VIEW newsletter - October 2011

“My signature look is Ikat, but not in an ethnic way,” she told INTERIORS UK. “My trademark fabrics are contemporary Ikats – glossy and cutting edge.”

Her plans for the Fabric Pavilion are exciting and innovative: “The canopy will be made of digitally-printed fabric. I want it to look dramatic and stand out, even from a distance, so I’d like to drape huge sweeps of multi-coloured fabrics for a really eye-catching look. I’ll go for a bold Ikat pattern with a large-scale repeat,” she revealed. “It will be linear and geometric but also vibrant, exotic and painterly.”

Mann will also be designing a coordinating range of woven fabrics for the upholstered furniture inside the pavilion.

After studying at Central Saint Martin's College of Art and Design in the 1990s, Mann did a Masters Degree in Woven Textiles at the Royal College of Art, before launching her career as a textile artist, product designer and colour consultant. In March 2011, she was awarded the Homes and Gardens Best Fabric Designer Award.

Her background is in craft and fine art textile design, but over the past few years she’s worked on a lot of commercial commissions, too, such as architectural fabric panelsand a recent collaboration with INTERIORS UK exhibitor Ercol:

“I’ve just released a collection of accessories and upholstered furniture with Ercol for John Lewis,” she said. “There’s an armoire in the range with my Ikat fabric stretched across the doors like a screen, and some really bold cushions.”

Mann will be delivering a seminar at INTERIORS UK, entitled: ‘The architecture of cloth, colour and space’. She will discuss her work as a textile artist both in the craft and commercial worlds, and share her colour consultation techniques. Check out her new blog, too: Significant Colour.

Register for a complimentary ticket to INTERIORS UK, taking place from 22-25 January 2012, at www.interiorsuk.com
 

Tell us about your career to date...
My early career was spent working in the City of London for a private equity house before leaving to pursue my real passion of Interior Design.  In 2004 I founded APD Interiors where we aim to provide “Stylish Homes at Affordable Prices”.  After been featured in the Evening Standard in 2005 we have been constantly busy with clients, both residential and commercial.  Our main focus is the London market but I have also created homes for clients in Spain, Holland and the USA. Around 18 months ago we launched an interiors blog (www.apdinteriors.com/blog ) and I write 3 or 4 articles for that every week.  In addition I write a monthly post for the Rightmove blog (www.rightmove.co.uk/news/) , and an Interiors Q&A column in City AM (a weekday London newspaper with a circulation of 150,000).

What were your Decorex 2011 highlights?
The overall impression was that the show screamed Quality!  Too many design shows feature a few good exhibitors with numerous fillers.  It was obvious that all the exhibitors at Decorex had been carefully chosen for their quality products.  The show features were also spectacular, the Champagne Bar by Martin Hulbert was stunning and Nicky Haslam sprinkled magic on the entrance foyer.  The seminar program was also very extensive this year and I heard some very interesting speakers.

What have you enjoyed most about becoming the first official Decorex blogger?
As the official Decorex blogger I spent 4 days at the show so got to meet so many new industry contacts.  I was working from the Press office so also met some of the speakers; Nicky Haslam and Holly Becker were both delightful.  The experience also honed my writing skills – delivering three 500 word posts each day wasn’t easy!

What do you enjoy most about working in the interior design industry?
Interior design is a true passion of mine so I am fortunate that I am working in a field which I love and have a genuine interest in.  Interior design is an industry that never stands still so I am constantly being challenged and learning.  Every single day in this business is different, one day I am in the office designing and specifying – the next day visiting building sites to see the plans being changed into reality.

Tell us about your proudest career moment to date.
Delivering our projects on time and to the agreed budget always makes me feel proud that we have done a good job. We receive many recommendations and repeat work from existing clients which also makes me satisfied with the way APD Interiors look after our clients. It is always immensely gratifying to hand back a home at the end of a project and see the joy on a client’s face

And the most challenging project?
Projects where the budget is limited are always the most challenging ones.  Delivering a fabulous home to a client who has an unlimited budget can be easily achieved.  It is much harder if you have limited funds but you still want to meet your client’s aspirations.  This is where the skill and experience of a design professional is needed.

What are you working on at the moment?
We currently have four projects in the build stage and numerous others in the design stage.  We are nearing completion on the refurbishment of a Victorian house for a young couple in London.  Unlike many designers we provide our own building resource for our projects which involves constantly visiting building sites!  We are also currently creating a stunning glass box extension to a Grade II listed property in Islington that will include a new kitchen and two new bathrooms.  In Camden we have a large bathroom project half way through the building stage.  Another project in Chelsea is to modify a recently developed mansion block apartment to suit the new owners.  We are also sourcing all the fittings and furniture for the client whose main home is overseas.  In development we are also currently designing a scheme for a large London landlord that we will roll out and install in 20 rental apartments at a time.

What are your plans for the next 5 years?
We plan to continue to grow the residential side of our business and deliver well designed homes to our clients. We also intend to increase our product range and offer garden studios as an off the shelf product with finance available for SME’s.  This follows our experience building our own office in my back garden.  In addition we intend to increase our range of services by offering Architectural drawing services to designers and architects. We have recently been asked to work on a hotel and as I have travelled extensively over the years I am very excited about growing this new side of the business

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
I recently heard another designer say ‘if you are told it’s going to happen on Monday, it will happen on Friday!’ – and unfortunately this is so true of our industry.  Managing projects is often a tight balancing game, if you don’t learn to go with the flow sometimes you won’t last very long!

Read Andrew's blog here

With an innovative stand at INTERIORS UK featuring a 'journey' theme, the new Shakespeare bed will be launched by Frank Hudson – a British brand that’s run by three generations of the Hudson family. Here’s a sneak preview of the new Shakespeare bed which will be launched at Interiors UK 2012 by Buckinghamshire-based furniture company Frank Hudson – a British brand that’s run by three generations of the Hudson family.

“We were inspired by the fact that William Shakespeare is one of the creative icons for the Olympics next year,” said Tim Hudson, Managing Director and Chairman. “The show bed will be made from sustainable Asian Ash and will have a quote from Shakespeare carved into the headboard,” he added. “Customers will be able to have any phrase they want carved into their bespoke bed design – the Shakespeare bed will be a high-end, luxury product.”

The history of the Frank Hudson brand is rich and fascinating. Frank Hudson began his career in 1917 as an apprentice trainee working with the Italian wood carver Tulio Cain, then went on to found his own company in 1947. During the war, he worked as a civilian ground engineer at Booker airfield, then later helped to reconstruct and renovate bombed London buildings. His business thrived and continued to expand – by the time Frank passed the business on to his son Rex, he could count many important and famous people among his customers, including Her Majesty the Queen.

Today, Rex is 82 but, according to Tim, “still very handy with a pencil.” His three sons have progressed from small childhood tasks such as sweeping the floors to running the business themselves; Tom Hudson is Head of Customer Service and Logistics, James Hudson is Sales and Marketing Manager, and Tim Hudson is Managing Director and Chairman. The brothers have taken the company from strength to strength. They’ve supplied beds to celebrities – including a member of the Rolling Stones –they’ve become leading suppliers at John Lewis and have plenty of hospitality contracts rolling in, too; Recent projects include the Cannizaro House Hotel in Wimbledon and the Downcliffe House Hotel in Filey. Their two-floor 1900s factory showroom in High Wycombe has been recently-renovated and now includes 13 fully-styled room-sets in an airy setting.

Part of the key to the firm’s success is their creative and proactive approach to marketing. Inspired by a trip to the Goodwood Festival, the brothers have united with like-minded local businesses to launch a ‘Vintage Week’ later this month (Saturday 15th to Saturday 22nd October) - a fun celebration of rich heritage and skillful craftsmanship with demonstrations from talented artisans and lectures given by experts in interior design, furniture manufacturing and social enterprise.

There are exciting times ahead, too; James Hudson’s twin sister, Catherine, is about to head up a new Australian branch of the business, while Tim Hudson’s son is studying design, so perhaps another generation will join the family firm before too long.

An exhibitor at Interiors UK for six years, Frank Hudson is hoping to smash a £250,000 sales target this year, meet top designers and secure more hospitality contracts. “Our stand at Interiors UK this year will have a journeys theme,” revealed Tim Hudson. “It’ll convey the journey you go on when you buy a piece of furniture and might have an Orient Express feel – it’s all very exciting.” 

Frank Hudson will be exhibiting at INTERIORS UK 2012 from 22-25 January at the NEC, Birmingham on Hall 1, Stand G6. Click here to find out more information and to pre-register for a ticket to the show.