Autumn proved to be the season the interior design community returned to pre-pandemic normality – out and about at every opportunity, and Sofa.com team were so pleased to be involved in some of the key events that attracted crowds of design enthusiasts and industry professionals.
Kicking off the season, they hosted an insightful podcast recording in the newly refurbished Chelsea showroom. Led by the host of Interior Design Business, Susie Rumbold, who took centre stage to discuss all thing eco – looking into how products are made, and the life cycle of everyday items.
A captivated audience participated in a lively discussion between Alexandra Jurkiewicz, Creative Lead at Helen Green Design, Chloe Bullock, founder of Materialise Interiors, and David Chenery, founder and director of Object Space Place – three designers leading the way toward a greener future, considering best practice, material innovations, and non-negotiables.
Full conversation available here.
Providing a variety of furniture for a number of spaces at Cheshire’s beautiful Capesthorne Hall, comfortably seated both guests and speakers for a variety of panels and discussions. Sofa.com’s highlight of the week was working once again with The Interior Design Business Podcast as they delved into the nation’s favourite interior design TV shows and how they benefit the industry – with insight from Verity Coleman from Rascal & Roses, Siobhan Murphy from Interior Curve and Peter Grech from The SpaceMaker Interiors.
Available to listen here.
Sofa.com were proud to be the official furniture provider for this year’s sell-out show, providing furniture for several main stages and communal areas. Partnering with the IHS provided the opportunity to showcase new and best-selling designs to an elite group of hoteliers, commercial specifiers and leading interior designers. Their seating provided the perfect platform for industry experts such as Hamish Kilburn, Gavin Couper, and Eljesa Saciri as they spoke on upcoming trends and industry innovation: link here.
The first edition of the event post pandemic proved a roaring success, with visitors enjoying business conversation, insightful discussions and unique networking opportunities.
Working with Linwood over many years, Sofa.com know how beautiful their fabrics look on their seating, so they jumped at the chance to upholster our best-selling Bluebell sofa in their new Maypole linen. Decorex offered the perfect opportunity to showcase the finished result which was a real showstopper. One of their key offerings for design clientele is COM provision and judging by the number of entrants in our giveaway, it was a much-coveted item.
Four days of bustle as visitors enjoyed a world of inspiration across all categories of design.
Sofa.com’s trade team was on site at each event to speak with both new and prospective customers, recommending product and demonstrating their wealth of knowledge on furnishing both contemporary and traditional décor.
About sofa.com
Passionate about outstanding interiors, sofa.com offers a diverse and design led collection of made-to-order sofas, armchairs, beds, footstools and home accessories. With an extensive range of styles and over 100 fabrics to choose from, as well as the option to upholster in your own fabric, the customisable nature of sofa.com’s products make each piece easily adaptable to any interior style – perfect for interior designers and specifiers looking for stand-out pieces for upcoming projects.
If you’d like to feature your product news here, get in touch to find out more.
If you’d like to become SBID Accredited, click here for more information.
KI has confirmed that Postura+ will begin a transition to a circular economy, with all one-piece chairs manufactured from December 2022 set to contain at least 30% recycled polypropylene.
Following over 3 years of trials and testing, this achievement sets an important milestone on KI’s journey towards taking a leading position in the circular economy. Over the coming years, KI will work towards increasing this percentage to future milestones 50, 80 and ultimately 100%, bringing all standard colours into line with the increasingly popular Jet Black chairs which are already made with 100% recycled content.
The unique, UK-based supply chain development will see 600 tonnes per year of waste plastic being fed into the standard production process, the equivalent of over 2,000,000 food containers per annum. These new mixed virgin/recycled polypropylene chairs have been rigorously tested and have achieved the same certifications and standards as the fully virgin plastic chairs, so the unparalleled, proven Postura+ 20-year warranty remains in place.
Jonathan Hindle, President, KI EMEA comments: “We manufacture approximately 400,000 one-piece Postura+ chairs alone each year, making it one of our most successful and high-volume product lines. Eliminating 600 tonnes of virgin polypropylene from this supply chain demonstrates our commitment to realistic, impactful steps towards sustainable practices, without compromising colour options, quality, durability and warranties.”
Jeremy McWhinney, KI’s Finance & Operations Director adds: “Whilst other products in our lives have been able to utilise recycled polypropylene for years, they are routinely single or limited use items – Postura+ chairs must withstand the toughest learning environments for decades. The testing and production processes involved have been years in the making, and we look forward to continuing our journey towards our ambition of 100% recycled content in the future.”
This innovation in Postura+ chair production further enhances the product’s environmental performance, outlined in its independently verified Environmental Product Declaration (EPD). Manufactured in the UK, these chairs are transported in 100% recyclable packaging, and are themselves 100% recyclable at their end of life.
Alison Mallett, KI Europe’s Director of Education Furniture comments: “Our customers both in the UK and across Continental Europe are looking for ways to reduce the environmental impact of their procurement practices, without adding unrealistic cost or compromising quality. What we’ve managed to achieve with Postura+ chairs is a fantastic step in the right direction and we are confident that this exciting news will be met with great enthusiasm from our customers.”
About KI
KI’s furniture helps the world’s leading organisations create happy, healthy, high performing working and learning environments. Bringing together good design, advanced engineering and sustainable resources, KI’s products are durable, flexible and offer excellent value.
As we approach the end of another busy year, Sofa.com shares their favourite projects and reflects on their achievements from 2022…
For us, working collaboratively with various designers has been a real highlight – helping to bring their creative vision to life and seeing our products in a range of gorgeous spaces. The breadth of projects this year has been wonderful, from larger hospitality work, to commercial settings and a wealth of boutique hotels; this is where sofa.com product really comes to life, with bespoke elements and extensive fabric choice meaning no two projects look the same. Here’s what they had to say!
We have compiled some of our favourites of the year, from the hills of Edinburgh to the coastal waters of Cornwall and everywhere in-between, featuring design specifications that we’re most proud of and are thrilled to see completed to such a high standard.
One of our most recent collaborative projects has just recently completed in time for the holidays. It was a joy to work with Unique Homestays on the renovation of The Hatch, a pared-back coastal property next to the glimmering seas in Cornwall. Finishing touches in the dining room convey the aesthetic of the property perfectly, but with a slight bias our favourite room has to be the Scandi-inspired living room, featuring our bestselling Isaac sofas.
Another key project with Unique Homestays was the completion of Little Inka, a cottage finished with trending combinations of black and brass. This modern farmhouse aesthetic is the perfect setting for our Chesterfield style Patrick loveseat in beautiful vintage leather.
Additional highlights include working with The National Trust Scotland, Alice Leigh design, and The Bath Arms to name a few.
It’s wonderful to look back and celebrate with our customers on the completion of their projects. Thank you to all for working with us, and we look forward to collaborating in the future. As we look towards 2023 and exciting projects on the horizon – we’ve are thrilled to be part of such a vibrant industry.
Cover image: Emma Gurner
Celebrating 35 years of luxury design, Arteriors is thrilled to announce the launch of its latest collaboration collection with renowned American interior designer, Jay Jeffers. As part of the brand’s successful Guest Designer programme, Arteriors welcomes Jay back for a third collection. The range features 28 new furniture, lighting and accessory designs launched as part of their Autumn 2022 collection, debuted at Focus/22.
Jay’s collection prioritises versatility while embodying his “liveable luxury” approach to interior design. Influenced by mid-century décor, from designers including Carlos Scarpa, Franco Albini and Jena-Michel Frank, the collection embraces classic masculine elements including antique and polished brass and pairs them with etched glass and pierced metals.
“With each collaboration, I prioritise quality and craftsmanship. This third collection with Arteriors reflects the skill of their network of artisans that make each product come to life, a hallmark I wanted to celebrate as part for the 35th anniversary. Each piece is handcrafted and meant to feel collected over time. This new offering introduces lighting and accessories that are adaptable to different environments, whether it be a sprawling luxury resort or a compact apartment.” – Jay Jeffers, speaking on the collaboration.
The final result is a beautiful mix of sculptural silhouettes, vintage metal elements, and 20th century inspired design. Expanding on his past two collections, Jay and Arteriors developed new pieces across a variety of categories, including furniture, accessories and lighting created with signature Jay touches.
These design elements can be found throughout the collection, notably in the Trento Mirror, crafted with hand-formed brass, and the Holm Sconce, created with two separate layers of glass for a beautiful diffused light. The Carl Pendant blends smoked glass with pewter and multiple layers of glass for a fixture that can be shown long over a kitchen island or shortened for hallway or bedroom fixture. Finally, the handsome Cantu Cabinet boasts a rich ebony stain and tapered legs for a beautiful addition to an entryway or living space.
“We are thrilled to have Jay return as a guest designer. What better way to celebrate our 35th anniversary than with one of our longest-standing collaborators?” says Barb Fuller, Vice President of Marketing & Visual Merchandising for Arteriors. “Jay’s eye for designing entertaining spaces can be seen across his three collections for Arteriors, from accessories to seating and casegoods designed for comfortable and stylish gatherings at home. For this newest assortment, we worked together to expand on this theme with lighting that creates a warm ambiance and accessories that offer chic touches to interior spaces.”
About Arteriors
For over 30 years, Arteriors delivers impeccable style and artisanal quality craftsmanship within the lighting, furniture, wall décor and home accessory categories to discerning customers worldwide. This three-decade journey in pursuit of extraordinary product – from the understated to the unexpected – had been and remain at the core of what Arteriors do each day. Arteriors’ business has matured and expanded into a timeless lifestyle brand that has become premier resource for interior designers and retailers worldwide.
Today, Arteriors continues to reinterpret materials, forming objects of perfect proportions and scale, resulting in bold interiors that bring ease to everyday luxury.
Olivia’s was born out of a desire to bring the best of the furniture world into one space. We search the world for the latest trends in designer and luxury interior design, working with industry experts to bring you beautiful furniture, normally only for industry insiders. Our award-winning interior designers hand-pick each item, working closely with various artisans, designers, and brands.
We pride ourselves on being readily available for our clients as we work across many communication channels. We can also work in multiple ways depending on the type of client and project. Some companies use us solely as an ordering function with minimal intervention whereas others may use us to help source products, design spaces, and manage logistics.
The main benefits of working with Olivia’s Trade are: access to over 50 vendors/brands, no minimum order value, storage solutions, and a dedicated account manager to handle everything from creative ideas to logistics and delivery. We also take away the hassle of having to set up multiple accounts with trade suppliers giving you the ability to order across multiple brands for a single project.
We offer a very personable approach where you will have a single point of contact for all your needs. Our trade team members have an in-depth knowledge of not only Olivia’s as a brand but also an understanding of each of our vendor’s wider catalogs of products, which as a trade client you have access to. We are able to take over the time-consuming job of sourcing, selecting, and styling either single rooms or full house renovations. If you have ideas that need bringing to life or if you had your eye on a particular product that has gone out of stock, we’re on hand to assist. With a huge warehouse space, we have the ability to offer great storage & flexible delivery options; storing all items for a single drop along with white glove delivery available on each job, taking away the stress of organising any element of logistics.
There has been an increase in key focal pieces like bright art deco occasional chairs & oversized chandeliers along with the continued love of minimal design and maximum function
Questions answered by Sara Barnes, Head of Buying & Product, Olivia’s.
About Olivia’s
Trade at Olivia’s is a service for interior designers, architects, property developers, and more. Our dedicated team of account managers work closely with you to source and supply luxury homeware, lighting, and accessories. We have over 14,000 items across 90+ suppliers and brands at our fingertips. We aim to make your buying experience as stress-free as possible by giving you the ability to buy products from multiple brands with just one account.
If you’d like to feature your project news here, get in touch to find out more.
Arteriors’ F22 collection offers interior designers an array of location-inspired design aesthetics, with influences from Monaco and Berlin, previewed as part of the showroom reset ahead of Focus/22. Informed by traditional techniques and use of materials from across the globe, intertwined with Arteriors’ statement flair, these collections are designed to create a timeless, contemporary scheme with accents that add visual interest and inspire awe.
The most traditionally luxurious of the two aesthetics brings the warmth and richness of colour of Monaco to life. Opulent and extravagant, this is a dream scheme that combines the crystal hues of the ever-blue sky and sea, with shades of golden yellows. The selection of furniture, lighting, accessories, and wall décor that make up the collection feature plenty of jewel tones, decadent marble detailing, and glamorous gilded-gold designs, with each piece epitomising grandeur. Indulge in sumptuous velvet seating, incorporate lavish lighting, and finish with accessories that complement the myriad of colour-rich tones.
A nod to mid-century design, the selection of products featured within the Berlin Bauhaus collection utilise strong lines and geometric accents to create a more contemporary look. Unique material choices run through the range of home furnishings with a particular focus on leather detailing on upholstered items, accessories and as part of lighting designs. The juxtaposition created by featuring a material ordinarily used to create a more traditional aesthetic but incorporated into furnishings with sculpted and soft design fashions a more contemporary look. An unexpected and distinctive material choice complementary to woods, metals and marbles, Arteriors designers predict leather pieces to be the next ‘it’ material t inspired modern interior schemes for seasons to come.
Pop into the showroom in Chelsea Harbour’s Design Centre to view the complete showroom transformation with new product across all categories, featuring items inspired by Monaco, Berlin and beyond.
Alexander Purcell, a notable British architectural designer, is pleased to introduce the Henley Collection—a sleek and nautically informed array of furniture. Inspired by the racing boats that enable one to enjoy the river, sea, or lake, the Henley Collection is perfect for contemporary homes looking for a sophisticated yet welcoming aesthetic. With its aquatically inspired designs and luxurious materials, the Henley is ideal for any modern home looking to add some flair.
The Henley collection debuted in London with the opening of the new Pavoni flagship showroom at Design Centre Chelsea Harbour on September 5. The showroom carries the entire collection, with all of the upholstered pieces customized with Pavoni’s fine Italian vegetable tanned luxury leathers.
The inspiration for the Henley is both quite personal as well as a result of Purcell’s fascination with classic boat design. In fact, the seed for the collection goes way back: In 1998 he and his teammates entered the famous Henley Regatta. His college having not won since 1962, this year proved to be different. Established in 1839, the world-renowned rowing event is held annually on the River Thames in the town of Henley-on-Thames and attracts participants from all over the world. Purcell and his eight ended up winning the extremely competitive Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup. Celebrating that feat a few years ago as the team marked the 20th anniversary of their win, Purcell was driven to bring the aqua-dynamic forms and language of racing boats into his furniture collection and so was born the Henley.
The iconic Riva yacht also makes its mark on the collection. Purcell has always loved the luxury wooden runabout built by Italian yacht builder Riva. The shape, speed, beauty, and craftsmanship of their namesake boat, produced from 1962-1996, earned it praise as the Ferrari of the boat world. The vintage yachts are now coveted by boat lovers worldwide.
With the new Henley collection, the formal nods toward the shape of oars and rowing boat hulls, as well as the elegant silhouettes of the Riva boat are obvious. It all started with the chair arm and its upholstery detail—the rest of the array was built off that one detail with the goal of creating pieces that can be enjoyed both functionally and visually. The collection launches with four designs:
The Henley Collection is available now at fine to-the-trade showrooms in the U.S. including B. Peterson in Palm Beach, De Sousa Hughes in San Francisco, Dennis Miller in New York, MOD in Denver, Thomas Lavin in Los Angeles and Laguna, and Paul+ in Atlanta. For more information on the Henley and Alexander Purcell, please visit atelierpurcell.com
Cover image: Henley Dining Chairs & Henley Rectangular Dining Table
About Alexander Purcell
Alexander Purcell is a British designer, based in London and LA with soon-to-open offices in NYC, and a multi-disciplinarian practitioner of industrial design and architectural interiors with his namesake firm as well as the designer of a line of furniture and lighting under the Atelier moniker. Purcell studied architecture at Cambridge University and worked for the iconic Richard Rogers Partnership before going solo in 2009. He quickly became known for elegantly stylish residences and hotels around the world before adding furniture design to his portfolio by collaborating on products with Holly Hunt, Promemoria, Link Outdoor, and De Castelli, among other luxury brands.
Continuing to expand on its contemporary design offering, sofa.com is delighted to introduce its AW22 collection to a trade audience.
Comprising of four new designs across upholstered seating catering for a range of design specifications across commercial and residential projects. The collection includes the new hero range, Tiffany, a vintage-inspired armchair, Shelby, and two new stylish dining chairs, Lola and Piper all available in 75+ fabric options as well as COM to create bespoke options to allow designers breadth of choice.
Inspired by modern renaissance design – a trend which integrates contemporary shapes with classic detailing to bring together refreshing pieces with a sense of refinement, glamour and a touch of charm from the Art Deco era – each piece incorporates an element of pleated stitching which unites the new look across the collection.
Also including expansions upon two of sofa.com’s bestselling designs, the Larsen armchair and Teddy chaise join AW22. All-time favourites in the sofa range, these pieces offer a more traditional aesthetic to cater for a variety of residential projects.
The new colour palette for the season includes velvets in warming autumnal tones – vibrant oranges, forest greens and salmon pinks – alongside a range of weaves in pared-back neutrals and subtle blues and greens. These palettes will help create differing interior styles from modern luxe to a more organic, minimalist aesthetic.
Speaking on the collection, trade development manager Laura Tarratt comments:
“Seating is at the core of this collection and we wanted to ensure each sofa, dining seat or armchair would stand alone as a beautiful, functional residential piece but also work to create a statement within restaurants, bars, office meeting room or set the scene in a hotel lobby. The continued expansion of our dining collection has proven popular with sales increasing season upon season. We also wanted to ensure we weren’t compromising on comfort or style, and have focussed on ensuring optimal dimensions and fillings to create the ultimate design combination of ergonomically sound and elegant. Boasting over 75 fabrics and the option to upholster all pieces in COM, our in-house team can fulfil any project brief becoming a one-stop shop for our growing interior designer clientele base.”
Handmade-to-order in just 4-6 weeks – now available online and in store.
PwC, a renowned professional services provider, has made a significant investment in the city of Belfast by relocating its offices to Merchant Square. The move to the city centre comes from a desire to not only support the growth of the company, but to signal its confidence in the area and encourage other businesses to take a similar initiative.
The new workplace is spread across 200,000 sq ft over nine floors and provides the regional hub for around 3,000 employees. The building is an amalgamation of three existing structures with a dramatic feature staircase linking floors four, five and six. The hope is that the new office will help to increase employee numbers over the next few years, meaning the design needed to have versatility as well as longevity. To meet both of these requirements, a wide range of KI furniture was specified by the lead interior designer, BDP.
On four of the levels, KI’s Colonnade system is being used to create user-controlled, open-plan spaces which the teams can quickly customise depending on the immediate need. Each Colonnade comprises 800 Series cupboard and drawer units integrated with 800 Series Shelving. Semi-sheer Kvadrat Acoustic Drops curtains feature on each open side of the structure and divide up the space for meeting or work settings. To maximise the system’s flexibility, Colonnade Cube stools were also chosen as they can be neatly stored away within the unit’s structure. The stools are upholstered in a variety of fabrics and colours to best complement the Colonnade units.
Moveable easels hook over the overhead gantry rails at any point and these are accessorised with magnetic backed whiteboards which also store away neatly in the open shelving when they are not being used.
Two different colour schemes were specified for the Colonnade systems, one of which uses vibrant colours that echo the shipbuilding heritage of Belfast. Bright yellow powder coated easels pay homage to the nearby Harland and Wolff cranes, whilst bright blue and red powder coats emulate well-established maritime engineering colour schemes.
Annabelle Hadlow, project architect at BDP, said: “Materials and furniture specification is always important to PwC. We have a fantastic understanding of its design aspirations and how the offices reflect the cities in which they are located whilst providing functional and flexible spaces. For Merchant Square, the furniture was crucial in achieving the right, characteristic design and the right levels of adaptability across all floors.”
Throughout the office space, a variety of other KI designs provide seating and tables to support both the impromptu and more focused work practices that are required. These include Zig poseur height tables and Work2.1 Sit-Stand tables in a variety of finishes such as graphite Fenix tops on raw steel, black and yellow under-structures. These tables provide ideal settings for dropdown work and casual collaboration.
KI’s Take5 high back armchairs adorn multiple areas and are upholstered in a variety of fabrics and colours. Ruckus chairs on castors are located around collaboration tables and inside the Colonnades. The innovative design of the Ruckus is also ideal for sit-stand tables, allowing a person to either sit in the chair or perch on its backrest, depending on the height setting of the table.
Throughout the building are 800 Series personal lockers fitted with RFID wireless lock technology which can be remotely monitored and controlled by the facility management teams. Some larger versions are also located in the basement area to provide cloak and leisure storage. Other specifications of matching 800 Series cabinets, recycling units, and tambour cupboards – a PwC standard – can also be found in the back office service areas.
Expanding on the brand’s new contemporary handwriting, sofa.com has launched three new statement seating designs as part of their latest collection. Each piece is handmade-to-order in just 4-6 weeks and can be upholstered in over 75 different fabrics to perfectly suit any residential or commercial project.
The range puts a spotlight on minimalist modern shapes and sleek lines ideal for contemporary interiors design projects.
Oswald and Chester join the range as the two hero designs for the season boasting clean lines and Scandi-inspired shapes, combining elements of contemporary style with the same trusted comfort the brand is so celebrated for. Curvilinear detailing and sleek tapered legs lend a feminine, avant-garde allure to Edie creating an elegant, fashion-forward shape.
With Chester available as armchair or various sized sofa, Oswald as the all-encompassing corner option, and Edie as the cocktail chair of choice, the brand is introducing modern marvels for varying lifestyles and for the ever-evolving interiors.
Each new design is available in different fabrics and colours – from durable cottons, to lavish velvets and luxurious leathers. This ensures each hand-crafted sofa.com upholstered design is bespoke based on your own requirements, whether specifying seating for a residential, hospitality or commercial property. With the entire range also available in COM, there is no compromise necessary to create the perfect custom design.
The trade team at sofa.com is on-hand to assist with any queries – please visit www.sofa.com/trade for more information.
Join SBID
Find out more about our flexible membership structure.
By subscribing, you agree to be added to SBID’s mailing list. As an industry’s standard bearer organisation, we strive to bring you the most up to date news and access to exclusive industry content through our various newsletters.
First Name
Last Name
Email Address
I accept the SBID Terms of Use