/?PAGEID=011161

London Design Week - 22 - 26 March, Chelsea Design Centre, London

This is a trade show held at the Chelsea Design Centre where the major fabric, lighting, flooring, tile and furniture companies showcase their collections but Friday 26 March is open to the public and there is a seminar programme sponsored by the magazine Livingetc. The day costs only £20 and is excellent value for money as you'll hear big names in interior design talking about their work and inspiration and of course have the opportunity to visit all the showrooms as well. If you've not been to the Chelsea Design Centre and I would highly recommend this as a great day out. You can find out more information at:

http://www.designcentrechelseaharbour.co.uk

This site has a lot of flash on it and is cumbersome to get through but persevere and go to the Events section to find out more and book tickets.

A Final Funny ......

Like last month here's another design oddity that caught my eye. This time it's weird coffin designs. Not at all macabre but to be viewed as a last chance to make your stamp on the world I feel!