London Design Festival diary 18

A treat for those who appreciate interior design, the London Design Festival which takes place every September is always a pivotal part of the designer’s diary. We have been keenly scheduling in the must see events into our little black book.

A haven for interiors brands, the city sparks with pop-ups and showroom installations, spanning the capital from the uber cool of Clapton to the south west set in Chelsea.

Fancy yourself as a bit of an interiors buff?

Be streetwise and tune into our shortlist of LDF events you shouldn’t miss out on this September.

1. Raising The Bar

Mad Atelier

E5

Having moved into the premises of an old disused pub called The Lord Cecil in 2017, design boutique Mad Atelier have returned their architecture office-cum-design showroom to it’s original use as a boozer. The result is set to be a chic and edgy LDF pop-up pub.

The collaboration with Canopy Beer Company evokes the properties east end legacy as a watering hole for punk gigs and lock-ins, but with a typically Mad Atelier style Mediterranean interiors twist.

Visit: 42 Lower Clapton Road, E5 0PD

Dates: 14th-30th September

For more details visit

Nearest station: Hackney Central

2. Instagrammable Interiors

Victoria and Albert Baths

SW10

Beautiful bathrooms always grab our attention, and yes, of course we want to know how to snap it for our insta stories. You’ve spent hours (possibly days, and for those extreme interiors fantastic maybe even months) planning every detail in your bathroom renovation.

When Victoria and Albert Baths announced that they are holding a design Q&A with Kate Watson-Smyth of Mad About The House our ears perked right up. Do you want tips on creating that perfect interiors shot for instagram?

The answer is inevitably yes.

Visit: Victoria and Albert Baths, Design Centre Chelsea Harbour, SW10 0XE

Dates: 17th September at 11am.

Nearest station: Imperial Wharf

3. Bethan Laura Wood at Silvera

SW3 Kings Road

Silvera launch the Super Fake collection by cc-tapis, marking it with an intimate talk between Bethan Laura Wood and Fabrizio Cantoni. There’s also mention of a rave afterwards? If not, there’s definitely ‘space-themed’ drinks and canapés. We’re game. Visit the showroom in Chelsea to discover more about this trip to hyper craft.

Visit: Silvera showroom, 241-245 King’s Road Chelsea

Dates: 17th September at 6pm.

For more details visit

Nearest station: Sloane Square/ Imperial Wharf

4. SCP X Gareth Neal X Folk furniture concept

SCP

EC2A

Personally, I’m an out and out Folk fashion brand fanatic. So when this popped up on SCP’s LDF showcase my heart skipped a little beat, or two.

SCP are first to showcase a new corner chair and sofa by designer Gareth Neal, made in collaboration with British fashion brand Folk.

The pieces were developed at SCP’s specialist upholstery factory in Norfolk, and are fully upholstered in surplus Folk fabric. Exhibited collectively, the designs are available to view at SCP Curtain Road and at the Folk store on Redchurch Street in Shoreditch.

Visit: SCP, 135-139 Curtain Road, London EC2A 3BX

Dates: 18th – 23rd September from 9.30am – 6pm

For more details visit

Nearest station: Old Street

5. Below the Heavens

Se

SW3

For a slice of luxe take note of the Se installation, taking place at their flagship UK showroom on the Fulham Road. It’s not so much a showroom as a rather chic and inspiring livingroom scenario, because that’s just how comfortable and cossetting we find it. Se will be unveiling, for the first time in the UK, their latest lineup of beautifully designed objects by Ini Archibong, headlining the event is this cloud-like new lighting, which is intended to explore the threshold between heaven and earth. So, take a trip through the clouds.

Visit: Se, 60 Fulham Road, SW3 6HH

Dates: 15th-23rd September

For more details visit

Nearest station: South Kensington

6. Focus 2018 & Christopher Farr X Anni Albers

Christopher Farr

SW10

A fabric launch that has gusto. Christopher Farr will be launching new range of geometric fabric designs by Anni Albers at the Chelsea Design Centre showroom. It’s also an opportunity for Farr to draw attention to some of the studio’s historical textile and rug designs from their ongoing collaboration with the Josef and Anni Albers Foundation, ahead of a large retrospective exhibition at Tate Modern in October. Get ahead of the game and sneak a peek during LDF, only at Farr’s showroom in Chelsea.

Visit: Christopher Farr showroom, Unit 32/33 Chelsea Harbour, SW10 0QJ

Dates: 15th-23rd September

For more details visit

Nearest station: Imperial Wharf

7. Marylebone Design District & The Hiut Denim Range

Carl Hanson & Son

The Conran Shop, Marylebone

W1U

Timeless. That’s how we, at the Robertson Studio, see denim.

And when we heard that design house Carl Hansen & Son are launching a limited edition range of furniture which is upholstered in Hiut Denim, well, as you can imagine, it was instantly added to the wish list.

Pop along to The Conran Shop during LDF to have a look, have a seat and lust after the natural denim dye and classic lines of the new Carl Hanson range.

Visit: The Conran Shop, 55 Marylebone High Street, W1U 5HS

Dates: 15th-23rd September

For more details visit

Nearest station: Baker Street

8. MultiPly

The Victoria and Albert Museum

Sackler Courtyard

SW7

Time to get interactive with this tulipwood pavilion structure, a collaborative design concept between the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC), Waugh Thistleton Architects and ARUP. A maze-like series of interconnected spaces that encourage visitors to re-think the way we design our homes and cities. Also, just plain old good fun, and an opportunity to dip into the V&A afterwords to experience, if not the exhibitions, the beautiful hand painted café and piano room.

Visit: The Victoria and Albert Museum, Cromwell Road, Knightsbridge, SW7 2RL

Dates: 15th-23rd September

For more details visit

Nearest station: South Kensington/Knightsbridge

9. Vanderhurd Studio

W11

Internationally acclaimed design studio, Vanderhurd, has been designing and creating bespoke rugs and textiles for customers for over 30 years. Their studio, on London’s Portobello Road, is more a design dream destination than a place to simply shop. This latest collaboration, with interior designer Adam Bray, launches a series of rugs called ‘Waver’. One print design, 6 distinctive colourways. Queensdown Red wins our vote.

Visit: by appointment only,

Vanderhurd Studio, 17 Portobello Road, Notting Hill, W11 3DA

Dates: 15th-23rd September

Nearest station: Notting Hill Gate

10. London Design Biennale & the Brazilian Pavilion

Somerset House

WC2R

Somerset House, which is a beautiful building in itself, is housing the London Design Biennale. One of the installations is the Brazilian Pavilion which has been created by David Elia. The work is a multi-sensory installation that captures the vulnerability of Brazil’s rainforest and the raw emotions surrounding its destruction and ongoing efforts to save it.

Visit: Room 12, Somerset House, Strand, WC2A 1LA

Dates: 15th-23rd September

For more details visit

Nearest station: Embankment

For more information about The London Design Festival visit the londondesignfestival.comwebsite or contact

info@roryrobertson.co.uk / rory@roryrobertson.co.uk

Don’t forget to visit…

Design Junction

Somerset House Design Biennale

Shoreditch Design Traingle

Words: Rory Robertson

Image credits: As above