Decorex is the avenue for interior design discovery. As a Designer this is a sourcing essential!
Decorex was my introduction into Interior Design Trade Shows; a high-end interior design exhibition which has brought together the best of the design community each year for 44 years. This is an opportunity to connect with people in my industry and to be inspired by the plethora of beautiful products on show. I try and go every year and I'm always left feeling inspired and reinvigorated.
On a personal note, it's also become a perfect activity to centre around a girls weekend in London with my bestie Jo (based in Surrey), so we make a date of it each year. I worked with Jo at Harrods on the Window Display Team, we had very different ways of working, but we created the most magical of displays. She's the Yin to my Yang! She loves looking at home decor as much as I do, so she's the perfect partner to roam all the stands with...before we headed off into the city for cocktails and Dishoom.
I always find so much newness from brands to products, I learn so much from attending talks with the best in the business and chatting to the spokespeople. Here is our day in many, many pictures....including plenty of us posing in front of some gorgeousness.
For our discerning clients who really want the best in quality we work with high end suppliers to design luxury custom furniture; We can create something really unique using the best in materials. A favourite of ours had a stand at Decorex and it was great to be able to go through their catalogues and chat to our contacts to understand what they have to offer. This was a great opportunity to look closely at some of the details and peruse their material sample drawers.
We're currently working on a few Kitchens for clients, creating custom technical joinery plans for our trusted supplier to make and install. The cabinets will of course need to be finished off with some great hardware that will look the business, look high end and stand the test of time. Armac Martin is a really good quality brand I'm looking at using...but I could be swayed by Corston Architectural also! Their stand was really theatrical with walls made from brass bobbled circus themed hoops.
There are so many smart and unusual hardware options out there; fixtures which so often get overlooked for something extremely boring and regular.
I love Arte wall-coverings, full of texture I think they are the epitome of luxury. We're using one of their luxury wallpapers in a boutique style ensuite design that's being installed this very minute. I can't wait to share pictures of that one.
Look at the incredible colours in the surfaces created by D'ARTS. I didn't know they did this. I'm more familiar with their wallpaper finishes beautiful and timeless designs inspired by traditional Chinese, Korean and Japanese artistic culture. D’ARTS delicately interprets the splendour of traditional chinoiserie designs into contemporary patterns and scenes.
The floor gives a space its character, and it is crucial for determining what 'feel' we want to give a room. From wood, to sisal carpets and graphic runners Decorex had a good variety.
A Rum Fellow create the most wonderful artisan textiles, rugs and statement interior pieces emblazed by colour and intricate pattern. I spent some time riffling through their samples and chatting to the team about something I'd like to commission.
There were plenty of rugs brands on show with so many patterns and some with great unusual shapes. Rugs are always a really funny one to specify as you really need to feel the fibres and know how it's going to feel under your feet and gives you the opportunity to weigh up the cost and quality.
Knots Rugs had a colourful set of rugs based on an artists painting. You can see the original canvas called 'Awaken the spirits' here on the left, and they then created 2 rugs from the print.
How gorgeous are the weave finishes on the L.Drucker chairs? These would look so chic in a cafe or a sun room. The colours are wonderful and how sweet is this heart chair?
I've always been in love with the store Liberty who are famous for their prints, I even treated myself to a little luxury Liberty print scarf last year. We found their stand and it was a great opportunity to riffle through their books. Just look at those colours and prints, especially the mustards and the fuchsia's, just stunning! I noted down the patterns so I can circle back at a later date.
So many cool brands on show from the quirky and colourful, to the chic and contemporary. You walk through those doors and its so very easy to get over excited and run to the first stand that catches your eye. However, I have a very strict policy for taking it isle but isle, otherwise you dot around and next thing you've cut out a section!
I love finding beautiful artwork but often the framing can be a little more of an afterthought. However, on finding these fabulous frames these could be the star! I've already specified these bobble frames for a Children's room, and I'll be biding my time to use these colour block frames.
Art doesn't have to be just canvas and paint; I discovered Fenella Elms at Decorex a few years ago, and since then I've found a number of other porcelain artists like Oilvia Walkers whos creations are here. The work that goes into this form of art is incredible.
Another example of unusual art and it's porcelain again. An installation like this would be an eye-catching feature in a chic hotel lobby.
One of the most impressive stands were first time exhibiters Pure White Lines; full to the brim with lots of sparkling lights. Ever since spying those pink chandeliers on Instagram I've been waiting for the perfect project to use them. I've followed them for a while now so it was great to see the brand in real life.
Lighting is the jewellery of your home, little sparkling jewels that emanate a glow! So, so many great options from colourful Curiousa, to chic CTO Lighting. I caught up with Brody at Bert Frank who I knew from the Tom Dixon department at Harrods; I'd ordered the Cask wall lights from Brody for clients in Bolton (top middle) and we happenstance realised our connection! Small world!
I discovered these adorable scalloped wicker lamp shades, how cute! The gold leaf (and incredibly expensive) light installation bowled me over; this would be amazing as a piece of art. I tinkled my fingers through the chain lights at Tigermoth Lighting.
I even visited the fabulous Pooky stand...I had to get a picture as it matched my outfit! I've specified Pooky many times for various projects; Designer lamps and lampshades which are both classic and beautiful.
Now look at this F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S pastel rainbow stand from Orac Decor. When it comes to decorating, walls are a room’s most important element. A creatively designed wall sets the mood, heightens the drama or creates optical illusions that visually alter a room’s proportions. Orac Decor supply mouldings which can be used in plenty of creative ways to add interest.
I use Samuel and Sons quite a bit for my soft furnishing to add that little flourish to a cushion, detail which elevates it to a luxury item. I usually raid their drawers at Design Centre Chelsea Harbour but it was so nice to see their stand and their showpiece items on display. Couldn't help but feel up those tassels!
Stopped for lunch after hours of exploring. Ok, the girl looks like she's torn out someones heart but it was a red velvet croissant we shared at lunch....such a lie...we had one each!
Diningscapes were a brand new feature at Decorex 2022 and introduced four room-sets crafted by Christian Bense, ND Studios, Pandora Taylor & Les Ottomans - giving each a uniquely dressed space. Which is your favourite? To be honest I wasn't in love with any of them, eek! However, I loved the scattered wall lights in the Pandora Taylor (far right) room. This is a decor technique I've championed myself; a great way to use the lights as pieces of art and how you can use lighting in an awkward space. I've done with is the Longworth Road living room project and Brabiner House Master Bedroom project.
Upstairs at Decorex hosted a variety of talented craftspeople. Jo was all over the ink marbling: a method of decorating paper to imitate marble where colour is suspended in a thickened liquid and manipulated into various patterns.