Image: Design Soda

Last week I was lucky enough to be given some tickets to the New Designers shows 2016 by a crafter & designer who’s work I really love (more on that in a post soon!). I really love design shows, the atmosphere, the creativity, the inspiration, I always feel pulled in a thousand directions all at once as my eyes glance something new at each turn. With an event like Decorex you expect to be wowed by the presentations of design houses at the top of their field, but what’s really special about platforms like New Designers is the wealth of talent out there waiting to become the future mainstream. I was excited to see quite a few of the designers in One Year On which was curated this year by the founder/owner of Luna & Curious which I’m a big fan of. It’s amazing to see the output of businesses which have been going for a year. Perhaps even more inspiring is the work of graduates (both BA & MA) some of whom displayed work with a truly stunning attention to pattern & detail, form and purpose. So, here is my photographic rundown of the things which really caught my eye, I include contact details of all designers under each piece.

Image: Design Soda

One of my most exciting discoveries this year. I genuinely couldn’t love Rowenna Masons designs more. Inspired by her love of craft, her London inspired graphic woven designs evocatively named Barbican, Brick Lane, Southbank etc are true items of beauty. We own Southbank and it’s one of the lovliest things I’ve bought this year, truly. Check out multi award winning Rowenna’s fantastic graphic woven patterns on her website here.

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Isn’t this nest of tables just the cutest? I love the wood against the powder coated blue metal. I could definitely see it in our cocktail room (yes I’ve taken to calling the dining room this due to its most practical purpose!). View Sadies profile here and contact her here.

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Georgia Cleeves textile designs are very charming, they look woven but are in fact knitted. I’m really won over by her wonderful instinct for texture and pattern. As cushions or upholstery, it’s no wonder this was both a John Lewis and Trend Bible pick of the show. Find out more here.

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Two great pieces from very talented recent graduate Ryan Overton, wonderful eye catching graphic pattern on ply for the Broadside sideboard and a stunning copper desk lamp called Sterling (you get the reference). Email here.

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I love seeing designers new ideas for surfaces and Annie Taverner’s were truly inspiring. Concrete and metallics used in such fabulous ways, could you imagine this geometric star pattern on a whole wall in a commercial space? It would look unreal. Find details of the very talented Anni here.

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There are sideboards and sideboards, right? This is a SIDEBOARD! I love a Mid-Century sideboard no matter how often I see it ingrained in current design DNA, but if you’re looking for a true statement piece and you love flashes of neon yellow I think you have met your nirvana. Check out Sarah’s website here.

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The beauty of simplicity in this dining chair, not a design that screams at you to notice it but one that quietly and gently beguiles you! God, I could see this in any good Scandi interiors scheme, the combination of oak and corian weave, it’s delightful. Profile here.

Image: Design Soda

Now, if you read my blog regularly you will know that I’m all about the pattern and textile. I am often wowed by a cushion and I don’t say this lightly but these really impressed me. The waffling of the fabric (maybe not the technical term!) is so beautifully tactile. I’m amazed Alice has only been in business for 6 months though not surprised that somebody spotted her work and immediately commissioned it which is how her business was born. Prices are great as well, starting around £40 for the less complicated designs. Website here.

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This is a beautiful Danish-looking chair, which is a coincidence since its maker is of distant Danish heritage. It is called Ramshead, made of oak with Bute fabric, and was influenced by one of my perennial favourites Bauhaus and a 1980’s advert for Maxwell tapes! It would look stunning in pretty well any domestic setting. The designer is Howard Blackwell and you can email him here.

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We have an origami pendant in our bedroom and I love it, it’s silhouette is ever so pretty by day and diffuses ambient light perfectly by night. I really love Kate Collin’s range of pendant lights but the delicacy of this dusky blue table lamp is truly swoon worthy. Website here.

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I’m in love with textile designer Robyn Spence’s sense of colour which is influenced by her upbringing in Spain. Her designs feel very now, the three sided panel shown on the floor fold very cleverly into a triangular plant holder. Get in touch with Robyn here.

Image: Design Soda

And finally, I am such a sucker for beautifully crafted pieces of wood and Louis Maurelet’s work is no exception. I loved all of his objects, but particularly this striped bowl on the left which is so beautiful I’d be afraid to use it for any solid reason other than I’m so delighted by it. Contact details here.