view Newsletter: May 08

Rhett Butler famously didn't give a damn and it seems that more than a few interior designers feel the same about the not so sexy issue of sustainability and being green. Do you?

Do you consider the carbon footprint of the American fabric you chose for that last project, even when you know it was printed in Europe shipped to the States and flown back to England within a matter of weeks? Do you ask your furniture maker to swear that their sources for mahogany or teak are from sustainable sources in Indonesia or South America? Maybe not, but each year the pressure increases on us all to give all these issues a lot more thought.

At Decorex this year the message is clear and strong from more and more exhibitors:

SoFarSoNear will debut ethically sourced and fair trade organic and natural fabric collections, hand printed with exclusive patterns following a collaboration with award winning company O Ecotextiles.

Home Heaven have launched four pieces in their collection which are 'entirely carbon neutral' and aim for the whole company to go the same way by Decorex 2008.

Restall Brown & Clennell guarantee the sustainable sourcing of all their exotic timbers.
And among the 150 totally British companies showing at Decorex this year, the 'furniture miles' are kept to a minimum through local sourcing of materials and manufacture.  Here at Decorex we too are doing our bit for the environment; all 6,000m2 of carpet that is used within the exhibition hall will be recycled following the show.

In advance of our lecture series, which will examine the interior designers' attitudes to such issues, tell us what you think…email info@decorex.com and start the debate.

PS Rhett Butler's fleet of ships were all powered by wind and sail.

Tom Stuart-Smith did it again last week - that's right, his Laurent Perrier Garden was awarded best in show at Chelsea Flower Show. That's six RHS gold medals for the 48 year old designer.

And it's not just Tom's fingers that are green. The whole garden was awash with green shrubs and trees, punctuated by pure white flowers. And if the gorgeous fabrics that will be showcased at Decorex later this year are anything to go by, green and white flora is set to be a huge trend.

Perhaps Tom's inspiration for clipping 30 year old Hornbeams into cloud formations might have come from the new Cloudbay fabric from Rapture & Wright which, by coincidence, is a repeat pattern of trees with cloud like foliage.  Now you can say that you've looked at clouds from both sides!

To bring a bit of Stuart-Smith's green floral scheme into your interior design scheme take a look at Pongees' range of hand-printed and embroidered silks which also go as far as to include metallic finishes, just like the zinc wall and water tanks in the garden. Pongees are also joined by Christopher Farr, Swaffer and James Hare who are all contributing to the growing trend of making your interior as green and floral as your exterior.

Check out too the many Decorex companies showcasing the latest in garden and conservatory furniture, including Leisure Plan's and Outer Eden's stunning contemporary collections. David Harber Sundials and  Barbed have perfect accessories for the well dressed garden, and if your fingers aren't quite as green as Tom Stuart-Smith's, then Fake Landscapes will supply longer lasting and lower maintenance options as they will be for John Stefanidis' garden feature at Decorex.

World-renowned interior designer John Stefanidis has turned his talents to homes the world over, and has just recently returned from Geneva where he redesigned Sir Rocco Forte's 'Le Richemond Hotel'.

With a reputation for using colour and pattern to great effect, John Stefanidis will be adding his own very unique sense of style to the front foyer area at the Sloane Square entrance of Decorex 2008. He is playing his cards close to his chest and is not divulging all his plans as yet. What we do know is that he will be picking out some of the most beautiful pieces you will see at any interior design show and combining these with comfortable places for people to meet and take time out from the event. In his words, “It has to be spectacular and welcoming”.  As a long time fan of the show John also comments “Decorex makes people 'pull their socks up' and discover what's new.”