I haven’t attended as many trade shows this year as I would have liked, but I didn’t want to miss the biggest interiors event here in the UK, Decorex (especially since it took place in London Olympia this time). Decorex is the UK’s leading high-end residential interiors trade show. It’s a major interiors event for both British and international brands. You may remember I also attended the infamous Maison & Objet in Paris
back in January. It was about time to go and see what UK has to offer and Decorex 2019 certainly didn’t disappoint.
Trade shows are a great way to see new products, trends, attend interesting talks and just network with other people in the industry. I always find the networking part a little tricky when I’m taking photos. You can get so consumed with the whole photography and product side that you easily forget to talk to people. This time I mainly used my camera phone and my SLR for my Decorex highlights only. If you want to see more photos/video just head over to my Instagram page where I’ve saved all my Decorex photos in my highlights.So, you may be wondering how Decorex differs from Maison & Objet? Well, the event is obviously a lot smaller. The entire exhibition was held in one hall and split between 2 floors, but trust me that is still enough walking if you’re there for 3-4 hours like I was. Most people (designers, buyers etc) split their visit between the 4 days. There is so much to see and time goes very quickly once you start talking to people. So, due to it’s size I do think it was much easier to navigate compared to M&O. Decorex is not by any means small though. Over 400 interior brands and designers are exhibiting at the annual event.Here are few things that stood out for me this year..
I love discovering new candle brands, especially when they come with pretty marble holders like these. It was the scent that lured me to the direction of oOumm candles actually. They smell absolutely amazing and are probably the most luxurious candles I’ve ever seen. The collection consists of four original scents and an exclusive refill system. Each raw material in the collection is constantly pushed into limits; from waving marble to brass sculptures. The candle holders aren’t exactly cheap (£££) but I would say after having seen the craftsmanship it is pretty much what I expected. These are definitely on my dream candle (holder) wish list which is getting very long by the way.
Launching exclusively with Heal’s, Jonathan Rogers has created the filigrana pendant that explores both texture and pattern using a traditional Venetian cane-work technique. Each pendant in hand blown in Jonathan’s workshop in Clavering, Essex, creating unique pieces that are simply stunning. I find the etching on the glass dome really unique and timeless. These pendants will work beautifully in both traditional and contemporary interior schemes.
It is virtually impossible for me to walk past a marble bathroom without stopping to take pictures. Marble surfaces were still very much present at Decorex, which means that marble isn’t going anywhere. It’s one of those materials that has always been around I guess, but I do find it a lot more accessible these days. From marble effect porcelain to Carrara marble from Italy there is something for all budgets. Luckily Porter Bathrooms provided a lot of inspiration at Decorex from both design and styling perspective. I’m especially loving the subtle grey veining in marble at moment and pairing it with gold accents. If you want to go for a more industrial/contemporary look just pair the marble with bronze bathroom accessories.
Chairs are looking very elegant, comfortable and luxurious right now. I saw a lot of faux fur and boucle finishes in upholstery at Decorex. Boucle especially seems to be trending at the moment. The loopy textured fabric with uneven yarns is the perfect material for a comfy arm chair. I also love this midcentury inspired white arm chair from Hyde House. It’s perfect for those cosy autumn nights in.
Velvet also continues to be a popular choice in upholstery. Velvet sofas have been all over pinterest and Instagram, but now we are seeing a lot more chairs (especially dining chairs) too. I love the peach coloured dining chairs from Hyde House. I’m not quite sure I’d be brave enough to get that exact colour for our house with two small children though. You can read about how to look after velvet chairs (with children) here.
This Officine Gullo kitchen was certainly a show stopper. The custom-made Italian kitchens are created in a balance between tradition and modernitity, equipped with avant-gard technology of course. It does seem that domestic kitchens are looking a lot more like the professional ones these days, am I right?
The coolest part about this kitchen was the built in wine preservation system. It means that by simply inserting a needle through the cork wine can be enjoyed without having to remove the cork. This is such a transformational and exciting product for wine lovers, because it means that now you can enjoy a glass of fine wine without having to open the entire bottle. It’s also handy if you want to open multiple bottles at once. I’ve seen quite a few of these in restaurants and wine bars but I’d love this to become an essential part of residential kitchens too.
I love the Cupola lighting by Tamasine Osher Design. The industrial metal frame works incredibly well with the organic timber sphere. Although the two materials couldn’t be more different, they complement each other so well. The lamp shades are hand turned from whole trunks of naturally fallen beech. The live edge wooden table also matches the lamps perfectly.
Who doesn’t love patterned cushions? Gaynor Churchward launched her new Artisan collection in 2019 and she makes the most beautiful cushions and curtains. All of her products are made to order and she also takes in bespoke orders in case you can’t find the exact size you’re looking for. You’ve got to check out her entire collection to fully appreciate her talent.
Ornate rugs also have a wonderful collection of both traditional and contemporary rugs. I’m especially loving all the greys and muted colours here. They also accept custom orders and have worked in many commercial projects too.
My last stop at Decorex was the Sweetpea & Willow showroom. I pretty much loved every single item there. From the ostrich floor lamp to the velvet bed frame it all felt a bit like a dream. A very nice and luxurious dream if I may say. London based Sweetpea & Willow sell the most glamorous and luxe homewares at affordable prices. I especially loved their ‘Handmade in London’ range. The Martha bed oozes both glamour and comfort with gorgeous accessories to match of course.
So, did anything catch your eye? Leave a comment below or let me know on Instagram.
