THE PLACE TO KNOW: NOHO
You’ve heard of Soho, but this month we’re going north to the design hub on the other side of Oxford Street. Here’s our pick of its top shops and showrooms
1 MOOOI 23 GREAT TITCHFIELD STREET
Known for its quirkiness, Dutch design giant Moooi offers the latest designs from the likes of co-founder Marcel Wanders and Jasper Morrison. Look out for its digitally printed rug service, contemporary spin on Delft ceramics, and the ‘Altdeutsche’ collection from Studio Job (moooi.com).
2 GF SMITH 27– 28 EASTCASTLE STREET
Paper purveyor to the design industry, GF Smith opened its artfully designed showroom in late 2016. As well as enjoying its temporary paper-led exhibitions and perusing its vast Collection Wall, look into creating a custom book of your own using countless combinations of paper. Look out for the new DIY framing service, Make Frame. You upload a digital image and then choose from 50 coloured mouldings ( gfsmith.com).
3 MATERIAL LAB 10 GREAT TITCHFIELD STREET
A treasure trove for designers and home renovators alike, Material Lab is a sourcebook of surface materials including tiles, plastics, and even paper. Samples are free, as is advice from the on-site materials managers. Look out for its solid mix of design talks and events held at this showroom (material-lab.co.uk).
4 VOLA 32– 36 GREAT PORTLAND STREET
This classic bathroom accessories brand carries many designs by Danish wunderkind Arne Jacobsen. Look out for top taps, mixers and showerheads – which come in a rainbow of glossy hues (en.vola.com).
5 MINOTTI 77 MARGARET STREET
Minotti is a great source for chic furniture and accessories in a classic, tempered palette. Soft finishes and luxury materials are the hallmarks of design director Stefano Dordoni’s style. Look out for the ‘Indiana’ and ‘ Virginia’ collections: they bridge the gap between indoor and outdoor furniture (minotti.com). ➤
6 ARTEMIDE 106 GREAT RUSSELL STREET
Counting Michele de Lucci, Philippe Starck, David Chipperfield and Zaha Hadid as just a few of the big names on its star-studded list, Artemide produces many of the most iconic lamps today. What’s more, these are constantly updated with research in optics and electronics, straight from its innovation centre just outside Milan. Look out for Arik Levy’s new ‘Stab Light’ series, a set of three coloured glass vases-turned-lamps that are completely adjustable in terms of length and position. We love the colour and the endless possibilities (artemide.com).
7 HAND & LOCK 86 MARGARET STREET
Servicing London’s fashion and couture houses, this historic embroidery studio also delves into interiors – embellishing everything from cushions to leather goods. The studio is open to any project. Look out for 2017 – it’s Hand & Lock’s 250th anniversary and the brand is celebrating with talks and workshops on the art of embroidery (handembroidery.com).
8 DOMUS 25 EASTCASTLE STREET
This surface design company has a strong hold on the London scene, with major projects such as Wembley stadium under its belt – but that doesn’t stop it from taking on smaller jobs. The portfolio of materials is as vast as you could imagine and under constant reinvention. Look out for the ‘Modello’ collection, which mixes porcelain in a set of new patterns and colourways (domustiles.co.uk).
9 LIGNE ROSET 23– 25 MORTIMER STREET
At French brand Ligne Roset’s London showroom, new and classic pieces (such as the ‘Togo’ and ‘Ploum’ chairs) are contextualised into home-like vignettes – scattered with lighting, vases, and throws. Look out for Pierre Charpin’s ‘Slice’ chair (above), which the brand has recently re-issued in new colours and patterns ( ligne-roset.com).
10 REPUBLIC OF FRITZ HANSEN 13– 14 MARGARET STREET
With designers that span from Henning Larsen to Jaime Hayón, Fritz Hansen is crammed with pieces by design icons new and old. Look out for the accessories edit, which includes Aiayu cushions and trays from Wednesday Architecture (fritzhansen.com).
11 FORZA 143– 149 GREAT PORTLAND STREET
As the name suggests, Forza is indeed a force on the Noho design scene. 20 years strong, it works with design heavyweights like Walter Knoll, Hay and Gubi for both home and large-scale contracts. Look out for Italian brand Valcucine’s sleek kitchen collections (forza.co.uk).
12 HÄSTENS 66– 68 MARGARET STREET
This family-owned bedding company has made its handcrafted beds for generations, outfitting many a Swedish royal’s bedroom. Book a visit to try the beds first-hand, and accessorise with custom headboards and crisp cotton sheets and duvets. Look out for sheets and bedding, which come in a classic blue check with frequent new variations (hastens.com). ED