It’s the time of year when exciting new interior designs from the UK and around the world are showcased as part of London Design Week in Chelsea (10 – 15 March 2019). I have been attending press launches, talking to designers and viewing interior collections from some of the world’s top furniture, wallpaper and fabric companies. The ‘blog-mobile’ is bulging with gazillions of photos from different showrooms. Before my phone finally combusts on the pavement in a fireball of colour, pattern and general haute interieur gorgeousness, I am going to share with you a few key highlights with my inside styling guide!

London Fashion Week for the home

London Design Week is probably best described as London Fashion Week for the home. A lot of what you see here is going to be used by interior designers for more high-end projects. Not everything though is bespoke, there are several accessibly priced brands such as Designers Guild, Andrew Martin, The Style Library, and Villa Nova who will have their new collections available and ready to buy in high street stores like John Lewis.

Haute interieur inspiration

The last time I wrote about London Design Week on the blog was three years ago. Thankfully some things haven’t changed – apart from all the wonderful new collections of course! In addition to these, there is still the people-watching to enjoy as well, of course, identifying the most chic showroom and window displays. There are not to be missed (ticketed) Conversations In Design by influential designers as well as inspirational workshops.

Curated showrooms

This year, there were two curated showrooms which really caught my eye. The first was an apartment by Nina Campbell which included a study, bedroom and living room: sublime curvy piped headboard against Colbert a contemporary botanical print wallpaper with crisp monogrammed bedlinen. Lacquered Oomph Home bedside table with signature tassels.

The study included a portrait of Nina Campbell in her teens against her new red Les Indiennes wallpaper. Red, as you may remember me mentioning in a blog at the beginning of the year, is going to pop up more and more in decorating schemes. Note too the trend for the return of the ‘bureau’. You can pick them up for next to nothing in auction houses and they are great for small space living. Can double as desks/dressing tables/storage. Love the lacquered paint treatment with signature tassels by Oomph Home.

The second was a drawing room designed by Ben Pentreath for G P & J Baker with fabric walling using Magnolia, a 1913 print (original colours). Note the jib (concealed door) and the use of bullion fringing, seen here in colour clashing raspberry and orange.

Modernist prints

The Style Library have two deeply appealing modernist/Bauhaus inspired print collections. This is the first, Abstract 1928 from Zoffany and the second is Atelier by Harlequin.

Modern country house style

Old and new meet with Turnell & Gigon’s Georgian style small print wallpaper teamed with Lustmore, a large print foxglove print chair cover by Jean Monro. Sweet natural framed oil paintings, perfectly hung large above smaller.

The super mini accent cushion

Skirts are back for interiors

Skirted upholstery from chairs to bedspreads and dressing tables are making their way back into decorating schemes. These were last seen in the 80s and are perhaps a part of the return of more traditional decorating themes. Beautifully styled in the Pierre Frey showroom.

How to style a home office

Penny Morrison shows how to make an office feel like home. Love how the Apple Mac is lost in a floral orchard of birds, butterflies wallpaper, fabric, lamps and softly upholstered furniture.

The new sideboard

I love this look. It could make a centrepiece in a living room, be a sideboard or even a dressing table. You don’t need expensive furniture, just some fabric, a mirror and the symmetry of two table lamps.

Large lampage

Big and pleated = bright. Just seen on the shelves by the lamp are fabrics from Inchyra, Nichola Taylorson, Parker & Jules, Walter G Textiles, Anna Spiro and many more in the Fabric Collective that Penny represents in her showroom.

Big blooms

Great to see – as ever – the Kings Road (London) store of Designers Guild looking so inspiring. It really is now a one-stop destination, you can get everything from furniture to accessories, wallpaper and paint from the store. It also opens at 8.30am so you or your decorator can pick up your paint at the beginning of the day. Wonderful too to hear at the press launch Tricia Guild talk with such passion about all of the collections including new plain silks, nearly silks and a collection of sustainable fabrics made from recycled threads. Sorbet colours and large-scale bloom prints on bedlinen, murals and wallpaper caught my eye.

Dressage

Bunny Turner’s (Turner Pocock Interior designers) beautiful dress design inspired by Ava Gardner for Tissus D’Helene with fabrics by Peter Fasanao, Schulersamperton textiles, MLB Fabric, Galbraith & Paul and Virginia White Collection.

Bold botanicals

Lovely to see Louise Body’s twist on the botanicals trend with Feuille D’Or, an upscale blush, gold and dove grey design for Osborne & Little.

How to style your cushions the interior design way

If you have ever, like me, tried to style cushions to look like these and failed, the blog has the inside track on the technique required! Interior designer Arlene McIntyre of Ventura from Dublin (recently opened a London showroom at The Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour) says, “The trick is to have very full cushions with good-quality feathers. Ours come from the West of Ireland. You then take a karate chop on the top and nip in the waist of the cushion for the desired effect!” Ventura offer a turn-key interior design service with joinery, soft furnishings and furniture which they design and have made in Ireland.

Thank you

Thank you so much for reading.  If you have enjoyed this and would like to receive email alerts for future blogs then please press the large blue ‘Follow’ button either at the beginning or end of a post. With many thanks, Charis x