This year’s central space for meeting, relaxation and reflection will be an unmissable collaboration with Lucy Mayers of Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler.
Bar Inspiration
The Decorex Bar will pay homage to Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler’s timeless elegance and renowned classic English appeal. We spoke to Lucy to find out more…
How did your collaboration with Decorex come about?
Decorex approached Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler to do the Main Bar in early March and our joint Managing Director Emma Burns suggested that I would be the perfect fit for it. She knows I love a bar!
What was your design inspiration for The Decorex Bar?
My inspiration is a rich autumnal Garden. This began as a practical consideration, a way to make the open space and high glass ceilings of Olympia feel more intimate. I felt if I could tent the space this would really help create an atmosphere; hanging tented ceilings and marquees to me conjure up liminal spaces, both indoor and outdoor but neither fully one nor the other. The fact that we use them to house celebrations from weddings to the village fete made this feel quintessentially British and ‘Country House’ and thus a nice fit with what Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler are more often known for. However, I wanted this to be a riff on that ‘English Garden’ and instead make an autumnal garden, as the smells and colours of autumn are more louche and decadent with their inherent suggestion of decay, which in turn implies a level of sophistication that felt more appropriate to me for a bar.
Can you talk us through your design process?
Normally my design process starts with the client and the space, in this instance there is no ‘client’ and therefore the starting point was the space and its limitations. There are strict parameters around sight lines for the main bar and as mentioned previously a bar should be an intimate setting, and a 13m x 19m area without walls is not the easiest starting point for intimacy. Once I had decided how to embrace the indoor/outdoor nature of the space by bringing in the garden this became the narrative for the overarching ‘design’. The next step was to look at the ideal layout. In this instance the flooring is broken into paths and fields delineated by colour that subliminally guide patrons along pathways through the space to the central bar with the seating areas grounded in the ‘field’ areas. The central oval bar itself encases the focal point of the tent interior which is a 4m tall gold tree. Once the functionality of the space, the design of the bar itself, layout and flow of the surrounding area is confirmed then I move onto the scheme. The colours and textures are developed and then I start looking at the details. I find the process of design is starting with the bigger picture and then refining and further refining. Then I go back to the bigger picture to ensure there is cohesiveness throughout and then we work back in again, adding layer upon layer and building detail upon detail as best I can. This is true for all projects be they residential, or a ‘pop-up’ such as this.
Bar Inspiration
Were there any key elements or subtle significances you were keen to include?
So obviously as it is a garden it was key to incorporate foliage, but also not let this overtake. I am hopeful that this balance has been achieved.
What fabrics and textures were essential to create your vision?
The silk for the tent was key. It had to be silk for many reasons (fire safety being one of them) but also for the quality of the light that will be diffused through it. The weight of the fabric was also an important consideration and how the canopy could be rigged, but really the colour was everything as I wanted to diffuse the light in a way that allowed it to warm the light below. I settled on a soft pink similar to the shade sometimes used to line lampshades, that casts a gentle and flattering light.
How do you feel the space will be interpreted by visitors?
I want it to give them pause, and a moment of respite and escape. I would like them to note the whimsy and joy that has hopefully been evidenced in the design.
Are there any elements of the design that you are particularly proud of?
A difficult question to answer pre-install. I find that my favourite elements, or the bits I want to see come into fruition the most often change as the project develops. Currently I rather enjoy that in a fun nod to the British ‘pub’ I’ve wrapped the exterior of the bar in one of our carpets ‘Northampton’, which resembles fallen leaves.
Bar Inspiration
Are there any specific design trends you followed or avoided?
I tend to try to ignore trends completely as design ought to be timeless rather than trend led. I was offered some bobbin chairs (actually rather beautiful ones with the proper elongated bobbin design) that I chose not to use as I think Instagram is rather oversaturated with bobbins at the moment.
What are you most looking forward to at Decorex 2025?
Outside of the actual process of the installation of the main bar (I’m a logistics nerd), I can’t wait to see Tolu’s VIP lounge which sounds brilliant, and also, I always love seeing the craftspeople in the ‘Making Spaces’ area.
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