Musings from London: the English hit the "Sweet Spot" of design - top picks at Decorex

Journals of the English Aesthetic 

while annual interior design show, Decorex

at the swanky Royal Hospital Chelsea in London

I just returned from 7 days in London on a sponsored tour via Modenus.com to report on the

London Design Festival, which is spread out at various events, symposiums and expos throughout the sprawling city.  I saw all these wares at either

Tent London,

100 percent Design, 

Origins,

Decorex

or

Design Center at Chelsea Harbour

Richard brendon's delicious Tea Cups

Along with all the other fun and inspiring experiences while in London, we got to spend time with a talented group of English bloggers.  Here's two who offer up informative blogs: Celebrity blogger Andrew Dunning's take on Decorex.  Andrew was hand picked by the exhibit to write about the happenings surrounding London Design Festival. 

And, check out spunky Brit blogger Hannah Coleman of DreamWalls who generously profiled us on her site!

Abigail Borg wallpapers seen at Tent London

the English love a layered design but modern 

English is pared down and edited, 

we were like locals, taking by the Tube to the regal former Chelsea Hospital, the annual world-famous Decorex show. 

we arrived to a live green wall

It's official, I'm an Anglophile. 

I have long loved the English cottage look and the sophisticated, yet comfortable feel of the 
champagne bar over at London's Decorex interior design show is the epitome of this style. 

 It hit the
 "sweet spot"
 for me
between warmth, elegance, country, yet modern and urban all rolled together into one look.

 Check out the flowers loosely and magnificently arrange by

Tom Flowers

 the fabric-covered walls in the champagne lounge is by 

Tissue d' Helene

 the space was designed  by interior design firm

 Martin Hulbert Design

I like how they upholstered this chair with a simple, repeat pattern fabric 

(from Rapture & Wright:  see details below), yet trimmed it with the unexpected simple raffia trim

the mirror topped bar, the modern overhead fixture with strategically placed Baccarat crystal champagne flutes and LOVE sign all in the center of this busy design center provided a warm, cozy yet sophisticated place to stop and have a rest, nibble and toast!

The English have a handle on this design aesthetic: 

the perfect combination of high end, old-world elegance

mixed with fresh, modern touches. 

A medley of the much-loved simple Georgian influences, an undying love for the garden and an affinity for well made quality products. 

I like how the English like to mix it up, and pare it down.

When stirred up in a quintessentially English manner of combining low end,

almost gritty details with high-end elegant pieces the finished product is

elegance with ease. 

In my opinion, this is hard to discern and there are many that have gotten this look wrong.  I personally was never a huge fan of the uberly popular Shabby Chic that made it's way through the US with a vengeance.  it somehow had tried to capture the English manner, but came across as more shabby and less chic and just too contrived. What I love about English style is how it feels authentic and curated over time -- concepts I write about often on Nest.  It may be items you've picked up along the years of travel, some family heirlooms, a tad bit of flea market finds and new modern designs brought in as well --

all put together in a way that, well, works! 

the sweet spot 

I'm also not a fan of overly formal and uncomfortable homes where you feel unwelcome and intimidated.  Yes the furniture may be beautiful but how it's all put together makes one feel put off and not encouraged to sit down and enjoy the space. Somehow the English manage to add beautiful high-style with period antiques as well as state of the art cutting edge modern designs and yet they put it all together in a way that is inviting. 

Often an English home feels comfortable first

and later you notice all the layers of beauty.

It's the English sweet spot I'm after here and having just returned from  a week-long jaunt through the Festival I have a few favorite finds to share and help you attain this look.  It was hard to narrow it down because Decorex was chock-filled with stylish and well made wares.  I was positively floored by all the design inspirations and sources I scoured on the floor. Some favorites....fabric:

The English Home

at Decorex, we check out

The English Home and their appliqued fabric

which for the first time can be purchased online by the metre. These distinctive patterns are dramatic and range from baroque velvets to linens and jutes.  I love that we now have access to these designs. The English Home makes high-end furniture  but has paired up with UK's Brian Yates to offer these fabrics.

I am crazy over Rapture & Wright's fresh two color linens in very new, fresh and modern designs.  It's hand-printed and also offers custom designed work as well..  These fabrics are offered in the NYC D&D building at Jerry Pair showroom

 
Raptures and Wright fabrics

quite different but equally alluring is fabric from

Tissues d' Helene

This company represents a group of fabric lines that have an old-world quality.  In the past they were represented in NYC in the John Rosselli showroom, but currently don't have a home in a NYC.  They are a wonderful combination of French and English country and are great quality -- I hope to see them back available in the States again soon.

We popped over to Chelsea Harbour Design Centre --

here I am admiring this Kelly Green fabric

I came upon the Italian showroom, Dedar and was floored by the dramatic black walls of the space and how they splendidly showcased the fabric line. 

There was a beautiful display of a new fabric line from Hermes. Dedar has paired with Hermes to create these unique fabrics fashioned after their ties and scarves. 

Dedar fabrics can be found in the Jerry Pair showroom of the D&D building in New York City.  I was not able to photograph the Hermes fabrics and I was sworn to secrecy but expect Hermes fabrics to be available in the US soon.  Take a look at Dedar's new collection debuting this week.  It is a tactile experience to take in Dedar fabrics because the quality is exquisite and the color choices are plentiful.

this woven leather fabric is extraordinary

Dedar Fabrics

Felt

Who knew that felt could be so lovely 

and woven in such an artist manner? 

 at Tent London I met this talented young lady Penelope Jordan and she does a fantastic job of weaving felt into beautiful art sculptures and photographing some of her works in frames.

garden accessories

Bronzino

Bronzino containers are for both garden and home.  I spoke with owner and designer Kenneth Topp and he was a perfect English gentleman.  Quite high end in metalworking craftsmanship these containers are lovely, and almost too pretty to put dirt inside...take a look at these gorgeous works of art

FURNITURE

Julian Chichester

traditional furniture with a distinctly modern interpretation, Julian Chichester's furniture hits the sweet spot.  Some pieces are offered in the US at George Smith, but many are still only available in the UK.

I am not the only one noticing Julian's designs, check out this month's issue of House & Garden magazine, where they wrote a full feature editorial on his modern, fresh take on traditional furnishings.

October 2011 issue House & Garden magazine

describes Julian's long history of bringing traditional furnishings to the market but by first injecting his own unique modern take on these pieces. 

Columbia Road Flower Mart, London

Happy Nesting 

XO Tamara