Home Sweet Home.

Last weekend at Earls Court proved there really is no place like Home. My first visit to this trade-only event was a little bit daunting, not least because I'm new on the scene and haven't quite mastered the art of staying cool while surrounded by so many talented designers, but also because the sheer volume of stands and products to see literally took my breath away.  

Being a trade event the show (held in conjunction with Top Drawer, the definitive show for the gift, lifestyle and fashion accessories industry) had a distinctly different buzz to any other I've visited. This is where buyers, designers and journalists gather to determine what trends and products we'll all be adorning our homes with over the coming seasons.

For me, though, it was an opportunity to fuel my creative aspirations.  Like the proverbial kid in a sweetshop I wandered up and down each aisle, marvelling at each stand. Some products I liked, others not so much but each one filled me with inspiration.  

Among some of the bigger names in design such as Royal Doulton, Seletti and Jonathan Adler this year Home was also host to the Confessions of A Design Geek bursary nominees so, what better way to start my 'best of' round-up than with the winner, illustrator and surface pattern designer, Jessica Hogarth.  

"Life By The Sea' print by Jessica Hogarth,
now £42 from Notonthehighst.

Yorkshire-based Jessica graduated from Leeds College of Art in 2010 and started Jessica Hogarth Designs in 2011.
Her bold, playful illustrations are largely inspired by daily life and the Yorkshire coast, although Jessica also takes regular sketching trips around the UK and Paris.

As well as producing designs for her own label, Jessica has collaborated with Korean marketing and branding agency, Lab C and American quilting company, P&B Textiles. Her prints are stocked by The Futon Company and she also sells through Not On The High Street.

Throughout the show I noticed that there seemed to be two main themes: childhood/nostalgia and nature.  One design duo that I feel combines the two are Maria Livings and Marie Rodgers of Lush Designs.
I first spotted their lampshades in Stoke Newington's interiors boutique, Hamiltons, and was delighted to get to see more of their work (and have a bit of a natter!) at the show.

'Fox & Cubs' silk scarf, £115 from Lush Designs

The quirky, hand-drawn designs feature many woodland animals as well as mermaids and the popular cheeky monkey. The pair produce the lampshades themselves at their studio in Deptford and also have a shop in Greenwich.  I can also reveal that they will be opening a pop-up shop on Columbia Road, East London next month.

Next up is the whimsical world of Mellor Ware.  Illustrator Lianne Mellor has designed a range of chinaware which depicts a world of playful creatures engaging in a range of very British pastimes such as afternoon tea and garden parties.  Her simple watercolours are narrative, telling stories of  what she imagines the wildlife gets up to when no one is watching.

'Animal Tea Party' cup & saucer by Mellor Ware,
£24.95 from Liberty

All chinaware is produced by Lianne at her studio in Sheffield and are sold through Liberty and Etsy.

Finally, on a more grown-up note, let me introduce you to British-Japanese ceramics designer, Reiko Kaneko. 
Reiko established her design studio in London's East End after graduating from Central St Martins in 2007 but has since relocated to Stoke-on-Trent in order to integrate the design and production process more closely.  

'Drip Tease' mug in gold, £14 from Reiko Kaneko

Reiko's aim is to prove that chinaware need no longer be the reserve of the twee and can be stylish and sophisticated and I think she succeeds brilliantly. Her work combines the simplicity of Japanese design with a little bit of British wit bringing ceramics bang up to date.  
The 'Drip Tease' mug was a close second for my favourite find of the show (the first being the 'Tea For One' table on the Lust List). Actually, the two compliment each other perfectly - now I'll have to buy both!

I could write about a lot of other designers at the show whose work I admire but I'd probably be here all night and Mr VKH has opened the wine, so here's a little 'best of the rest':

Studio Seed:
Luxury stationery and prints from Tamsin Seed.

Victoria Eggs:
Kitchenware and gifts from this award-winning designer, inspired by and made in good old Blighty.

étoile home:
Soft furnishings and homewares from photographer and stylist, Shani Beadle.


I can definitely say that Home is where my heart is!
Kx

Black (and White) Magic!

Happy New Year to you all!

I've been away for a while on a bit of a blog hiatus, partly due to the festivities and partly because I had my laptop stolen in a burglary at home last week. Enthusiasm and motivation was at a low at the weekend but the only way is up, things can only get better and other 90s pop cliche's so I'm back and I have lots to report.

I'd like to begin 2013 by drawing your attention to the February issue of Kitchens, Bedrooms & Bathrooms magazine which is out now.

Back in November, on the greyest of grey days outside, everything inside was black and white. I spent a day shooting with stylist Alison Nicholls and photographer Gary Hamill in a beautiful monochrome house in Clapham for KBB's 'Opposites Attract' feature.

As usual, there were boxes and boxes of lovely products to be unpacked so I set to work, making a mental note of my favourites as I went along. As black and white are my favourite 'colours' (I'm putting that in inverted commas to spare any smart-arse from telling me that they're not technically colours) the list was pretty long! However, I should admit that I got a little over-excited (not to mention extremely envious) about one particular item that wasn't even part of the shoot: an original Rory Dobner illustration of Madam Puss! Just hanging there, nonchalantly on the dining room wall, in the most understated frame saying, "Who, me? Oh yes, I'm an original you know."
(Say it in a kind of Kenneth Williams-meets-Alan Rickman way and you'll get what I mean!)

'Madam Puss' plate, available from rorydobner.com

Apparently the owner, a make-up artist, is a friend of Dobner, but the most frustrating thing was, I don't think she actually had a clue just how amazing his work is. Grr!

Anyway, back to the shoot. With eight pages to fill and only one day to do it in, time was of the essence. We worked from top to bottom, starting with a few vignettes and even creating a fake bathroom with a ridiculously heavy basin from Porcelanosa.

Downstairs we 'tiled' the kitchen floor with some very pretty tiles from Fired Earth, re-dressed the dresser and turned a corner of the dining room in to a cosy little reading area. The stunning results can be seen in this month's issue, available in all good newsagents now. Meanwhile, here's a few shots to shatter your illusions!

Sometimes you can't see the sofa for the cushions.

Organised chaos!

It's good to be back!! More soon...
Kx