89November 2010/ EMIRATEShome

Love was in the air at London Decorex International, the interiors show for professionals from around the world with a passion for designwords juLie roNaLd

taLkiNg design

Lovedesign

Le grand Bateauby Catchpole & ryewww.catchpoleandrye.com

an annual event, held at royal Hospital, Chelsea, London, decorex international is where the well-heeled decorators head to track down specific products for their clients. You’ll find a tasteful mix of more than 280 exhibitors, ranging from fabric, wallpaper and paint suppliers to furniture, floorcovering, lighting and accessory designers and manufacturers. decorex international is a non-retail show so you can’t walk away on the day with your purchases - but then, who buys a table or ten rolls of wallpaper on a whim? decorex is all about discovering something special, a hidden gem or a supplier you would never have found on your own. decorex international is part of the London design Festival whose hub was the Victoria and albert Museum. Here Julie Ronald reviews the trends and also her top picks of the four day show, this year held from 26 - 29 September.

treNd aLert Softly, Softly Fabrics in soft suedes and velvets, striped or plain, smooth wools and plaids, crisp cool linens were to the fore.Colour Codes Muted shades of stone, grey and brown teamed with vibrant splashes of pink, yellow, lime, aqua, sky stole the show.Sofa Style The trend is for contrast or tonal piping on sofas, smart horn or fabric button backing in soft shades or strong contrast colours. Deco Delight Mirror glass furniture and accessories predominated with sleek designs in chrome and wood.Wow Walls Wallpaper in bold designs, wall coverings in textured and metallic finishes in subtle browns and greys added sensuous details.

stiLetto stYLe Brigid Strevens Daughter of a decorative artist and interiors guru, New Zealand born designer Brigid Strevens has a Master’s degree in engineering and a passion for stylized form and sleek finishes. Her London based company Brigid Strevens Studios designs furniture and interiors for international clients. New this year is her ‘Form 2010’ Collection of lighting and furniture inspired by a strong sculptural profile. Each piece provides a distinctive highlight in a commercial or residential space.

araBiaN NigHts Maze Creative Concepts, Kuwait Says Bibi Abdullah Al Ghanim, founder of Maze Creative Concepts,: “Colours were always my passion, since I was young I loved combining colours and fabrics, mixing and matching. Furniture as well was my joy, specially the decorative part of it like cushions, throws, ottomans and tables”. Maze (which means ‘table’ in Kuwaiti dialect) presents a rainbow of colours and textures in cushions, ottomans and furnishings. The Oriential Collection is based on the ikat pattern, decorated with antique and vintage textiles gathered together in to cushions, the Bedouin Collection features tarik fabric embellished with silver. Seen here are cushions from the romantic Arabian Nights Collection inspired by the kutrah head cover worn by men in Kuwait. Prepare to be amazed.

desigN CLassiCs Aram Designs Regarded by many as London’s leading retailer of high quality contemporary furniture, Aram was founded in 1964 to explore new design trends and bring the best of modern design to their galleries in Covent Garden. Displaying design classics alongside the latest furniture, lighting, rugs and accessories from world-class designers the spacious Aram Store is a beacon for architects, interior designers and aesthetes.Eileen Gray Design pioneer Eileeen Gray settled in Paris after studying at the Slade School of Art. By 1937 she exhibited in le Corbusier’s pavilion at the Paris International Exhibition. In 1972 she exhibited at the RIBA Heinz Gallery in London and in 1973 she started a collaboration with Aram Designs Limited who introduced her to a world market and hold the worldwide licence for Eileen Gray designs. Willie Landels Born in Venice, artist Willie Landels started to design rugs as an extension of his paintings. Since then he has been commissioned to design carpets for a number of interiors in Italy, London and New York.

CouNtrY CooL Emily Bond Inspired by the countryside with a twist of city chic British textile designer Emily Bond has created popular fabric collections featuring horses, dogs or favourite farm creatures. Her eye-catching designs are printed on pure linen using gentle tonal colours with classic simplicity of line for upholstery and soft furnishings. She designs wallpaper too. Her Homeware collection includes tea towels, dog beds, lavender hearts and cushions, great as decorative accessories and gifts.

LoVe LuxurY Cheval d’Orient opulent table service by Hermes is a celebration of the horse inspired by the art of Persian miniatures. Or pick Hermes’ dazzling Balcon du Guadalquivir dinner service in scarlet red or black and gold.

BatH BeautY Catchpole & Rye Specializing in luxurious, finely crafted cast iron baths and bathroom ware, made in England to classic designs often modelled on French originals, founder Tony O’Donnell boasts the largest variety of styles in the UK with an array of polished finishes including burnished gold. Catchpole & Rye work with architects, designers and private clients to create the bathroom of dreams and welcome bespoke commissions. You can even enhance your new bath with your coat of arms or initials as a finishing touch. For the ultimate showering experience look out for the new La Cage double shower inspired by a 19th-century French design.

water spLasH David Harber Famed worldwide for his handsome water features, sundials and sculptures, designer David Harber comments, “where there is water there is life, light, movement, reflection and sound, water features create an oasis that can calm the soul and satisfy the eye”. His larger water features and water walls are suited to bigger settings but his compact Chalice provides a refreshing focus and exciting design statement in a smaller entrance hall or lobby. Water features, of course, are a key element of Islamic architecture.

HigH FLYer Aura Interiors Founder designer Netra studied at the London College of Fashion from where her passion for creative design and her exotic roots inspired her to move into the cosmopolitan world of fashionable interiors. With Raffles and Fairmont Hotels in Mecca already in her portfolio she now adds the Four Seasons in Abu Dhabi to her global design projects. Aura specialises in stylish furniture and accessories for contemporary interiors with an international flavour.

BodY art Louise Body Acclaimed artist designer Louise Body has launched her first fabric collection at Decorex showing floral and foliage motifs drawn from her award-winning Plant Life wallpaper collection. Her designs are in the V&A Museum’s prestigious wallpaper archive and Louise has recently collaborated with famous British brands Paul Smith and Dr Martens. Passionate about the creativity of bespoke commissions, Louise’s wall décor at the show featured a clever faux window with plant effects and curtains, creating a sense of extra space, perspective and vista.

origiNaL ideas Origins Design Founded in 1995 in South Africa by designer Patrick Moulton Black to produce furniture in natural materials with an environmental ethos, Origins Design is now based in London and sources and ships products worldwide including African artefacts, Australian art, rugs from Peru, Parisian lamps and Lithuanian glassware. Origins new top table is in a versatile Italian inspired wood finish. Origins also plan interiors in contemporary style, have exhibited in Abu Dhabi and supplied the InterContinental in Jordan. Fusing nature with urban lines, Origins has remained faithful to its core mission to use natural, sustainable or recycled materials with innovative sophisticated design. As such they are of the moment.

For further information please contact: www.hermes.com • www.mazecc.com • www.aram.co.uk • www.emilybond.co.uk • www.brigidstrevens.com • www.catchpoleandrye.com • www.davidharber.com • www.aura-id.com • www.louisebody.com • www.originsdesign.com

taLkiNg design

91November 2010/ EMIRATEShomeEMIRATEShome/November 201090

aura interiors

Bibendum Chair by eileen gray aram designs

Zaha Hadid for aram

eva jiricna for aram

Le grand Copper Bateau Catchpole & rye

Cheval d’orient Hermes

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treve

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ron arad for aram

Hermes Cheval d’orient

Brig

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Maze Creative Concepts