Top trend spots at the design shows: Designersblock & Focus

3rd October 2014

Bright yellow and delicate grey continued to be a strong combination as showcased in Sonia Rykiel’s Maison design palette, with greens a vibrant feature in Matthew Williamson’s collection for Osborne and Little, including jungle colours creating a dense, exotic effect as shades of green and jade mixed with tropical tones, florals and animal imagery.

In contrast, romantic pastel shades were also featured with metallics given a softer tone in lustrous, brushed and buffed golds – a strong element in collections from manufacturers and designers including Brian Yates.

Abstract patterning featured bold brushstrokes, ombre, blurred, and bleeding effects. Tones of blue in every shade, from indigo and forget-me-not to ink, turquoise and sea green blended beautifully with neutrals to create stunning surfaces.

Zinc’s new statement Marbelous collection, which resembles veined marble, uses the blue palette to great effect.

It was exciting to see what trends the A&D community has decided to focus on this season, each with their own unique interpretation. For us it was a visually stunning, immersive and inspirational experience.

Chevrons, flame stitch and zigzags had strong prominence on pieces, with diamonds and triangles taking shape as the new geometrics, as spotted on Kirkby Design’s new fabrics.

Trend themes were blooming, with florals present in many styles, including a bold approach which saw floral images distorted by texture, blurred edges and fading as seen on Zofanny’s Woodville fabrics.

Beautiful Loop Lamps created by Fanatic House are works of art in themselves. Energy efficient, each lamp is created from a single PVC sheet. Light glows from its layered twists, a minimal interpretation of a butterfly cocoon, and we couldn’t help but be drawn in for a closer look.

French designer Marlene Huissoud brought her experimental style to spectacular fruition with her From Insects inspired collections, including this amazing silkworm inspired Silk Rug, featuring hundreds of lozenges assembled together to create a flexible surface.

Over at Focus/14 at the Design Centre in Chelsea Harbour, collaborations were revealed as world-class talent and internationally renowned names merged with leading manufacturers.

Emma Bridgewater’s new fabrics and wallcoverings for Sanderson reflected the informal style of her popular pottery, with wallpapers even resembling stacked shelves of whimsical pieces. Fashion supremo Matthew Williamson has worked with Osborne and Little to create a collection of refined, globally inspired glamour, with pieces adorned with island paradises, dragonflies, jungles and dreamy distant shores.

Hand-blown Murano glass LED lights, Giopato & Coombes’ new I Flauti collection, hung from the ceilings, we loved their delicate dew drops of colour and each piece’s unique design – the perfect combination of tradition and technology, past and present.

Art and design was definitely in session at this year’s Designersblock exhibition for The London Design Festival. Visitors to the show had the privilege of experiencing this grand event in surroundings that are rarely accessible to the public.

One of London’s most historic landmarks, the Grade II listed Old Sessions House was once the busiest courthouse in England, and it provided an amazing setting for Designersblock and its Clerkenwell Design Quarter exhibition.

The building’s spectacular interiors were the perfect backdrop for a whole host of pieces, ranging from furniture, lighting and textiles to sculpture, illustration and concepts, showcased by both emerging and established designers.

So what’s our verdict on its trends? It was an illuminating experience: Industrial, concrete and urban were the key themes and inspiration this year, contrasted with the delicate and divine.

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