It’s been almost six months since we returned from our trip of a lifetime to Europe and America but I still get to re-live it by writing my regular travel pieces for Expedia’s blog. Today, I’ve shared five must-visit destinations in the big smoke for interiors lovers. Most of you know I’m a Pom and I love the UK, but I’m more of a country girl than a city slicker (despite having lived in London for five years). But you can’t deny how amazing this city is, especially when you go back as a tourist.
I have a bit of everything for you, from Abigail Ahern’s fabulous little shop (above) to the legendary Liberty of London, West Elm (where they have coffee) and the surrounding homewares stores of Tottenham Court Road, the Design Museum and more.
If almost three weeks in New York City without the blissful accompaniment of my gorgeous husband and utterly delightful children wasn’t amazing enough, New York totally turned it on whilst hosting NY xDesign – the city’s version of Milan’s Salone de Mobile.
The eight days or so of inaugural events around the city’s flagship showrooms, together with the annual International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) and its related offsite shows such as Wanted Design and Sight Unseen, are a global forum for the launch of new products, by both established and new designers. It is also where the industry turns to identify interior trends for the coming year, influencing product design, colours and styling.
Tom Dixon showcased The PIVOT collection, a series of drawn and sharply upholstered silhouettes, consisting of high and low-back chairs and a bar stool, all made with internal metal frame, moulded foam upholstery and rotating die-cast aluminium base.
The ICFF alone, sees over 600 exhibitors from all points of the globe (including an Australian contingent) and displays contemporary furniture, seating, carpet and flooring, lighting, outdoor furniture, materials, wall coverings, accessories, textiles, and kitchen and bathrooms for residential and commercial interiors. This year was by far the largest display and number of participants by suppliers, proving the industry is not contracting but rather growing in size and stature.
Bikini modular island sofa for Moroso. Available in Australia through www.hubfurniture.com.au
The theme or trend that featured most prominently at this year’s fair was one of inherent irregularities and imperfection of natural materials: cracked, crumpled and crushed textures; geological textural references; flaking surfaces; woven, knitted and tapestry textures; molten, eroded and oxidized effects; hammered, stamped and chiseled techniques. Interesting textural experiences and irregular shapes can be soothing and comforting, and even give a pleasing feeling of nostalgia. It seems, the more complex our lives, the more we crave the simplicities of life.
Themes to emerge were:
Soft, curved shapes and organic forms in sofas and chairs.
Motifs were also soft, curved and organic in their shape and structure.
Perfect proportions and classic lines with lots of movement.
Splayed legs on all furniture types: tables, sideboards, bedsides etc.
Extensive use of solid timbers with distinctive grains, some almost in their raw form.
Materials mostly in timber, metal, bronze, copper, brass (both dull and shiny) and marble. Glass as a primary material in furniture did not feature.
Outdoor products were mostly in powder-coated steel.
Textiles were a mix of bold textured colours blended with earthy and natural tones, with felt textures featuring heavily.
AxorWaterDream is a concept by Philippe Grohe that has formed the basis for several new Axor collections and bathroom products. Axor products available in Australia through hansgrohe.com.au
From our fast-paced tech innovation age, emerges a strong need for the built and constructed; something solid we can rely on that provides clarity and control. The antidote to stressful information overload is a new minimalism, one that creates order. It’s a paring back of things, rather than the stripping back that characterised Minimalism in the 90s. Impersonal interactions also mean we yearn for tactile and sensory experiences. This year’s furniture fair saw product designers address many of these challenges.
-Linda Delaney is founder and principal at interior design and decorating company, North Shore Interiors (Sydney). Linda describes her freshly inspired outlook as one of customising the multiple elements of the designer’s palette to transform spaces that directly engage her clients on both a physical and emotional level.
We’ve been back from our trip for two weeks now and it’s good to be home, and to have moved into our own place at the weekend. But I’m still dreaming about some of the amazing hotels we were lucky enough to stay in while we were away. One of my favourites was The Thompson in Chicago. This hotel’s comfortable, luxurious, stylish decor made us not want to leave!
It’s gorgeous, don’t you agree?
Nothing about it felt like that cookie cutter kind of hotel decor. While the lobby was amazing, our room didn’t disappoint at all, showing that the same care had been taken with the guest rooms as the communal areas.
Diane Bergeron is a renowned interior designer based in Melbourne and founder of the new Mercer School of Interior Design. Today, she shares the contents of her eBay find coffee table with us!
“I have a huge assortment of books because I love to have my inspiration at my fingertips,” Diane says. “One of my most cherished books is the special edition of Windows at Bergdorf Goodman because it’s aspirational and it chronicles the amazing work of one of my oldest friends, David Hoey.
“My coffee table is covered in books of my favourite photographers and artists such as Slim Aarons, Alex Katz and Elizabeth Peyton. I took the names for my Arthur G furniture line from inspirational women and that’s how the Peyton sofa got its name.
“The coffee table itself was one of my happiest finds on eBay. We had to get it delivered from Sydney but it was worth it. The ceramic impression of Roy Lichtenstein’s Girl with Hair Ribbon was handmade by my daughter Coco. I found both the vintage brass ram’s head bust on a lucite plinth and the gorgeous marble obelisks at antique stores while I was still living in America but you can find like items at Graham Geddes for those shopping locally.
Diane Bergeron
“I’m obsessed with my natural and gold agate coasters ($125) from Jonathan Adler because they add a unique touch and texture to the whole setting. The decorative gold bone inlay box is another one-off from America but you can find like items at Safade in Melbourne.
Dara Shashoua reports on the latest trends in tiles and stone from Coverings 2014 in Las Vegas.
Recently, I was very lucky to be able to attend Coverings 2014, the American tile and stone show. Oh, and I should also add that it was held in Las Vegas. The design elements used in Vegas could be a story all on their own! There were a lot of trends that I noticed that were still very strong in this huge international marketplace and some of these have only just begun to surface in our relatively small market in Australia.
Pattern
Whether it was mixes of multiple patterns, or simple repeated patterns, they were everywhere. Usually based upon a 200 x 200mm tile, they were made from either porcelain, ceramic or concrete. However, the methods used for creating these patterns could not have been more different. There was laser printing from the Brazilians, encaustics from the Mexicans and amazing concrete-like lantern shapes from the Italians.
Texture
Very similar to pattern, but these tiles were reminiscent of pressed tin in their appearance. There were also lots of 3D tiles that you just had to touch. Texture is now used in a lot commercial applications such as hospitality and corporate fit-outs.
Metallics
Shiny objects! Who doesn’t love something shiny and shimmery? As the technology within glazes is improved, we have seen a lot more metallic finishes being applied to textural ceramics. Mirrors are also becoming a lot more popular for their faceted reflective properties. Whether it’s a subtle sheen or a gold infill in a semi precious stone slab, metallics are here to stay.
In conclusion, there are so many wonderful finishes you can achieve by using tiles, mosaics and stone. Why not think out of the box a little more? Instead of wallpaper or paint, use a textured tile. After all, it’s easy to clean and will never fade. Want a piece of art? Try hanging a slab of an stone instead. Texture and pattern are definitely making a comeback, especially in regards to homes that have a design element to them. Don’t be afraid of colour or texture.
— Natural stone and design specialist Dara, recently opened her beautiful first showroom, Byzantine Design, in Melbourne’s Prahran.
There is so much to do in the Big Apple and this month, my second trip to NYC, despite being a generous nine days long, passed in a flash. I had a fantastic time though, sightseeing, eating, drinking and shopping. As far as homewares shopping goes, you just can’t beat it and I had so much fun and left super inspired.
Jonathan Adler, Soho
I want to share with you everywhere I shopped, ate and explored. And of course, the Sex and the City tour! Want to know more? Head on over to Expedia’s blog, where I share all the details! Happy reading!
As you read this, I will have already left Australian shores as my six-month adventure with my husband Damian begins! The last couple of weeks have been full on, with lots to organise, two weddings of dear friends, a very early morning trip to the flower markets (wedding-related), many farewell meals and some very last-minute packing. I imagine the reality of this trip will only really sink in as I sit on the plane and enjoy a little enforced relaxation!
Me in Venice, somewhere we hope to return to
First stop is Singapore (you have to break up that killer journey somehow!) for two nights, followed by a week in Italy (you may remember I won this trip to Tuscany and Rome last year as part of a blogger promo with De’Longhi) and then onto the Motherland, the UK. Then before we know it we’ll be off to Italy again, as I attend EuroCucina and Salone del Mobile (thanks to sponsorship from Freedom Kitchens). The rest of our trip is TBA but will include trips to as many European destinations as we can afford and fit in around working, as well as all of June in the States. We will bounce back and forth from my relatives’ homes in London and the Wiltshire countryside. Having family happy to take us in makes this trip infinitely more doable, as does being able to work from anywhere with an internet connection!
As far as you’re concerned, this blog should be business as usual, with my editorial assistant Olivia Shead (based in Sydney) and I (based in hotel rooms, cafes and quite possibly Apple Stores and Starbucks with free wi-fi) bringing you all the usual Aussie content as well as some exciting European extras, videos, reviews and interviews. You can find all the content from my travels in the new, dedicated Addict Abroad section. Please continue to email me as usual and I’ll forward it, if appropriate, to Olivia, who will also be attending events in my absence.
My trusty MacBook Pro is about to get even more battered!
Look out for heaps of photos on Instagram, of course!
For more on why we’re going away, read this post. I’d love to hear your recommendations of must-visit European destinations or design and interiors treasures in NYC, San Fran, Chicago, Boston or Vancouver. Please comment below.
It’s a big change from Bandhini Homewear Design’s usual mix of neutrals and textures but this latest collection is no less beautiful. I saw the cushions for myself last month and they really are stunning.
Designer Tai Schaffler admits she was nervous about the change. “But it was time for us to get out there and positively surprise our clients. We still have some beautiful classic black and beiges this year (we wouldn’t be Bandhini if we didn’t). The response so far has been incredible. There has been a lot of love for our yellow and velvet cushions.”
The collection, which was shot at the Mary McDonald-designed LUXE Hotel in LA, has been inspired by the cultural differences between America, where the products have been sold since 2010, Australia, where everything is designed, and India, where it is made.
