Eye on Design
News from the interiors world, including lighting inspired by the royal palaces, a collection made by Pinterest – and a unique coffee table book you won't want to miss.
I plan to make this regular post a mix of news and shopping. There are lots of people posting lists of things they bought and I think it’s also useful to share news from the design world which isn’t just about stuff to fill your house with. As ever, you can dip in and out as you please.
It’s not often I turn down an invitation to an event I really want to go to, but on this occasion I will be in Palma with a client on the day Soho Lighting launches its new collection, with a dinner at Kensington Palace. I know! Not that we’ll get a chance to poke about, but it would be fabulous to go in and see what it’s like, don’t you think?
The new collection has been two years in the making and takes its inspiration from the architecture, gardens and interiors of the UK’s historic royal palaces. To begin with it’s a selection of sockets and switches that are a “faithful representation of the original hardware and finishes found in the Palaces”.
More, as they say, as we have it.
Primark’s first Pinterest-inspired collection
On the other hand, I received several invitations to this launch (I didn’t go) and I genuinely can’t decide if it’s a cynical marketing exercise designed to sell us more stuff or whether it makes sense to give the people what they clearly want, as they are already pinning it. Genuinely don’t know the answer. What do you think?
Pinterest is a great predictor of trends, as it analyses what people are looking for rather than what magazines are telling them they might want in a few months’ time. I remember interviewing the platform’s Head of Home, Matt Siberry, for the podcast (you can listen here) and being sent its trend forecast report. The big take-out (for me) in that survey was the rise of mushroom core. How we laughed. And how there have since been many features on the rise of mushroom lamps (from vintage Murano) to cordless versions by Abigail Ahern. So it makes sense that Primark might see this as a clever marketing strategy. In fact, when you stop to think about it, is everyone else on the high street already doing this and simply pretending they came up with something original and trend-setting? In which case, shouldn’t we be praising Primark for being honest about where its ideas came from?
The stats don’t lie – and it seems that searches for “cosy cottage bedroom” are up 170%, whimsical bedroom is up 130% ,and earthy colour palette by 120%, so maybe it makes sense to produce a collection that seems certain to sell, based on what people are looking for.
At the top is Dainty Decor, above is Cosy Cottage (don’t start me) while below is Minimaluxe, a word I hate but which seems to be gathering pace. Also, this collection looks pretty good in the pictures. I’m less sure about the top two, but then curvy, warm neutrals are very much my vibe. I may have to drop into Primark so I can report back. Do share your thoughts.
Now one new launch I am excited about this month is The Art Shop by Hannah Ellis aka Half a Hall on Instagram. I have always loved her taste in interiors, so I was interested to see what she has found for our walls. It can be hard to buy online as you really do need to see artworks up close and personal if you can, but Hannah has put together an interesting mix of prints and originals. I really am quite taken with Bertie Finch, but there are dozens more to look at.
What’s clever is that you can buy the original for £645 or Giclée-quality prints in various sizes from A4 (£30) to A1 (£85) so there really will be a price-point for everyone.
This is Orange is the New Me from £45 to £300 for the original, which I also rather like.
Next is a collective of small designers called Makers Made, a collaboration set up by five artists who felt that strength is greater in numbers. Shoppers buy direct from the creators and no commission is taken by the board, who wanted to set up an online gallery to enable small businesses to have broader reach. Other, similar sites take commission or charge membership, which puts them out of reach for many individuals who might be running small businesses from their kitchen or garden studio, so Makers Made was created to address that. There’s already masses on there and it’s a wonderful resource if you prefer to buy from small businesses. Simply click the link of the maker you like to be taken straight to their shop.
Having directed you to a few new sites for small businesses, this post is now about me rummaging through the bigger stores to unearth the gold and save you time. And there are indeed some good finds this month.