One of the busiest weeks in the interiors calendar, London Design Week featured a plethora of events at a multitude of sites all across the Capital. From stunning hand-made pieces at London Design Fair in the East End to heaps of meet the designer sessions at swanky Chelsea Harbour, there was plenty to see and do for the interior’s obsessive.
100% Design
Kensington’s Olympia played host once again to the largest and longest running trade event (with a day open to the public on the Saturday) and it celebrated its 25th year with Design Fresh, showcasing breakthrough new talent from the industry.
Highlights included A Sense of Finland, sited in a specially constructed eco log house which featured the very best of Finnish furniture, lighting and interiors and allowed visitors to fully experience the sights, sounds, taste and smells of Finland for themselves. Inside the house was filled with calming sounds of the Finnish forest with interior design that focused on sustainability and well-being. Closer to home was Underground Vol. II, Kirkby Design’s second collaboration with Transport for London, featuring seven designs from TFL’s archives that have been readapted as luxury velvets in geometric patterns with a modern spin on the colour palette.
DESIGN JUNCTION
The regeneration in King’s Cross makes it an attractive place to visit these days and no less so when Design junction is running. The premier design district – which includes the hip boutique store destination Coal Drops Yard, and the ever inspiring Central Saint Martins art school – this year showcased new and exciting brands shaping design today.
Cubitt House was the venue for lighting and furniture, while homewares and accessories were represented in The Canopy by designers such as fashion illustrator, textile designer and ceramicist John Booth, whose bold rug designs for Floor Story featured abstract portraits in vibrant colours. Talks included New Voices in Design organized in conjunction with LivingEtc, part of the magazine’s campaign to encourage diversity in design and discover what the industry can do to actively encourage participation by those from a variety of diverse backgrounds.
Even grabbing a coffee was a design delight if you stopped off at the Elle Decoration Café. Conceived by design studio Matteo Bianchi, it was fitted out with seating by Maurizio Casini and featured handmade rugs from Lillia Rugs and wallpaper by Baboon.