Last week, we had the pleasure of attending FOCUS/21 at Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour where we discovered the latest trends and collections from our favourite suppliers and designers. This in-person, four-day trade event celebrates the future and creativity in interior decoration and design. The mood was upbeat and positive, and the focus was very much on the various attendees, ranging from some of the biggest names in interior design as well as leading industry suppliers.
In this post, we share a small selection of which areas we visited, highlighting the suppliers and stands we loved.
With over 19 events scheduled for the day, we were particularly impressed with Porta Romana’s The Perfect Shade Workshop, where we learned about the people who style these beautiful shades as well as the techniques that style and make it unique. They also invited guests to view their full Autumn 21 collection, which was on display complete with new lighting outfitted with elegant details and craftsmanship.
We also enjoyed the How, Why and When to Commission Bespoke Furniture by Sophie Stanbury and Hydehouse. This insightful discussion shed light on how, why and when to commission bespoke furniture. At April Hamilton, we’re no strangers to commissioning bespoke furniture, ranging from joinery to upholstery. And this talk was a perfect opportunity for us to connect with other brands and suppliers who share our passion for this aspect of design.
Finally, we were thoroughly enamored by GP&JBaker’s Design Studio, where we explored how the studio incorporates William Turner’s 19th century print designs into fabrics and wallcoverings.
In the GP&JBaker showroom they collaborated with Studio Winch to create a curated, interior space that showcases the versatility and timelessness of their fabric and wallpaper collections. They teamed up with Sofa & Chair who made bespoke furniture upholstered in gorgeous fabrics and vibrant colours, we particularly liked the swiveled chairs, which are oh so practical. The popup also featured a leather plaited trim which bordered their grey herringbone wall covering and thought that was a lovely detail.
At the Vaughan Designs showroom, we caught a glimpse of the lighting we’ve used in our current projects on display, which is always nice. We also took note of these two new lamps: Leckford and Tadley, which we absolutely adoreas they’re initially modelled in clay then given a striking antiqued finish. And we will be sure to use the blue and white Imari vase lamp in a future project, which is produced from underglazed hand-decorated porcelain.
We left the Andrew Martin showroom with lots of samples from their new fabric collection. With two showrooms at FOCUS/21, there were plenty of samples and cushions to discover in the first showroom, while the other showcased bold and colourful furniture and artwork that is reminiscent of the Andrew Martin brand that we love and adore.
We were blown away by the beautiful trims from Samuel and Sons. In particular, their boule and beaded borders is a design we’re looking forward to using in a future project. We have some exciting bespoke cushions ideas after leaving their showroom. Their new collection Illuminée features a stunning botanical border that is illuminated by an ombre of colors, making it a suitable option for pairing with a variety of furniture and wall upholstery.
The Robert Langford stand featured lovely new furniture pieces, including fabrics, lamps, accessories. It was hard to miss ‘Harris’, a new faux cashmere collection, which is simply beautiful and featured bed linen from Gilly Nicolson Bedding while the matching wallpaper was courtesy of Thibaut.
The new uplifting art collection, Arigatou, from Quintessa was prominently featured for the first time at FOCUS/21. The collection evokes positivity and optimism designed for the post-pandemic reality. It features British-handmade, original paintings and three dimensional wall sculptures
We loved the paper weaves from Philip Jeffries, a luxury wallcovering supplier. Their Vinyl Herringbone collection is perfect for a study or little boy’s bedroom.
The Colefax and Fowler Cristabel collection offers a bold interpretation of botanical paintings and flowers in full blossom. You’ll have to take a look for yourself! Over in the showroom, we found some Jane Churchill wall coverings called Klint that creates the look and feel of silk fabric on the wall.
We were awed by the collection of luxurious hand knotted rugs at the Tania Johnson stand. Interestingly, Tania herself was inspired by the “crumbling” palazzos of Venice and faded opulence of this ancient Italian city when she conjured up the Venezia collection.
Outdoor furniture from Perennials Sutherland Studio featured warm autumnal touches and gorgeous fabrics. At the showroom, we liked the new cosy Shearling fabric and this dotty-striped fabric called Dotty. We loved the new Franck chair from Sutherland, a wonderful outdoor dining chair that is both comfortable and elegant. These planters also make a great addition to any garden or outdoor space.
FOCUS/21 has left us feeling incredibly inspired. We can’t wait to use some of the latest design discoveries in our upcoming projects. Follow us on Instagram for more design inspiration.
