Here’s some advice for anyone who has hired an architect, interior designer or
decorator, and wants to talk to them in the next few days: don’t call their
office, they won’t be in. They will be at one of the plethora of design
shows on in Britain, some of which are part of the London Design Festival,
which runs for ten days until September 25.
Anyone planning to overhaul their home should also be going, as the festival
is Europe’s biggest interiors event: a showcase for the best styling and the
latest technology, with something for every pocket and any taste.
But which to visit? That depends on what changes you want to make. Our
seven-page guide talks you through the hottest trends for every room in the
house, and where to find them. To get the inside track on colours, flooring
and fabrics, go to Decorex or 100% Design. High-end designers, architects
and furniture-makers – among them the interior designer Kelly Hoppen, the
furniture brand Andrew Martin, Blenheim Carpets and Chesney’s, the
fire-surround company – and bespoke brands all show at Decorex. Prices will
probably be steeper, and the overall tone more conservative, than at
exhibitions such as 100% Design, ReDesign, or Tent London, which showcase
more cutting-edge work – think the furniture designer Tom Dixon, the
wallpaper company Cole & Son, and Ercol, the funky retro
furniture-maker. Don’t miss the satellite shows: 100% Design has several,
including 100% Detail, which has a concentration of sustainable materials,
as does Eureka, part of the ReDesign workshops. Products there are all in
production; offerings elsewhere may still be prototypes. For fabric, head to
Focus, where you’ll see collections from the likes of Zoffany and Jane
Churchill.
Not all shows are open to the public every day, but they all have at least one
day that is, usually at the weekend. They are vast, inspiring and make a
great day out, even if you don’t buy anything. Try to visit several, so any
decision about significant changes is an informed one. Where else can you
find the best design that Britain has to offer, all under one roof?
Regardless of which show you visit, remember that great design is timeless, as
Martin Waller, director of Andrew Martin, points out when asked which
designer he rates the most. In his eyes, it’s the anonymous artisans behind
China’s terracotta army, on display at the British Museum: “What
unbelievable skill – to make a product that still inspires 2,000 years
later.”
THE BEDROOM
Lately, bedroom fashion has been all about the linen, not the bed itself.
That’s changing, as the enthusiasm for statement pieces and
reinterpretations of antiques gains momentum. A great example is the
four-poster: a sizeable bit of kit that, until now, has been impractical in
many of the nation’s sleeping quarters. Now it’s been scaled down and
reworked. In many cases, the canopy has gone, but the wooden posts, with
intricate carving and turning, can be works of art in themselves, with the
detail sometimes emerging through a layer of limewash. Lines are clean and
simple, so keep the linen in the same spirit and ditch the overstuffed
bolsters and fake-fur throws you bought a few seasons ago. That’s one of the
great things about the bedroom – it is the simplest room in the house to
update as you can easily change the look with accessories.
The baroque is still big, but the boudoir effect is passé. Instead, try
tone-on-tone layers of linen, in neutrals such as stone and smoky grey. And
opt for raw linens to be really ecofriendly. If you want a splash of colour,
don’t go for a block. Even Designers Guild, famed for its rich shades, has
lightened up: its new Flores range of bed linen still features bursts of hot
pink and teal, but only as an accent. Strong colour has moved to the walls,
where you shouldn’t be afraid to go bold – what you’re trying to do is
create a cosy nest.
Sally Bendelow, head of Home at Marks & Spencer, says shades of purple,
from amethyst to plum, are hot, and texture is a strong theme.
“Think shiny chrome or mirrored furniture, smooth velvet, silk, cashmere,
crystals, matt woods, ceramics, even leather – and don’t forget conventional
jacquards,” she says. However, she warns against going overboard – the idea
is a look of pared-down opulence.
The fitted wardrobe is back, but make sure it is professionally fitted.
Everything, from the television to jewellery cases, can go inside. Then feed
your inner diva with a truly divine dressing table.
Shows to visit: Decorex, the Chelsea Antiques Fair; greatbighomeandfurniturestore.com
THE LIVING ROOM
Oversized is this season’s hot trend, following the lead of the Belgian Marcel
Wanders. Lights, furniture, rugs, patterns – you name it, it’s big. And, at
last, the square, boxy sofa in neutral fabrics is dead: long live colour.
Adopt the theory behind statement pieces, and make sure the colours you use
on your walls, upholstery and flooring complement each other – which even
traditionally “clashing” colours can do. Try teaming purple and orange, for
instance, or blue and green: it can work.
The look is all about juxtaposition, says Sandra Drechsler, creative director
of Taylor Howes, the London-based interior-design studio. “Modern classics
such as the Eames chair and Saarinen Tulip table are back in fashion,” she
explains. “And look out for Jonathan Adler, an American interior designer
and furniture-maker. His retro-inspired style is on target for next season
and is refreshingly playful.”
Gold, new metallic and pearlised finishes show no sign of fading away, and
it’s the finish itself, not the metal of the object, that’s important. If
all this sounds a step too far, you’ll be relieved to know that plain black
and white is also back in vogue. Carrara marble is the flooring of choice
for high-end design clients. If you can’t run to that, try limestone or some
of the synthetic coverings that mimic the effect – though nothing beats the
real thing.
Shows to visit:100% Design, Tent London, Focus, Decorex
THE KITCHEN
The best tip for anyone investing in a new kitchen is this: do not, whatever
you do, go for a highly fashionable or seasonal colour. This advice comes
from someone who knows: Daniel Prozeller, sales director of Schiffini, the
Italian manufacturer that developed the modular-kitchen concept in the
1940s. “A kitchen is a serious investment, and you want it to look good for
many years to come, winter or summer,” he says. High-gloss turquoise was
huge a few years ago, just as black is now. If you do want a strong colour,
however, pick one you love and know you can live with for years.
Otherwise, go neutral. This doesn’t mean just white or beige – there are lots
of other neutral shades, such as parchment. If you must have the colour du
jour, use it on the walls (you can always repaint later) or in
accessories as opposed to. If you can’t change it quickly and cheaply, don’t
use it.
So, what will look up to the minute and stay looking good for years to come?
For Prozeller, aluminium is the answer. It looks softer and warmer than
stainless steel, it is lighter, cheaper and easier to use, and it is
available in anodised black and silver. Combine it with lacquer and wood for
a more eclectic look, and think about using exotic veneers for cabinets,
worktops and floors: bamboo, for instance, is a popular, durable and
ecofriendly material.
The combination of such “softer” metals and woods is a welcome change from the
harsh edges of industrial-style kitchens – all angles and stainless steel.
In any utilitarian room, the trend is to try to create furniture that would
also be perfectly at home in your living room. General lighting can be
low-level, with cabinets “floated” slightly off the walls, to create a more
open, airy appearance. Good lighting is crucial in working areas where
knives, hot pots and pans are involved. Lighting can do more than just
illuminate a workspace – it can create fabulous effects. If your budget can
run to it, Prozeller suggests backlighting a solid sheet of naturally
translucent onyx (£800 per metre, from Stone Age; 020 7384 9090, www.stone-age.co.uk).
Those with more dash than cash can employ the same effect behind a glass
splashback. Seeking inspiration? Smaller firms and individual designers
often produce exciting one-offs.
Shows to visit:100% Design, Tent London, ReDesign
THE BATHROOM
Sepia-brown or royal-blue bathroom, anyone? No thanks. Thankfully, we learnt
our lesson about the folly of coloured bathrooms years ago – and let’s not
even mention gold taps.
If you’re overhauling your bathroom, says Laurence Pidgeon, director of
Alternative Plans, one of the UK’s leading bathroom and kitchen design
studios, leave the avocado in the kitchen where it belongs. “The look,” he
says, “is, wrongly perhaps, considered to be a kind of zen minimalism – how
a Scandinavian architect might approach a Japanese bathroom.”
In plain English, what you are aiming for is purity, simplicity and
cleanliness, so sanitaryware should be white, chrome or stainless steel.
Natural finishes look fantastic – think limestone, matt marble, wood veneer,
even coloured glass – and all these materials look great as trim or in
cabinets. When designing the layout, remember to include furniture: it’s
remarkable how much we need to store in a bathroom. For a softer look, go
for a mouldable material such as Corian, which is more often found in
kitchens. It has some even more adaptable relatives, such as Exmar and
Crystal Plant, which give sanitaryware a soft, sensuous and lightweight
feel. These materials also come in a range of subtle shades.
If you want to incorporate bolder colour, limit it to splashbacks of coloured
glass mosaics or backpainted glass wall panels, which are increasingly
replacing conventional ceramic tiles. You can also change them easily.
Bathrooms in the 1990s were temples to hedonism; in the Noughties, they have
two roles. They must transform into virtual day spas for one – or two – but
must also be somewhere to take a quick shower on a workday morning.
Crucially, there should be continuity and flow between here and the rest of
the house. Pidgeon is particularly keen on the work of Agape (www.agapedesign.it),
Boffi (www.boffi. com), Flaminia (www.ceramicaflaminia.it),
Dornbracht (www.dornbracht.com) and
Bisazza (www.bisazza.it), all of which
employ trendsetting designers and architects.
Shows to visit: Decorex, 100% Design – and don’t neglect the satellite
shows at both
