Image copyright Clair Strong Interior Design
In September, I paid a visit to the iconic London Design Festival. The festival is a celebration of the most innovative and aesthetically pleasing international product and furniture design. Designers from around the world gather to show us what they’ve been creating over the past 12 months.
In part 1 of this series, I revealed the top interior design trends for 2015. Scandinavian design is still hugely popular, but this year it was also joined by beautiful handcrafted furniture, and really interesting tiles.
Geometric patterns are still big in textiles, as are bold Ikat prints. Classic tartan is back (did it ever really leave?) and circular patterns are also having a moment. It wasn’t so much the patterns themselves, but the use of them that really wowed at this year’s shows. Patterned tiles, sculpted wooden wall surfaces and fantastically elaborate wallpapers are just a few examples.
No design show is complete without a few outlandish exhibitions. There were plenty, of course, in London this year. Here are a few of my personal favourites.
Highlights from LDF 2014
– I noticed that particularly interesting furniture has been coming out of Lithuania, Slovenia and Estonia recently. Lina Furniture, for example, exhibited their award-winning modular ‘chair’; large, colourful balls that provide a comfortable, adaptable and playful seating arrangement.
– Timorous Beasties, a Glasgow based wallpaper design studio, showed off their new collection of stunning illustrated papers, created in collaboration with Tektura. Timorous Beasties are one of my very favourite design studios, so I was thrilled to see their latest work.
– Worcester-based Macmaster produce timber based lighting and furniture products, the Lotus and Bloom pendant lampshades were particular favourites of mine.
– Practical home and office solutions are always well received. I’ve found that many of my clients want to find ways to make life simpler; whether that’s by reducing clutter or creating more productive work spaces.
– With that in mind; The Work Desk by Lithuanian designer Ausrine Augustinaite is minimalist perfection, while the Aircharge by Ergo offers sleek and ever so neat wireless charging solutions. As for bike storage, Woodstick showed they have that covered with ultra cool indoor bike shelves/racks that are as much a style statement as they are a practicality.
Well, that’s all for news from the design shows this year. What stands out for you?
