Nicola Holden Designs

My Grand Designs Live London Top Picks

Posted on 31st May 2012 by Nicola Holden

May has been quite a busy month with a lot of shows and events peppered throughout the month. The last of these that I thought I’d do a quick blog post about is the Grand Designs Live London show at the Excel Exhibition Centre.

I have to confess to being somewhat disappointed with this year’s Grand Designs exhibition. It seemed to me to lack something this year. But, as with all these shows, there were still some great new finds to share with you.

The company that probably made most of an impression on me is alfresh.co, who produce bespoke graffiti. Now you probably all think that I’ve gone stark raving mad, but here is an image I pinned on Pinterest the other day, so hopefully you’ll agree with me that this type of ‘art’ can make a wonderfully bold statement in your home. Not for everyone perhaps, but fun anyway!
Invisible City were exhibiting this gorgeous contemporary furniture range designed by Simon Moorhouse. Invisible City boast that all their furniture is handmade in Britain by local skilled craftsmen, using sustainably resourced materials. I love the way he has combined the beauty of walnut with the gorgeous colours on the drawer and door fronts, which can be painted bespoke to work with your room scheme.
I loved the range of quilts available from the Sleep Natural Company, who have added a contemporary twist to the 280 year old tradition of Indian quilt making. They also have a fabulous website which explains in detail the origins and the art of quilt making – well worth a virtual visit.
This fabulous prototype chair by Tortie Hoare caught my eye, not least because it is upholstered in fabric designed by Josef Frank, which I love for its bold, bright colours, but also because of its fun, environmentally conscious and intelligent design. The back of the chair is covered in leather which has been formed using the medieval process of boiling the leather. Fascinating stuff!
Hello Geronimo produces wonderfully colourful handmade embellished art work combining texture, colour and embroidery. Typographical elements for your home are all the trend at the moment, and I love this framed alphabet art!
And, to get you into the Jubilee spirit for this weekend I thought I would highlight this beautifully simple linen ‘Stamp Cushion’ by Acacia Design Ltd.