By Anya Cooklin-Lofting
From Sunday 13th to Friday 18th March, the Design Centre Chelsea Harbour opened its doors once again to hoards of interior designers, home renovators and the media to celebrate its loyal brands’ new spring/summer collections for London Design Week 2022. The annual event is a hub for designers to sample new fabrics, wallcoverings, furniture and accessories, supplemented with a talks and events programme that allows visitors access to the top designers of our time. Some of the showrooms at the Design Centre also offer interactive sessions like block printing at Morris & Co. or watercolour painting at Cole & Son, to engage their customers and ignite a passion for craft and making.
Every year, the organisers forecast trends for the year ahead based on the creative direction of the collections and designers. This year, the spring/summer trends are hugely varied, completely compelling, and at once timeless and of the moment. From Bridgerton-esque pastel passementerie to Avant-Garde abstraction in the style of Sonia Delaunay, all signs point to personality-laden spaces filled with colour and texture with a sense of reserved grandeur. Here is a run-down of the themes and motifs the London Design Week experts are seeing for 2022…
Fondant Fancy
According to London Design Week, the Fondant Fancy trend is less stuffy and starched than delightful, sweet and frothy. Tones of classical confectionary abound, evoking sorbet, macarons, tiered wedding cakes and patisserie. The trend is defined by furniture inspired by 18th-century boudoirs with frills, thoughtful details and floral upholstery. Accents of fringing, piping and tassels are integral to this look, giving each cushion, vase, lamp or rug a touch of regal glamour.
New Shoots
Not unlike Fondant Fancy, this trend relies on vintage charm with a nature-inspired twist. With delicately rendered pattern repeats available as wallcoverings and fabrics, many design brands have turned to botany and the English countryside for a feeling of freshness in their new collections. Interestingly, London Design Week believes that this more domestic approach diverges from the lush, tropical designs like banana leaves and palm trees that were popular before the pandemic. This could be indicative of the way we all came to value our local parks and gardens more than ever while international travel was halted.
Brighton Pavillion
Inspired by the south coast’s Regency pleasure palace, this trend is theatrical and expressive – perfect for those who entertain at home. Chinoiserie, golden accents, Eastern-inspired prints and rich, jewel tones coalesce to bring a refined sense of occasion to the home, from wall hangings to rugs, lighting to wallpapers.
Sonia
Early 20th-century artist, Sonia Delaunay, is the figurehead of this trend and who, 100 years on, is still making an impact in design. The artist is best known for her bold, abstract paintings and for the costumes she designed for the Ballets Russes, a French ballet company that, despite the name, never performed in Russia. For London Design Week, her relevance to the modern design landscape is clear: the energy and speed of modern life, from street lighting to modern dance, is captured in today’s fabric, wallpaper, tile and flooring designers, who are incorporating her expression of vitality in their new collections.
Mystic Garden
Described by London Design Week as “hippy and trippy,” this melange of vibrant colours, Indian inspired block-printed fabrics and papers and psychedelic upholstery is a real treat for the eyes. In the tradition of the Hippy Trail of the 1960s, mandala-style motifs, stylised florals and warping stripes comprise this trend that has maintained its appeal 60 years on.
Stitch & Weave
Sustainable materials like grasses and some woods have been a mainstay in interiors for a few years, especially with the rise of handcraft and more rustic finishes. This trend draws on the skills of artisans around the world using weaving and stitching techniques to create unique, eco-friendly, affordable and stylish homeware for contemporary living. A mainstay of this trend is rattan, which can be grown and harvested within two years, compared to some hardwoods that can take up to 30 years to fulfil the same demands. All kinds of furniture can be made with rattan, from chairs and trunks to headboards and coffee tables.
The Diversity of Africa
By Anya Cooklin-Lofting
A continent fit to burst with things to do and see, Africa is a place of sheer diversity, both culturally and geographically. From the chance to see awe-inspiring landscapes and majestic animals to the opportunity to sample the very best African wines, music and arts at festivals and events, there is no more exciting, varied and striking place to visit with friends, family or as a solo traveller.
Spanning over 30 million square kilometres, Africa is almost three times bigger than Europe. It is close to impossible to hold in your mind at once just a fraction of some of the most incredible places to visit in Africa. From Cape Town to Marrakech, the Atlas Mountains to Nairobi, the multiplicity of possible experiences is hugely exciting. This week, I’m delving into some of the hottest spots for tourism on the continent, in the hope of demonstrating quite how much there is to explore beyond safaris and all-inclusive hotels.
Cape Town
Cape Town is the capital of South Africa and the site of some of Africa’s most luxurious travel experiences. Known as a hub for wine connoisseurs, there is an unrivalled selection of vineyards offering tastings and tours (some involving a horseback ride through the winelands). The city’s cultural life is also thriving now the District Six Museum, the Iziko Museums and The Heart of Cape Town Museum have all reopened post-pandemic. Keeping active travellers entertained is easy, too. Some great ideas include climbing table mountain, exploring the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens (above) or surfing in Muizenberg.
Marrakech
A glowing mosaic of palaces, souks, gardens and mosques, the Moroccan city of Marrakech is a jewel in the African continent. A melting pot of European, Arabian and Berber influences, its cultural hotspots each demand attention. Its labyrinthine marketplaces provide a shopping experience unlike any other for jewellery, spices and pottery, a stark contrast to the tranquillity of its walled gardens and shaded courtyards. The Jardin Majorelle is just one example of such an oasis, a botanical garden filled with different cacti against the iconic blue walls of French painter, Jacques Majorelle’s Cubist home. Nearby is the Yves Saint Laurent Museum, named for the fashion designer and dedicated to his work.
Atlas Mountains
From Marrakech, visitors can embark on a journey to the Atlas Mountains in the Maghreb region, travelling in a comfortable, air-conditioned 4×4 or atop a camel for a more authentic experience. Explore traditional Berber villages, waterfalls, valleys, and depending on when you visit, swathes of wildflowers or snow-capped mountains. One particularly beautiful place to aim for is the ksar, or fortified village, of Ait Ben Haddou (above), an 11th-century, UNESCO World Heritage-listed mudbrick building that was used as a resting place on the trans-Saharan caravan routes. The Ouzoud waterfalls and the decorated buildings of Ouarzazate are also worth the journey.
Nairobi
Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, takes its name from the Maasai term, Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to ‘the place of cool waters,’ signifying the intersection of the Nairobi and Tana rivers with the city. Beyond the confines of the capital, which is home to three million people and is one of the biggest in Africa, Nairobi is surrounded by over 100 kilometres of plains and forests that comprise its National Park, the only one to border a major metropolitan city. Luxury spas and hotels abound, as do opportunities to get up close with some of the rarest wildlife in the world.
Cairo
An iconic symbol of ancient life, power and influence, Cairo is the deeply storied capital of Egypt. Fed by the Nile and punctuated by Giza’s great pyramids, the city wears its history on its vast plains and in its tightly wound streets. Its cultural influences are many and can be seen in Islamic Cairo’s (known also as Historic Cairo or Medieval Cairo) domed and voluptuous urban landscape. Landmarks include Al-Azhar Mosque (above), the site of the world’s most prestigious university for Islamic education and Coptic Cairo, the home of the Babylon Fortress, the Hanging Church and the Coptic Museum, which houses the largest collection of Coptic Christian antiquities in the world.
Independent Home Brands to Know and Love
By Amira Hashish
There is something very satisfying about kitting out your home with pieces that have a story. Whether it’s a dreamy vintage find or a beautifully sculpted item, seeking out home decor with heritage and craftsmanship elevates your space whilst adding character. Unsure where to start? These independently owned brands and websites will set you on the right path…
Design Stories
In a Nutshell
Crafted collection
The Detail
Design Stories creates refined, eclectic spaces that reflect the distinctiveness of its environment and the people who inhabit it. Founder Murude Katipoglu has a wonderful eye for statement pieces that conjure feeling and warmth. So it is excellent news that the studio has recently launched a shop on its website where you can buy beautifully sourced pieces and a small but soon to be growing selection of bespoke items.
What to Find
Furniture, Ceramics, Kilims
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Partnership Editions Home
In a Nutshell
The home as art
The Detail
Twelve artists have translated their creative talents to produce ceramics, lighting, table linens, candlesticks, wall hangings and cushions. Similar to Partnership Editions’ art collections, there is an emphasis on curation, quality and collectible limited runs. Each piece is available to buy throughout the year in a series of Home Drops alongside the release of artworks. The debut collection features work from Alessandra Chambers, Adriana Jaros, Cecilia Reeve, Frances Costelloe, Isabelle Hayman, Joseph Dupré, Julianna Byrne, Kanica, Laxmi Hussain, Petra Börner, Venetia Berry and Zahra Holm.
What to Find
Crockery, Cushions, Decor
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Aller Dorset
In a Nutshell
Huts and homeware
The Detail
A tale of a London family who left city life to set up their dream country escape. Aller Dorset is set on Aller Farm. Ant and Cat recently moved back to the farm and founded Aller Dorset, comprising two luxury self-catered huts overlooking the most lovely lake and Dorset countryside. Cat’s growing interest in interior design led her to create luxurious furnishings for the huts, with many special touches for the guests to discover. If you can’t make it to Dorset you can shop her pieces online too.
What to Find
Staycation, Headboards, Tableware, Accessories
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Skye McAlpine Tavola
In a Nutshell
La Dolce Vita at home
The Detail
Known for being the hostess with the mostess, it was inevitable that cookery writer Skye McAlpine launched her very own tableware line. She says: “I have often struggled to find just that right plate – the right shape, the right size, colourful enough to be striking on the table but not so garishly bright that it takes away from the food, and so forth… and so Tavola was born.”
What to Find
Tableware, Aprons, Entertaining Decor
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Glassette
In a Nutshell
Laura Jackson means business
The Detail
A new online marketplace for the home. Every object has been thoughtfully chosen because of the creativity, care and craft that has brought it to life. Longevity, artistry and environmentally conscious materials and design are at the forefront of the selection by Laura and her team.
What to Find
Prints, Fragrance, Furniture, Decor
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Domenica Marland
In a Nutshell
Affordable art
The Detail
A young art dealer based between Wiltshire and London, Domenica has created an online platform that aims to sell affordable and decorative works of art. Through representing rising and contemporary artists she has established a programme that is accessible and engaging. The collections are made for homes that are unusual and diverse.
What to Find
Prints, Frames, Decorative Art
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De La Jardin
In a Nutshell
Va va voom vases
The Detail
Jacqueline de la Fuente, aka De La Jardin, sculpts all her vases from paper mache clay using her household paper and card waste. Each vase is slowly hand-sculpted with traces of her fingertips and hands on the surface to make every piece tactile and one of a kind. J’adore.
What to Find
Paper clay vases, Prints
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The Sette
In a Nutshell
Kitchen kitsch
The Detail
Table and kitchenware that is relaxed and optimistic, with craftsmanship at its core. Think colourful cutlery, printed linens and scalloped-edge plates. Oh and it’s pronounced Set.
What to Find
Kitchenware, Linens
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BIVAIN
In a Nutshell
Colourful cushions
The Detail
Founded by Megha Lohia and Rachel Fong, BIVAIN is a contemporary British home decor and accessories brand inspired by travel and centred on desire with an edge. The Central Saint Martins-trained designers worked for brands including Agent Provocateur and Zac Posen prior to launching their own whimsical line.
What to Find
Cushions, Rugs
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Lay London
In a Nutshell
Ready-to-rent tablescapes
The Detail
A tablescape rental service for those seeking instant dinner party glamour. Designs are born from a mutual love of bold colour palettes, elegant textiles and decadent furnishings in joyful combinations. Sisters Jemima and Alice have curated every LAY look.
What to Find
Table decor
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Freya Bramble-Carter
In a Nutshell
Ceramics with soul
The Detail
Artist Freya creates work with a strong connection to the natural world. She has been firing pots from a young age at her father Chris’s studio in Kilburn which the duo now share. Freya’s work ranges from fine homewares, including plates and bowls, to sculptural pieces for the home and garden. You could even sign up for a workshop.
What to Find
Sculptural crockery
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TAT London
In a Nutshell
A vintage haven
The Detail
TAT’s Charlie Porter has such a good eye for vintage finds which will add that special touch to your living spaces. We are big fans of her ‘Sale for Ukraine’ initiative. All the profits from these pieces will go towards supporting the people of Ukraine.
What to Find
Decorative items, Rugs, Mirrors
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Arlette Ess
In a Nutshell
Wild wallpaper
The Detail
Arlette started her print journey at Alexander McQueen and is now one of the artists contributing to the iconic Hermès Paris scarves collections. Her drawings showcase myths and creatures to convey a visceral beauty. You can shop her interiors directly, from statement wallpaper to intricately designed fabric.
What to Find
Wallpaper, Fabric, Cushions
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