Furniture trends to know now
Bethan Ryder rounds up the hottest homeware showcased at London Design Week
The London Design Festival began this week with a dizzying circus of events, launches and installations from Brixton in the south to Islington in the north. Now in its 15th year, it’s bigger and more colourful than ever, with blockbuster projects including print-maestro Camilla Walala’s playful Memphis-inspired Villa Walala in Broadgate’s Exchange Square, and Flynn Talbot’s orange and blue illuminations flooding the V&A’S Prince Consort Gallery with a spectrum of light. Even if you can’t make it to the events, this is the key time for showrooms to introduce the best new brands, so keep an eye out for the latest in homeware offerings.
Author
New e-tailer Author is the vision of Scottish interior designer Jane Adams, who has spent several years visiting British workshops and studios seeking out handcrafted pieces that “make a house a home”. Twenty years of designing residences has taught her how to add character to any room: “you can give someone a perfect, hotel-like interior but it’s the layering with interesting, textural and quirky well-made pieces that makes it special,” she says. Author features 28 makers, from furniture brand Galvin Brothers and cabinetmaker Hugh Parsons, to purveyors of art-inspired velvet fabrics and wallcoverings Blackpop and ceramicist Katie Spragg. For additional inspiration, Adams has grouped products into 10 themed collections such as Winston, tailored for a study, or the more decadent Woolf, for an elegant lounge. She’s aiming to expand her own-brand products, following on from her debut series of metal oval side tables. If you already love The New Craftsmen and
Another Country then take note. author interiors.com
‘Layering textural, quirky pieces makes an interior special’
Ipse Ipsa Ipsum at 100% Design
The debut collection of furniture, lighting and accessories from recently launched Singaporean brand Ipse Ipsa Ipsum embodies a restrained Eastmeets-west aesthetic in materials such as hand-forged steel, marble, solid brass and leather. Founder Saurabh Mangla’s philosophy is to “create products that contain elements of surprise and nostalgia.” Designed by local talent Nathan Yong – who has designed furniture for Ligne Roset – there are some stunning pieces, many referencing Indian motifs such as the Udaipur sofa that incorporates tables, a mirror, storage and light, all crafted as exquisitely as jewels, while the free-standing Sangli mirror cleverly conceals shelving at the back. From £76-£3,020. Ipse Ipsa Ipsum at 100% Design, Olympia London, until Sept 23; ipseipsaipsum. com
E&CO
Interiors and product designer Christopher Jenner’s forte is resurrecting heritage brands by introducing contemporary ranges, often produced by combining the traditional craft with new techniques such as laser and Cnc-cutting. He’s worked with Globe-trotter and Penhaligon’s, and is now polishing up silverware with his Epicurean Collection created by Sheffield-based specialists E&CO (aka Elkington), which was first established in 1824.
Silverware is back in vogue and these pieces – including a cheese knife, butter dish and honeypot – are pared back and minimal, often mixed with other tactile materials such as Dartington crystal and richly grained timber. It’s family silver you’d be proud to use. Epicurean Collection from £120-£1,200, on show at Thomas Goode & Co, 19 South Audley Street, London, W1 until Sept 22; elkingtonandco.com
Hunt & Hope
Working from their Kensal Rise studio, Isobel Hunt and Emmie Hope have produced a gorgeous series of new embroidery patterns. Their brand offers needlepoint-like fabrics that can be adapted for cushions, seating, and headboards. Following her degrees in English and law, Hunt took a trip to India, learning the ancient skills of needlepoint. She returned to study at the Royal School of Needlework, going on to launch Isobel Hunt Embroidery Kits, which were sold in John Lewis and elsewhere. Meanwhile, Hope swapped her City career for interior design before the pair joined forces to liven up this traditional craft. Choose from 12 designs in up to 420 colours, from the fierce Tiger, Tiger and block geometrics of Alhambra to the funkier star-spangled Deco. Bespoke designs can also be created. From 16.5p per sq cm, or £1,650 per sq m. huntandhope.com
Nolii
Homeworking, coworking, remoteworking – we’re increasingly professional nomads and Nolii is a lifestyle tech brand aimed at people who are constantly on the move, but need to remain connected. It’s the brainchild of Benjamin Hubert (whose company Layer made headlines last year with its 3D-printed wheelchair) and entrepreneur Asad Hamir. Five products are available. Characterised by the design simplicity we associate with Apple, Nolii is billed as “an ecosystem of accessories for Apple and Android products that solve everyday challenges”, such as running out of juice, portability and USB storage. Bundle looks particularly clever with its integrated loop that helps to store the cable, but can also fix to a Bundle base, getting rid of messy, loose wires that often get lost or damaged. They’re the kind of functional, multipurpose gadgets that could change your life – the