29 September 2006

FOCUS 2006 designers guild

continuing on from yesterdays posts on the focus event, heres a look at designers guild who were showing their new collections this week. there was a fantastic display of brilliantly colourful new designs - but for me the star of the show was tricia guild's new book 'pattern'. here are some images taken on tuesday to give a flavour of the store. if you're in london visiting, the dg shop and showroom in the kings road are essential viewing. for more on the book see the next post.the new book - on display in the window.
the bed & bath department

TRICIA GUILD - new book

tricia guild, founder of designers guild, has to be britain's best designer. she has been a hero of mine since 1992 when i first discovered designers guild as an art student. so you can imagine the excitement of getting this new book, and its about my favourite subject 'pattern'. this wonderful book is officially released on october 20th in the UK, but its available now in the designers guild shop. regular fans will know that if you buy her books from the store they are usually signed. when i was in on tuesday there were two signed copies left (plus plenty of unsigned copies). however the girls informed me tricia would be signing more next time she comes in. so if you are a fan and you're in the area - pop in a take a look. in the meantime here are some shots of the book, trust me its great, there are plenty of gorgeous dg fabrics with sumptious photography by long time tricia guild collaborator james merrell. click here to pre-order from amazon uk or us.

pattern - by tricia guild. published by quadrille. (special photography - james merrell).

ISBN 1-84400-326-4

FOCUS 2006 windows

the whole of the kings road becomes populated with focus visitors during the event so shops and showrooms often have great window displays. all these images are from the windows of peter jones dept store, and feature lots of products from the new collections by 'harlequin'. i didnt have any show pics from harlequin because they had the busiest showroom at focus, you couldnt move in there - plus unusually there were no brochures to pick up. still the designs were so wonderful that if you get chance to view them at your local stockist im sure you will love them. other products all from peter jones.

FOCUS 2006 osborne & little

lastly today, the osborne & little showroom, which is also the home of nina campbell & liberty fabrics. there were lovely geometrics and fab new wallpaper featuring exotic birds. the website hasnt got the brand new autumn winter collection up yet but it should be up soon. if you are visiting designers guild then osborne & little are just over the road so its well worth combining the two.

28 September 2006

FOCUS 2006 intro

this week saw the twice yearly 'focus' event take place at chelsea harbour in london. this trade only show, featuring many of the worlds top fabric and wallpaper companies, is where new collections are launched. the graphics for the show this year featured a jigsaw of japanese flowers in brown & teal, designed by dna productions in association with the stencil library. coming up are photos i managed to take at the show. two of the big launches take place offsite, round the corner in the kings road, at osborne & little and designers guild. these two showrooms are handily opposite eachother and there is free transport between them and the show. also taking place at the same time in chelsea is 'decorex', all part of london design week.

FOCUS 2006 romo

first up ( my favourite showroom at chelsea harbour) is romo. it was so brilliant in there i was practically overcome by the new patterns on show. i didnt know where to look first. 10 out of 10, and as predicted here on print & pattern there was plenty of yellow and grey on display.

FOCUS 2006 new collections

above, bold new wallpaper from 'cole & son'.
striking black & white from missoni
above, great new designs from jane churchill, below woven pattern from jim thompson.