VIEW Newsletter - June 08

 

              David Harber Obelisk                             David Harber Portal


Rising inflation figures and a struggling housing market signal we are in for a tough period financially - even John Lewis, stalwart of the British high street, has seen its sales declining recently, with big ticket items such as furniture taking the biggest hit. But there are good stories to be found in the world of interiors with top end companies comfortably busy. If only we were all married to a Russian Oligarch!

Headlines in this weekends papers which back up this trend included: “Surprise bonanza for luxury businesses” in the Financial Times where Hugo Greenhalgh reported that “Entrepreneurs in the super-luxe sector of the market have reported a marked upturn in spite of the credit crunch”; while “Cashing in on the super rich” ran in The Sunday Times. “As the economy slows, the best strategy may be to start selling to those least affected by a downturn” suggested journalist Rachel Bridge.

Buckinghams International, a prestigious estate agent in the affluent Wentworth area, works across the UK and overseas market. As Director Shane Marioni explains, “For the affluent planning an early retirement, it's about finding a property they like and price is not an issue. Many are also seeing it in investment terms, so they are taking the long-term view in their decision making.”

Homebase (a useful barometer) have posted disappointing sales of garden furniture, yet the same cannot be said at the top end of the market. Gaze Burvill, makers of exclusive garden furniture, enjoyed a very successful Chelsea this May, as Simon Burvill confirms. “It was a great show for us.” He comments “We had fewer clients on the stand, but those that did see the range made big purchases. The same can be said for David Harber who exhibits top end sundials, sculptures and water features at both Chelsea and Decorex. As Sophie Harber explains: “This was by far the best Chelsea we have had so far, and we haven't had to wait very long for the orders to come in which is so reassuring.” 

       Tara chair          Savannah chair

(The upholstery on these chairs will be launched at Decorex)


It's the brave who decide to expand in this current market, but that's just what international interior designer Helen Green has decided to do this summer with a new showroom in Chelsea.
'The Australian' pub at 29 Milner Street,SW3 (a favourite hangout for stars and celebrities in the 60s), is going to see some changes over the next few months. Helen's vision is to create a “luxurious, sophisticated and stylish” interior using silk truffle coloured wallpaper, dark chocolate timber panelling and a colour palette rich with bronze, dark chocolate and caramel. Full height sheet mirror will frame a contemporary fireplace and floating timber and perspex shelves will display desirable objects. It will be the perfect foil for the Helen Green Collection.

And it doesn't stop there. The design offices, with sixteen designers busying themselves with latest projects, will be arranged below the central area of the showroom. On the ground floor, sleek offices and meeting rooms with clear glass facades will allow uninhibited views into the world of Helen Green. So definitely expect a queue as the doors open in mid July.

Helen Green is not the first interior designer to set up her own showroom to showcase fabulous pieces of furniture alongside accessories they have created. Paolo Moschino for Nicholas Haslam, Justin Van Breda (JVB Ltd), Diana Blanchard at More Blanchard and William Yeoward all have shops and showrooms which offer pieces that represent their signature style.

 

                    Hyde House                                           Kandola                                             De Ferranti


There's no shortage of exciting materials to inspire designers at this year's Decorex. Riviere had an amazing first show last year, with a packed order book to prove it. This year the company will present the Musa Silk collection, lustrous rugs made from fibres of the banana plant. This is a first for the rug industry in the UK although the cultivation of banana for textiles goes way back to the 13th century in Japan. Other fruits are ripe for recycling. So Far So Near will launch the Natural Collection, with handprinted gold and silver designs printed on abaca and pineapple while Kersaint Cobb launched a collection of natural flooring, woven with a blend of coir and pineapple fibres earlier this year.

It's the first time at Decorex for Salt this year. They make weaving metal look easy. But we're not talking chain-mail with this company.  The intricate weaves and combination of threads make exquisite fabrics for  bespoke window treatments.

Faux shagreen (the lookalike stingray skin) will be at the show this year in evermore subtle shades. First time exhibitor Hyde House have looked further afield for their inspiration. Their bespoke collection will feature faux skins, real hides, and luxurious fabrics including lizard, ostrich and crocodile. Oh, and metallic leathers, silver leaf and black lacquer for good measure.
RIM Tile and Mosaic Boutique plan to show the thinnest (3mm thick) porcelain tiles for the first time alongside optical illusions on marble, and semi precious stones set into polymer.
There will be more than a twinkle around the show judging by the lighting installations in the pipeline. Add to this Swarovski gems scattered over a flock wallpaper collection from Kandola, and a pair of Ray Bans could be required.

Molten Lava bricks will be just one of the many exciting materials De Ferranti, the specialists in rare and unusual surfaces, will be surprising visitors with. Wabi Sabi are taking the organic route. They might be based in rural Chichester, but the company travels to the rainforests of South East Asia to forage for the rustic pieces of wood used for their individual furniture collection.

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