Exclusive Product Launches at the Top Drawer Trade Show
Here at Callender Howorth, we know that interior accessories are essential in creating the perfect home, that how the functionality of a product is just as important as its aesthetic appeal. We also understand that a well-designed gift can have an uplifting effect on the recipient. That’s why we love the Top Drawer Trade Show that takes place twice a year at Olympia – London’s most beautiful exhibition venue. Top Drawer’s 2016 Spring Show took place on 17-19th January and showcased beautiful, design-led and innovative products from world-renowned exhibitors. It attracted many London interior architects, who sought inspiration for their projects.
We picked some of our favourite exclusive new products that will be blazing a trail across all corners of the design industry.
Above and Beyond
This concept-driven home accessories range has a strong minimalist graphic identity, highlighted by it’s monochrome designs. Above and Beyond launched a striking ‘Between the Lines’ cushion, made from 100% cotton, which come with a range of different coloured backs.
Polite Company
Polite Company specialises in stationery and already has an excellent collection of lively, colourful standout products. They presented new additions to their ‘Tools for Thinking Collection,’ which pursues a thought-provoking approach to product design. The range is inspired by some of history’s most innovative and creative minds, such as Oscar Wilde and Frida Kahlo. Additionally, the ‘Seeds of Virtue Notecards and Seed Set’ combines cards that display virtuous proverbs, paired with a seed packet, thus allowing you to metaphorically blossom along with the flower.
Elleffe Design
Belle Creation launched the beautiful Italian design range, Elleffe into the UK market. Already popular within European hotel and restaurant chains, their stainless steel kitchenware products combine innovative shapes, sleek lines and decorative finesse with a functional purpose. We like their stainless steel wine coolers and stylish cake stands.
Welovecushions
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has launched a range of RHS cushions in collaboration with the renowned specialist company, Welovecushions. There are 23 cushions currently in the range but more will be introduced throughout the year. The beautiful designs are inspired by images from the vast art collection of the RHS Lindley Library.
Mini Moderns
Mini Moderns, an interior design brand, also proved to be a big hit at Top Drawer. Their popular Whitby wallpaper print has been turned into a new enamelware collection, continuing their collaboration with Wild & Wolf. The new range features a distinctive wave motif, capturing life on the open seas. The stunning collection will be available in store in May.
Top Drawer is the best place for retailers to discover uniquely designed products, share ideas and gather on-trend business advice. The event is based around five sectors: Gift, Craft, Home, Fashion and Food. It also includes a section called ‘Spotted’, which celebrates new British talent and has helped over 80 businesses make their trade show debut. Callender Howorth endeavours to keep up to speed with current trends in design, yet uses them as influence to produce truly unique interior design projects. The Top Drawer Trade Show is the best place to experience the best and most current trends in the market.
Three of the Latest Kitchen Gadgets
In any home the kitchen is key. Whether you have family, or are simply an entertainer by nature, the kitchen is often the hub of the house and brings people together, combining a place to eat with a place to socialise. When creating interior designs for our clients, we focus on delivering outstanding finishes and introducing useful, ingenious tools to utilise the space and deliver optimum results.
Three of the Latest Kitchen Gadgets
In any home the kitchen is key. Whether you have family, or are simply an entertainer by nature, the kitchen is often the hub of the house and brings people together, combining a place to eat with a place to socialise. When creating interior designs for our clients, we focus on delivering outstanding finishes and introducing useful, ingenious tools to utilise the space and deliver optimum results.
Is slow design the new luxury?
While design projects seem to be completed in increasingly shorter timescales in order to cut not only time but also money, a trending tenet of contemporary interior design seeks to overturn this habit of rushing, extolling the virtue of patience within the industry.
The art of Slow Design – a phrase coined by designer, Alistair Fuad-Luke – promotes a ‘paradigm of design philosophy’ that values quality, in all aspects of approach, over any other design factor. Fuad-Luke says that slow design aims to ‘balance socio-cultural and individual needs with the well-being of the environment,’ in order to remove ‘the time constraints of the economic growth and expediency’ to go ‘beyond the fabrication of things for the marketplace.’¹ Six core principles of Slow Design include reveal, expand, reflect, engage, participate and involve.
Slow Design is characterised by edifying traits: an extended design procedure, with increased preparatory efforts; a preference of locally sourced materials and regional processes; an acknowledgement of region conventions; a nod to natural time cycles; and recognition of general wellbeing.
Companies such as Front Rugs produce products with the Slow philosophy in mind; their projects often take years to complete and are inspired by the beauty of the natural world. The collections from designer Micheala Schleypen, for example, are named after nature – ‘Beach,’ ‘Ocean,’ ‘Palm Leaf’ and ‘Lotus.’
So can contemporary design projects really benefit from the use of slow design products? Can the Slow Design approach really yield a worthwhile end-product? Are the added expenses, which are invariably incurred from Slow Design, really justifiable?
Promoting sustainable and environmentally-friendly methods of design are admirable, but not always realistic. It is an unavoidable fact that interior design projects are often backed with a commercial interest at hand. Whether multinational corporations or small-scale businesses, companies that commission interior designers in the UK, for example, are necessarily restrained by a financial boundary. Moreover, it is usually the case that time plays a crucial role and a rapid turnaround is necessary. In these circumstances, Slow Design is a luxury that is simply out of the question.
While an increasing number of interior designers are favouring Slow Design projects over conventional design method, it is plain to see the flaws in the phenomenon, which seems to be a luxury that is reserved for projects with high budgets and a lengthy timescale.
Hoarders and clutter collectors
January is often a time of reflection, a chance to take stock of where you are, identify what you want to achieve with the New Year and the opportunity of a fresh start.
What better way to ‘clear the head’ than to physically clear the decks – get rid of some of the clutter that you may have accumulated over the past year and beyond!
Here is our top tip for your January clear out…
Nice, France: A Place in the Sun
OK, I know I keep on about Nice (record stuck) but really think that with the horrific lack of summer weather I should encourage you all to buy a place in the sun.
Apartment with the view
Nice is flying. The city council decided a few years ago to implement a huge regeneration of Nice. New tram lines, public parks, development of the Port being a few of the innovative ideas. All of this innovation means that while many cities in Europe have a languishing property market, Nice is still vibrant and exciting, both in the property market and lifestyle it offers – and it’s getting better every day!
I found buying in Nice a doddle. Estate Agents in France are highly regulated and there are over 300 agencies in Nice. Sadly many do not speak English, so if your French stretches to just ordering a bottle of rose, I would suggest looking at some of the property finders. Totallyriviera.com is a fantastic service and is networked with the top agencies and has a great website that structure properties on the market by price point and area (all in English). Their team are all bi lingual and really know Nice and have found many properties for friends and clients of mine.
Square Rosetti
Once the property is found, you will sign a compromise de vente. It sets out the main terms of the agreement between the buyer and seller and upon signing the buyer will pay a deposit of 10%. Cleverly, there is also a statutory 7 day cooling off period, during which you, but not the seller, can withdraw from the purchase. Gazumping is an English phenomenon and not tolerated in France.
A Notaire (Solicitor) is appointed to handle the transaction (was effortless if a bit pricey!!) But within usually 3 months the keys are yours.
Pick your areas carefully and you will get a great deal on up and coming areas. One such are is Rue Bonaparte (south of Place Garibaldi). This area is a great investment and you can find some great deals in what is a very good area for investment.
Old town
SO, if you are fed up with the lack of sun here, book the orange airline and be Nice in just under 2 hours and start the hunt!
PS Castel Beach club is a perfect place to debate properties and negotiations whilst sipping rose with a view of the bay of Nice.
Bay at Nice
Callender Howorth specialises in renovating apartments in the city of Nice. View our recent redesign of this luxury apartment in the centre of Nice. To find out more information about luxury interior design in Nice, contact our team.
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