The Interior Edit: Products for February 2020

Whether you’re looking to specify sustainably-made chairs for an upcoming office project, source a unique coffee table solution for helping your clients relax and entertain at home, or find design-led brassware for bathroom spaces with additional water-saving innovations; browse this month’s curated selection of interior product news to discover more ways you can enhance your designs this February.

Alexander Joseph introduce a series of new designs for its luxury cordless lamps

Throughout February, Alexander Joseph will be introducing a series of new contemporary designs to their permanent range of luxury cordless lamps – and it all starts with the Arc. A classic desk lamp magnificently proportioned to bring grandeur to an office or study. Bringing the traditional 100-year-old shape up to date with a contemporary oversized body. Arc’s sweeping oval lines give way to an angled summit. Finished in Bronze, Brass & polished Silver, there are hundreds of shade colours and materials available to suit your interior design schemes.

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FCI presents the unique Caprice Coffee Table by Smania

Made by the Italian manufacturer Smania, the Caprice wooden coffee table finished in a veneer of wood with a leather upholstered structure is no ordinary coffee table. This low, design-led and multi-functional round table also serves as a bar with its unique openable top, exposing internal compartments to store bottles and glasses. This design feature elevates the sleek, contemporary coffee table to become a true centre piece of your client’s living room – to dine, relax and entertain in style. Caprice makes for a bold, yet elegant addition to any aesthetic.

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Roca flourishes with new Flat brassware range

Flat epitomises minimalist design with its square silhouette and soft edges. Offering a functional yet sophisticated brassware style for any bathroom space, it is available in standard, deck-mounted and wall-mounted options. The square shape of the Flat mixer is also complementary to a range of basin shapes, making it a versatile and functional brassware choice for homeowners, installers, specifiers and retailers.

All mixers in the Flat collection are coated in the hard-wearing Roca EverShine® finish. The electrolytic coating ensures the tap retains its shine, repels stains and discourages the build-up of limescale. The range is also equipped with water-saving innovations. Soft Turn technology provides precision and puts the homeowner in control, with the ability to set the desired water flow and temperature. Enhanced with the integration of flow limiters you can restrict the water flow to a set number of litres per minute, providing a more sustainable, cost-effective solution.

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Introducing the matt lacquer and copper bespoke kitchen by Roundhouse

Crafting beautiful, bespoke kitchens and furniture, Roundhouse showcase their signature, understated aesthetic with one of their latest kitchen projects. The Stephens family kitchen is the perfect place for entertaining with it’s refined and uncluttered scheme – the result of a behind-the-scenes pantry that leads to a scullery and wine store. The design features a combination of Roundhouse Urbo and Metro matt lacquer and matt sanded copper. Finished in Paint & Paper Library Squid Ink with polished Neolith Calacatta worktops. Roundhouse designs are made to measure in a huge range of stunning finishes, expertly crafted by their skilled cabinet makers in their state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Malvern, Worcestershire.

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Arper presented two of its recycled products to the Scandinavian market

Exhibiting at the 70^th edition of the Stockholm Furniture and Light Fair, for the first time Arper displayed its newest additions made from recycled materials to the Scandinavian market; June Eco and Duna 02 Eco, alongside other iconic Arper products. Duna 02 Eco, designed by Lievore Altherr Molina is sustainably-made from 80% recycled post-industrial plastic shell with a 4-leg wood base, and is Greenguard Gold certified. Its shape is evocative and contemporary with a delicate curvature and sumptuous surface, making this chair ideally suited for both home and hospitality spaces.

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Held on 14th – 22nd September 2019, London Design Festival is an annual event, designed to celebrate and promote London as the design capital of the world and as the gateway to the international creative community. The event stages several major trade shows, known as ‘Design Destinations’ throughout the week. These are the commercial pillars of the Festival and are key meeting places for designers, manufacturers, buyers, specifiers, the media and design enthusiasts to discover new product releases and identify current trends. We’re sharing exciting news from some of the SBID Members which are set to exhibit with their latest releases and collection launches during this year’s London Design Festival.

100% Design: 18th – 21st September

Visit Arper at the Arper Design Lounge at 100% Design

Arper returns to the 25th edition of 100% Design from 18-21 September as sponsor of the show. To mark this occasion, this year Arper will be hosting the Arper Design Lounge, a soft, inspiring area where visitors of the show can come together, share ideas and read magazines by the show’s official media partners, while enjoying free charging points. Arper Design Lounge is a central feature of the show and will include a showcase of iconic Arper collections within an engaging setting, perfect to unwind, meet and network.

At 4pm on Friday 20th September Arper Design Lounge will present a live episode of Icon Minds: My Life in Design, in collaboration with Icon Magazine. Icon Magazine editor Priya Khanchandani will engage in conversation with London-based artist Camille Walala to discuss her professional life and the main influences in her work.

Design with Elite Stone’s luxurious raw materials at 100% Design 

Elite Stone exhibits with a single area characterised by colours. The materials used are precious such as Breccia Pontificia, Sahara Noir and Calacatta Borghini; representing the best selection in Italy and in the world, all Made in Italy. The elegant and sophisticated atmosphere is inspired by the lobby of luxury hotels around the world for a contemporary and cosmopolitan atmosphere. The architecture of the stand focuses attention on the book-matched realised in Breccia Pontificia and the floor too, which invites you to enter and discover the Elite Stone World.

FCI London showcase Italian brand’s Gamma and Naos at 100% Design

FCI London, the UK’s largest contemporary furniture showroom, will be showcasing two of its most popular Italian brands, Gamma and Naos, at 100% Design 2019 – the unmissable destination for design. Gamma is renowned for its innovative sofa collection and for being the ‘leather experts’ with their love and knowledge for the material. On the other hand, Naos challenges the laws of motion with its extending dining and coffee tables, that move effortlessly through their unique mechanisms. Both these brands have distinguished themselves in the international markets for their high-quality products, innovation, research and their love for elegant designs. They also wish to further the “Made in Italy” identity, not only in design  but also in manufacturing by having as much of the product made in-house as possible.

The product line-up for 100% Design includes the latest furniture and stellar accessories from Gamma, Naos as well as some other exclusive brands. You can admire FCI London’s curated display at stands B9 and B10.

Designjunction: 19th – 22nd September

VitrA announces first UK premiere of Claudio Bellini collaboration at designjunction 2019

Leading bathroom brand VitrA has chosen to premiere Equal, its latest designer collaboration, in the UK for the first time at designjunction 2019. This year VitrA will be showing Equal and Origin, as well as unveiling the latest additions to Plural by Terri Pecora. The new Equal collection by Claudio Bellini makes use of geometric shapes and monochrome tones. Using clean, minimal borders and industrial, metallic accents, Bellini’s designs emulate the structures found in modernist architecture. The collection features a mirror with integrated LED lighting, a selection of storage and washbasin units, and a wall-hung WC. The contemporary and versatile nature of the delicate, structured design makes it ideal for both commercial and residential spaces.

Terri Pecora’s award-winning Plural collection will also be showcased. For this range, Pecora reimagined the washroom as a living space, using smooth, rounded edges and solid woods to emulate furniture usually found in other rooms of the home. The set will feature the free-standing vanity unit and wall-hung WC, paired with Vetro flush plate. VitrA will also be showing the Origin collection of brassware, including a newshowerhead, shower mixer and range of basin mixers. Available in four different finishes (Brushed Nickel, Chrome, Copper and Matt Black), Origin offers an integrated and charming finishing touch to the bathroom.

James Latham and Hi-Macs® cast a positive light on mental illness at designjunction 2019

Two five metre-tall interactive sculptures, designed by multi-award winning British designer, Steuart Padwick will be erected in King’s Cross shortly for this year’s designjunction event (19-22 Sept) as part of London Design Festival.

The giant cuboid figures have been created in support of mental health anti-stigma initiative, Time To Change, and have been skilfully formed using Douglas Fir to convey warmth and humanity, using off-site construction technologies. However, it is the imposing, interactive ‘concrete’ blocks – representing their ‘emotional burdens’ – that truly bring these dramatic, public art spectacles to life.  These cubes have been manufactured from HI-MACS® natural acrylic stone (in colour G555 Steel Concrete), supplied by main UK distributor, James Latham and fabricated by Preston based, We Are Limitless Limited (WALL).

For all visitors to the London Design Festival and designjunction, James Latham is holding a one-day HI-MACS® walk-in workshop on 19th September at their Design Showroom in the Business Design Centre, Islington, just one tube stop away from Kings Cross. Here, visitors can learn more about the product and witness inspirational demonstrations of thermoforming, sublimation and more.

London Design Fair: 19th – 22nd September

Cosentino City London Celebrates LDF with ‘Carved in Stone’ Installation

Leading Spanish manufacturer of surfaces for architecture and design, Cosentino, is delighted to be celebrating London Design Festival with the ‘Carved in Stone’ installation’. Leading architects were invited to put forward their proposed designs in line with the theme: ‘Life on Mars‘, with five winning entries hand selected by a panel of judges, including members of the Cosentino and Cuellar families.

These entries will be brought to life by craftsmen from Cuellar Stone in Spain, who will carve these intricate sculptures out of blocks of Macael Marble, measuring 500 x 500 x 500mm. Marble has been chosen as the material as it signifies the very beginning of Cosentino. Historically, some of the greatest designers in history have used marble, from Agra’s Taj Mahal, London’s Marble Arch and Michelangelo’s ‘David’.

The five marble sculptures will be on show at the Cosentino City London showroom for visitors to admire throughout London Design Festival. The designers will be visiting the showroom during the week to offer visitors a glimpse of the inspirational stories behind their fantastic designs.

Armani/Roca is set to showcase at The Bathroom Gallery, London Design Fair

Armani/Roca will be exhibiting at this year’s London Design Fair as part of an exclusive new exhibition. The Bathroom Gallery, which is in partnership with Elle Decoration, will bring together leading bathroom brands and is the first and only event at LDF dedicated solely to the bathroom industry.

On the stand, visitors will have the chance to see the new Armani/Roca Baia collection in a truly unique setting. With the new Baia collection, Giorgio Armani once again shows his commitment to promoting comfort and wellbeing, expressing his vision of the bathroom environment through a combination of elements that allow maximum flexibility and adaptability. Particular attention has been paid to the ergonomics of each piece. The aesthetic intentionally references the past, but the retro styling has been interpreted in a modern manner and incorporates avant-garde technology. The result is a new versatile bathroom collection, which manages to be both contemporary and timeless, in accordance with Giorgio Armani’s well-known design philosophy.

The Bathroom Gallery is an exclusive exhibition taking place on the second floor of the Old Truman Brewery from the 19th – 22nd September. Armani/Roca will be in Hall 11 and on stand number 11.

Craig & Rose celebrate the launch of 11 new shades with special colour installation, Colour Way

Craig & Rose marks its evolution from one of the UK’s oldest luxury paint manufacturers to paint protagonists by way of a special colour installation for the 2019 edition of the London Design Fair. To celebrate the launch of 11 new shades, the progressive Scottish brand will unveil a creative structure which nod’s discreetly to this year’s overarching theme of ‘Bauhaus’, whilst honouring the design movement’s modernist principles of ‘honesty’ and ‘simplicity’. The aim of the presentation is to ‘free’ architects and designers, empowering them with clear contemporary colour direction, all suitable for practical adoption. With two immersive areas, the installations take the visitor on a special journey to experience, explore, and develop their own personal relationships with a series of carefully curated combinations.

Adopting this approach, Craig & Rose has commissioned the creative colour agency, Calzada Fox to spearhead the overall concept and lead on art direction. The result of this will be a highly distinctive and interactive space devised to challenge existing perceptions around colour. In addition, East London’s architectural practice Studio Shaw, best known for its original approach, has also been tasked with executing an exciting three dimensional structure amplifying the ideas within.

Sutherland Furniture launch The Otti Collection during London Design Festival 2019

Leading luxury outdoor furniture brand, Sutherland Furniture, has collaborated with global design icon Vincent Van Duysen, to launch The Otti Collection, a collective of 11 intuitive pieces of furniture available Autumn 2019. The Otti Lounge Chair and Otti Dining Armchair feature lightweight aluminum powder coat frames with Perennials rope base and back. The intriguing weave from base to arm pushes the boundary of minimalist design into Van Duysen’s essentialist style. Similarly, the Otti Three-Seat Sofa embraces Van Duysen’s fluid design approach with a slender seamless frame. The body of the sofa is formed by intersecting Perennials ropes that offer both comfort and support, while imposing architectural elements. The resulting woven design perfectly encompasses Van Duysen’s spatial aesthetic.

Meet Vincent Van Duysen and David Sutherland for the new collection launch on Monday 16th of September, 10:30am at Sutherland Perennials Studio, 3rd Floor Centre Dome, Chelsea Harbour Design Centre!

With the New Year upon us, The Society of British and International Design have given us another exciting and inspiring opportunity to network and learn at 2014’s first Continuing Professional Development networking event. This month’s agenda was lighting design, an evening filled with talks from both commercial and residential industry experts, along with a panel discussion on the increasing use of LED lighting in design.

A handful of SBID members and guests filled the impressive Roca London Gallery, a highly stimulating, curvaceous space designed around the themes of water and fluidity, from the eponymous Zaha Hadid Architects.

First to present was Calvin Caunter of Vision Accendo, commercial LED lighting specialists. Calvin emphasised the numerous benefits of LEDs vs. incandescent lighting, including their energy efficiency, their longer life cycles and low maintenance properties, as well as the long term financial advantages.

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Lucy Martin, Design Director at the award-winning John Cullen lighting, delivered an engaging presentation on the fundamental importance of lighting in residential spaces. She touched on the emotive and behavioural impact that lighting has on us, along with the visual control that lighting grants us – enabling us to create focal points around our architectural features, to make smaller spaces appear larger and to make large spaces more manageable. The consideration of surfaces and finishes was also discussed; the way these elements will affect the colour of the lighting and therefore the overall mood of the space. Lucy’s persuasive approach during the talk allowed her genuine passion for lighting to resonate and the overall importance she places on educating people into truly understanding the impact of good lighting design.

The third and final speaker for the evening was Kevin Grant of Buro Happold Lighting. With a portfolio of large-scale commercial lighting projects in London, LA and Saudi Arabia to name a few, Kevin provided us with an interesting and impressive overview of the company and their approach to challenges associated with lighting. With spaces in which natural lighting is required but limited, Kevin discussed their use of sun blocking, a technique to channel natural sunlight into a space through tubes which reflect and refract the light, whilst at the same time blocking out the sun’s negative UV affects.

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The inspiring talks were followed by a Q&A session. An opportunity for Vanessa Brady, President of SBID, along with audience members, to pose questions to the speakers and to challenge some of the points raised. Issues such as the quality of LED manufacturing in many parts of Asia vs. Europe were debated; how to compete with a thriving market elsewhere in the world. The consideration of obsolescence in LED lighting products from design to implementation was another point of interest discussed.

With the overall thought for the evening, ‘LED is the future’, I was no doubt more convinced of this conclusion by the end of the event. With the lights dimming, I left the curvaceous tunnels of the gallery inspired by the wealth of knowledge I’d accumulated on the subject and the invaluable conversations I’d had with others in attendance.