With lockdown lifting, projects resuming and new clients on the horizon, we're sharing the latest product news from SBID Accredited Partners. Featuring premium, Mother of Pearl decorative wall panels; a table collection inspired by a new wave of Brazilian music, and an ecological collection of advanced natural paints with sustainable options for any project!
Introducing Siminetti's Mother of Pearl decorative panels
Siminetti’s Mother of Pearl Decorative Panels are the next generation in Mother of Pearl surface finishes. Handcrafted by Siminetti’s team of artisans, the ‘Golden Pearl Drop’ Decorative Panels capture the stunning natural beauty of Mother of Pearl that has for centuries been associated with luxury, sophistication and elegance. Utilising a combination of Siminetti’s ‘Bianco’ and ‘Golden Promise’ Mother of Pearl, every panel carries its own bespoke appeal.
Produced from fully sustainable Freshwater and Saltwater Pearl, each decorative panel is assembled to the clients exacting dimensions and can be produced in almost any shape up to maximum size of 240cm x 120cm. The individual Mother of Pearl pieces are hand placed onto a lightweight, robust, honeycomb backing which ensures they are also fully waterproof, making the decorative panels not only suitable for kitchen splashbacks and furniture inlays, but equally wet-room and shower environments. Siminetti Decorative Panels are the luxurious alternative to tiles and are available in over 30 stunning designs. Siminetti also offers a bespoke design service, allowing Designers, Architects and Specifiers to develop their own unique style.
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Cox London presents the Siren Chair for Collect at Somerset House
The Siren Chair was created by Cox London for Collect at Somerset house in March 2020. This generously proportioned chair is traditionally upholstered with natural lamb’s wool for great comfort, supported by sculptural cast-bronze arms and a forged iron frame. Both visceral and flocculent, the beguiling chair is signed and numbered by the artist. Special editions available in different finishes and different fabrics. The founders, Christopher and Nicola Cox take inspiration from the great traditions and techniques of making; their work is craft orientated, sculpture based and infused with historical references.
Christopher and Nicola make their artwork and furniture in their north London atelier and workshop. Having studied fine art sculpture together they set up their studio early in 2000, they have since taken on a wide variety of commissions from the worlds of fine art, craft and interior decoration to produce bespoke or limited-edition pieces that combine creativity with the best of British craftsmanship and artistry. Cox London’s unique designs are on display in their Pimlico and North London showroom’s.
Kassavello features elite brand's Bossa table collection
The Bossa collection is taken from a range of curated products from the portfolio of elite brands that are available through luxury furniture design atelier Kassavello. Inspired by ‘Bossa Nova’, the new wave of musical genre and culture that emerged from Brazil in the 1950’s, the Bossa table collection is defined by a sleek finish and subtle curved edges. Constructed from high gloss solid mahogany wood with contrasting natural cane and matt mahogany detailing, these unique pieces are subtle enough to compliment a myriad of schemes whilst adding a distinctive sense of style and flair.
The Bossa square coffee table combines natural cane with a practical glass top whilst the Bossa side table is completed with an elegantly crafted inset matt veneer. Designed with flexible grouping in mind, the taller side tables combine beautifully with the shorter coffee table creating a stunning composition and centerpiece. Bespoke options and finishes are available across the collection.
A New Era for advanced natural paints with Graphenstone
As a customer rightly stated, "Graphenstone offers a range of stunning colours, all of them Green.” Using 100% recycled and recyclable packing and delivery materials, Graphenstone is proud to hold 'Cradle to Cradle Institute' Gold and Silver Certifications, as the ultimate validation of its dedication to green products and processes. With natural ingredients combined with graphene technology, Graphenstone offer the most advanced, durable and ecological ranges of paint available on the UK market. The absence of toxicity makes the paints virtually odourless. LEED, WELL and BREEAM Compliant, Graphenstone’s products are ideal for any large or small-scale project seeking healthy and sustainable paint options with trusted certifications.
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Ana Azevedo, founder of SBID Accredited Partner, Kassavello shares her insight into the interior design industry as a supplier of high-end brands and bespoke furniture solutions to interior designers.
What is your current job?
I head up Kassavello’s London office and manage sales and customer relations with particular focus on the interior design community. I founded Kassavello with my business partner Renata in 2015. We offer a selection of curated products from elite brands and bespoke furniture to interior designers, architects and end clients.
What is your background and how did you get into interior design?
My previous career was in business management within the hospitality sector where I managed a number of high-profile restaurants and bars. I had always had a passion for design but having exposure to such a variety of prestigious venues ignited my interest and I enrolled in a series of interior design courses at the University of Arts in London. Moving from client-side within hospitality to client-management within design was a hugely rewarding transition where I was able to transfer and combine old and new skills whilst working in a creative industry that is constantly evolving and never fails to inspire me.
Describe an average day in your job role..
My business partner Renata is based in Portugal, the location of our key suppliers and manufacturers and it’s critical that we stay aligned at all times so that there’s a consistent and seamless workflow. Every day begins with a video conference call where we run through current priorities, project status and actions required. I then follow up client-side, more often than not this is with a UK based interior designer, on any decisions required for bespoke furniture production such as discussing design detailing or scheduled fabric deliveries. Whilst we often receive DWG drawings from our clients, we always produce detailed technical drawings for approval working closely with a team of dedicated craftspeople in Portugal who have decades of experience and can often propose sleek solutions to practical design problems. Most days also bring new enquiries which I follow up on often whilst juggling the logistics of overseeing white glove installation on site. I also dedicate time each week to keep abreast of industry trends and developments too as its critical that designers can trust us to be one step ahead of the game when it comes to innovation and evolution within the luxury design space.
Which elements of your profession do you enjoy the most and/or find the most rewarding?
We frequently use different artisans to deliver individual elements for one piece of furniture – for example an exquisite brass handle crafted by an exemplary metal artisan combined with beautifully inlaid veneer from our expert team of joiners. Facilitating a designer’s unique vision through our trusted network of craftspeople is always rewarding when you see the vision from conceptual drawings through to final installation.
Is there anything new you are excited to be working on?
We’re currently working on a proposal for a significant number of bespoke items for a project in Malta in collaboration with one of our favourite designers. She has a passion for bold design and colour and is always looking to push the boundaries in terms of shape and form which is thrilling for us and the team of experts that we work with. There’s nothing like a creative challenge!
What do you find the most challenging aspects of your job?
Managing expectation versus budget is a familiar challenge to everyone in the industry and our sector is no exception. Our clients consistently want to deliver exceptional pieces but sometimes you have to set expectations and find the best solution in terms of materials or a design tweak that offer a very good result and one that also comes in on budget!
The logistics of delivery can also be very challenging. Whilst we work with outstanding white glove delivery teams, we can often be faced with logistical issues and dependencies on a 3rd party in terms of access or red tape, particularly in central London. Always surmountable but always a challenge!
What do you wish you knew before working in the field?
How much attention to detail interior designers have. This is certainly not a criticism, in fact far from it - we work with some exceptional designers who can sometimes request a change of design equivalent to a few millimetres. When we first developed the business, we had no idea how particular clients could be but with the benefit of experience behind us we are now able to guide and collaborate on those decisions, knowing when they will and when they won’t matter to the stability or aesthetics of a piece.
What would you tell your younger self if you had the chance?
Follow your gut feeling… if a project or a client does not feel right, it probably isn’t
What has been your favourite project to work on?
We were very fortunate to be given the opportunity to work on an exceptional project in Kuwait with an end client who had no budget constraints and an appetite for luxurious finishes and styling. Having the opportunity to work alongside her and her family to furnish their beautiful villa was a design dream and allowed us to select hand-crafted pieces that are rarely accessible but are truly timeless heirloom items.
Conversely, we recently worked on a project in Chelsea with high client expectations but challenging budget constraints. We spent a lot of time with the designer developing solutions and alternatives that did not detract from the exceptional result that was required and ultimately delivered – hugely rewarding.
What do you think is the biggest problem the interior design industry faces?
The access to information for end clients via social media has become overwhelming. It can make the decision- making process extremely drawn out when the client suddenly spots something new they love, or when they have seen a cheap copy of an atelier piece of furniture and fail to appreciate the value in the time and craftsmanship that is put into bespoke pieces. It’s something that the industry is working hard to address and a conversation that we are always happy to be a part of. With close and long-standing relationships with some of Europe’s finest artisans we absolutely appreciate the skill and dedication that goes into every piece of bespoke furniture.
Who do you admire the most in the industry and why?
In terms of furniture design, Kelly Wearstler is a personal favourite of mine. Her curation of vintage, contemporary and architectural forms within her pieces is truly exceptional. She is always innovative, inspirational and evolutionary – outstanding traits in a designer that consistently pushes the boundaries and is a leading industry narrator. Architecturally it has to be Joseph Dirand, his eye for volume and space underpinned by classical proportion is unsurpassed – a true master of his craft.
Want to become SBID Accredited? Click here for more information.
As designers, it's important to maintain motivation and keep finding the inspiration to fuel your fire during these uncertain times. This month's edition of the Interior Edit brings you the latest product news and interior product inspirations from SBID Accredited Industry Partners. Featuring a colourful collection of printed velvet fabrics, an inspired and aesthetic range of electrical fittings, as well as a new striking leather look for luxury seating.
Modern lightness meets the de Sede heritage with new DS-531 range
DS-531 combines the requisite modern lightness with the heritage of de Sede. This versatile family of seats in an unmistakable patchwork design combines everything that sets our craftsmanship apart: tradition and innovation, creativity and experience, passion and high-tech. This passion gives rise to comfortable, cozy seating options, with flowing shapes and a striking leather look that will blend in everywhere.
With a lowered sitting position and modern, stitched leather design, the sweeping frame construction and wooden supporting base for the seat cushions are the simple structural elements of these contemporary sculptures. They are available both as three-seater and as a cozy armchair with head section and stool.
Focus SB launches Kelly Hoppen's debut electrical accessories collection
Focus SB launched an exquisite collection of luxury ‘wall jewellery’ in collaboration with the multi-award-winning designer, Kelly Hoppen MBE. Focus SB’s MD, Gary Stevens says: “From the moment I first met with Kelly it was like a breath of fresh air and she was bursting with new ideas for what is a relatively conservative and mature product sector.”
This is the first collection of electrical accessories designed by Kelly Hoppen MBE who comments: “Interior fittings such as light switches and plug sockets are often not considered until the end of a project, but these details can add an extra touch and shouldn’t be overlooked. The world of electrical wiring accessories is generally very conservative, but I wanted to create something that would very much be part of the overall design, introducing jewellery-like details and alternative finishes. This collaboration with Focus SB introduces a new aesthetic to electrical fittings in a way we haven’t previously seen.”
Linwood Fabric introduces its new collection of printed velvet fabrics
New for Spring/Summer 20, Omega Prints II by Linwood Fabric is an alluring collection of printed velvet fabrics. This beautiful addition to our much loved Omega and Omega Prints ranges is presented in an enticing palette of fresh pastels and bold primary colours. The 15 exclusive designs range from small geometrics to painterly styles; inspired by a myriad of sources from Moroccan kilims to vintage Russian textiles. Inherently fire retardant and soft to the touch, these velvets drape beautifully but are also stain resistant and washable, ensuring upholstery has longevity.
Frette debuts its latest Style of Living pieces for Spring/Summer 2020
Storied luxury Italian linen brand Frette revealed the newest releases as part of its Style of Living assemblage, available both in-store and online since March 2020. The latest pieces continue to build upon the foundational collection and colourways of the Style of Living assemblage with signature motifs re-imagined in timeless, versatile shades of navy and opal blue. In addition, four new designs have been added to the bedding assortment this season. A new collection of classics that extend beyond the bedroom, Style of Living’s precise design formula, called “product agility,” was carefully developed to prioritise the agility of the product over passing seasonal trends while also allowing for nearly infinite design possibilities across generations – from minimalist to extravagant, from geometric to romantic and ornate.
Gillian Weir offer bespoke cashmere throws, blankets and cushions
Gillian Weir’s bespoke cashmere throws, blankets and cushions are custom made to suit your individual projects. With a palette of 75 shades and looms just under three metres wide, each piece is completely bespoke and is hand dyed, woven and finished in your preferred colour, size, weight and finish.
For a relaxed, rustic feel choose from one of eight tassel designs; for a sleek luxe look opt for a pure mulberry silk border or pick a cashmere binding for a more natural, contemporary style. Gillian Weir rarely make the same throw twice, offering a unique touch of luxury for the most exclusive interiors.
Sponsors of the SBID International Design Awards for the Residential House Under £1M category, Kassavello supply curated and bespoke luxury furnishing solutions for interior designers. The Director and founder, Ana Azevedo shares insight into how they work directly with designers to help them source the right furnishings for their projects.
What are the origins of your brand? Launched in 2015, myself and Renata Teixeira spotted the opportunity to bring high quality, handcrafted yet fairly-priced Portuguese furniture to the UK market. Kassavello has since become a luxury furniture design atelier dually based in both England and Portugal. Our roots are firmly entwined with Portuguese craftsmanship and artisanal design and, over time, the business has organically grown to encompass two complementary areas of expertise: Curated products from elite brands and Bespoke furniture production.
How do you work with interior designers? We offer a high-end, bespoke furniture design service for interior designers and architects that includes complex finishes and detailing. Our extensive portfolio of manufacturers have been carefully selected for their quality, reliability and craftsmanship and we frequently use different artisans to deliver individual elements of one piece to guarantee the highest possible standards of workmanship.
We also have an extensive portfolio of curated products from elite brands and often work closely with our clients to select items for their projects. Our services range from producing all technical drawings for bespoke projects, to personally organising and supervising shipping and installation.
What value does your sector add to the interior design industry?
We supply high-end furniture for both residential and commercial projects, offering a very personal and tailored service to help designers source the right furnishings for their projects. We believe that beautiful handcrafted furniture and design should be accessible to all. From covetable sofas to striking mirrors, our expert team have hand-picked the brands that we partner with and the curated pieces that we sell.
How does your offering enhance an interior designer’s projects?
With a strong focus on customer service, Kassavello offers a premium and tailored service. Working closely with discerning clientele and leading interior designers, we have developed a reputation for delivering products and designs of the highest calibre to residences across the world. We have a team of experts available to advise on every step of the process and we work collaboratively with our clients from specification phase to the installation of a project; ensuring a full level of support throughout the project development.
What are the latest trends you’ve noticed in your client’s requests?
More recently, we are noticing that organic shapes and textured materials are increasing in popularity among our clients. Also, the desire to use natural materials like cane, stone and brass is growing significantly.
Why did you want to become a sponsor for the SBID Awards?
We wanted to sponsor the SBID Awards because it’s a very prestigious event that celebrates design and serves as a fantastic opportunity to network within our target market.
Sponsorship for the SBID International Design Awards 2020 is now open.
To find out more about becoming an SBID Awards sponsor next year click here or email [email protected]
Sponsors of the SBID International Design Awards for the Office Design category reveals how they help to create happy, healthy, high performing working and learning environments with their range of smart, contract furniture solutions for office, workplace and healthcare spaces. Jonathan Hindle, Group Managing Director E.M.E.A of KI tells us more...
What are the origins of your brand?
KI (Krueger International, Inc.) is headquartered in Wisconsin, USA; was founded in 1941, and has been a contract furniture manufacturer ever since. Fully employee-owned, KI has grown to become one of the world's largest, most respected furniture manufacturing groups. KI’s EMEA headquarters and showroom in Central London is supported by an established network of manufacturing facilities and distribution partners across the UK, Europe and the Middle East committed to providing customers with smart solutions for Workplace, Education and Healthcare Sectors.
How do you work with interior designers?
KI engages with interior designers and specifiers both directly and through a global network of showrooms and resellers. It has offered a unique Market of One manufacturing philosophy for many years and supports specifiers with the opportunity to design and build the furniture the want quickly and cost effectively through its Infinity programme. There are many online tools to assist designers such as See it Spec It, CAD and Revit Symbols, Image Libraries and Finishes options libraries to assist with Specification and Planning.
We provide a valuable furniture engineering design and manufacturing resource for workplace, education and healthcare interiors. KI’s furniture helps the world’s leading organisations create happy, healthy, high performing working and learning environments. We strive to improves productivity through the design and manufacture of furniture solutions which both optimise floor plans and stimulate users. We also know how diverse furniture requirements can be, so by working to understand what our client's need, we can deliver the ideal solution.
As above. Not only do our products represent cutting edge solutions to furniture requirements in workplace, education and healthcare environments, KI brings together good design, advanced engineering and sustainable resources to produce products that are durable, flexible and offer excellent value.
KI products can help designers meet client needs by improving productivity of the end-user through the design and manufacture of furniture solutions which both stimulate and provide efficiencies; meeting the demands of evolving workplaces. Customers throughout the world come to KI, not just for high-quality contract furniture but for the knowledge to make the right choices. Working with KI gives you access to our wealth of experience and innovation, so we can help you select the perfect furniture for the desired application.
KI Europe has recently introduced the 800 Series Shelving System, designed to offer a flexible platform for designers to divide space in open plan offices with shelving systems providing a domestic aesthetic. We have introduced a new seating range utilising the latest injection moulding techniques to provide flexible comfort and a lightweight aesthetic called Grafton, a new injection moulded dining chair called Hatton an enhancement to the market leading education seating range Postura+ providing fully recycled plastic options and a new generation Sit/Stand Collection of desking and benching called Work 2.1 to meet the evolving requirements for enhanced wellness across major organisations.
We wanted to engage with the SBID in order to better promote KI’s capabilities and desire to work with the world leading design practices which the SBID attract.
We interviewed the SBID International Design Awards sponsor for the Restaurant Design category. Adam Hout, International Director at Perennials and Sutherland speaks about how the brand has developed since 1944 when founder, David Sutherland embarked on a mission to transform the outdoor furniture industry. From Sutherland furniture to the launch of Perennials fabrics, the brand now showcases the best of its luxury performance fabrics and rugs, as well as high grade outdoor furniture.
The story begins over 40 years ago with David Sutherland who opened with his first multi-brand showroom in Houston. This was followed by a flagship showroom in Dallas. He was the first to bring high-end designs from the New York and Los Angeles markets to the booming Texas market. In 1994 David embarked on a mission with friend and collaborator John Hutton to transform the outdoor furniture industry by creating a collection of teak performance with a level of luxury and comfort never before seen outdoors. Sutherland pioneered tailored “deep-seating” cushions and was the first company to introduce fully upholstered outdoor collections. For David and John, it was time to bring indoor comfort and design to the outdoors which was revolutionary at the time. Only in recent years have others embraced this trend.
Creating the best outdoor furniture came with a problem, there were no outdoor fabrics luxurious enough! David partnered with his wife Ann to create outdoor fabrics which looked and felt natural, complementing nature and yet bringing luxury feel to the space. Perennials began as an outdoor fabric brand, but now it is a Luxury Performance fabric and rug brand, with much of its sales attributed to indoors, contract, and hospitality use. Perennials has grown substantially in that time and rightfully sits as the leader in luxury performance.
The company expanded its showrooms across the US and in 2017 opened a direct subsidiary in London UK; showcasing the best of Perennials performance fabrics, rugs, and Sutherland furniture. The strength of this company is in its multi-channel dynamic business model. P&S is a manufacturer, direct wholesaler to the trade industry, and private / white label manufacturer. It owes its success to the designers that it serves, and they remain the main focal point of the business.
We manufacture and wholesale highly technical products, therefore specification of our product by a qualified individual or company is the focus of our company. We want the end users to use and enjoy our products in the correct format, setting, and design – for this the designer becomes of paramount importance. We sell direct to the trade and collaborate with them to fulfil their requirements. We educate, train and support our professional clients to get the most out of our products. We believe in one to one relationships and always strive to individualise the service to our clients.
It was never Ann Sutherland’s initial intention for the outdoor fabrics to become indoor / contract fabrics. It was the designers themselves that began using Perennials fabrics for that purpose and this developed the brand into what it is known and respected for today. This shows that performance is important to designers and end users alike. The issue with performance fabrics is that more often than not, luxury feel will be compromised, usually encouraging the client to go with an indoor fabric for those spaces. That is where Perennials fabrics comes in. We manufacture velvets, linens, silks, bouclets; in complex designs and weave structures which look and feel convincingly natural. The compromise becomes negligible, the client can enjoy the feel of a luxury velvet whilst not worrying about stains.
This is possible through the Perennials yarn technology which is known as 100% Solution Dyed Acrylic. The colour is embodied within the fibre which makes it very difficult to separate the colour from the yarn, unlike traditional yarns where the dye is added later on. Think of a carrot that, when peeled, remains orange – the same can be said about the Perennials fibre. The fabric is inherently resistant to water, mould, bleach, UV, and almost any stain you can think of. The use of bleach allows the user to remove most stains. Our fibre also has an inbuilt Nano-seal technology which adds repellence, with liquids splashing off.
Many other fabrics in the industry are also called Performance fabrics: Polyester and Polypropylene being two examples. They do not perform anywhere near as well, the colour does not hold and the quality and feel is not comparable. Many brands will add performance through using chemical top sprays which simply do not last and are not desirable. Customers often ask about sustainability: my answer is that Perennials is highly sustainable because it lasts an extremely long time and can easily be re-purposed.
What makes Perennials so special is that we have over 130 fabric lines, qualities, and over 1000 SKU’s of fabric using this technology. Whatever the project; whether a restaurant, a yacht, or a residential sofa, the client does not have to compromise to get luxury and performance together: a strong value proposition indeed.
Our performance fabrics and rugs are not only an item of beauty, quality, and soft touch – but they bridge the gap into being a technology product. This enhances our client’s ability create a value proposition to their client. If something is beautiful, great, if it also more durable, cleanable, and will last longer than anything else, then even better!
Sutherland offers a unique aesthetic of understated luxury, combined with a focus on high grade raw materials, and comfort. The brand is world renown for bridging the gap between outdoor and indoor, not compromising on the outdoor area. Sutherland offers designers full customisation of product at a dedicated custom workshop. Whether you look to start from scratch or merely tweak an existing Sutherland piece, our product development team will partner with designers to create custom outdoor furniture guaranteed to be the perfect fit for your project.
The autumn trends appear to be embroidery, flowery prints, jacquard effects, and natural wool blends in fashion; and this has crossed over into the interiors industry. The Timothy Corrigan for Perennials collection reflects these trends well as do some of our longstanding natural weaves.
We want to give back to the industry and SBID is the perfect partner and platform for that. SBID is a shining light in the industry and is a strong facilitator for the the various participants.
The SBID International Design Awards winners for 2019 will be announced on Friday 25th October! Tables to attend this year's SBID Awards are now sold out, but a limited number of individual tickets are still available. Book a seat now! To find out more about sponsoring the SBID International Design Awards next year, email [email protected]
‘Wave’ wallpaper by Katie Ridder
Over the past six months, A-Gent of Style started noticing around him the ancient Asian pattern of the wave and also fish scales. Suddenly, these two scalloped designs seem to appear everywhere before him and A-Gent soon realised they were ubiquitous – in shops or restaurants, in the streets, in fashion, design and home magazines, online of course and many other appearances. What turned into a game of ‘spot-the-pretty-fish-scales-pattern’ almost ended up in an obsession and even hallucinations.
This is a compilation of all the images and photographs A-Gent of Style has accumulated featuring waves and fish scales in all their various shapes and representations.
Now, you too might start noticing them everywhere.....Will you catch the bug!?
Marion Cotillard in Jean-Paul Gaultier, Oscars, 2008
Jarrod Lim’s ‘Koi’ Chair
‘Pot Pourri’ wallpaper by Neisha Crosland
Le 1947 restaurant by Yannick Alléno, Le Cheval Blanc, Courchevel
‘Owl’ lantern by Soane
Korla’s ‘Grand Kyoto Koi’
Gate at Piccadilly Circus tube station, Glasshouse Street exit
‘Easton’ fabric by David Hicks, 1968
Danish cabinet by Julian Chichester (as seen at Decorex 2013)
‘Caducee’ clock by Jean Dunand, 1913 , estimate €100,000-120,000 at Felix Marcilhac auction, Sotheby’s, 11-12 March 2014 http://bit.ly/1dvv2Hl
‘Ecailles argent by Le Manach
Le Manach’s ‘Ecailles’ (as seen at Paris Deco Off 2014)
Dinner setting by Miles Redd
Urban Outfitters rug
Australian Aboriginal design
‘Coordonne’ tiles
Hartmann Risler et Cie (Rixheim), 1800
Gents at The Zedel restaurant, London
Finally, a shelf at home with some of A-Gent of Style‘s favourite packaging. Not strictly waves or fish scales, more of an (Art Deco) fan shape this time but that’s another blog post!
Author: Interior Designer Fabrice Bana, founder and editor of A-Gent of Style
It’s slightly unnerving to see familiar, everyday objects such as furniture and chairs in a museum or art gallery setting. I was reminded of this when I strolled around the Pop Art Design show at the Barbican.
But it also gives a sense of familiarity that I can spot items that wouldn’t be out of place in a Heal’s shop window or indeed any high-end furniture retailer. It’s also important to know where the original ideas and designs came from, as it gives a sense of history, continuity and respect for early designs.
Pop art exploded onto the scene in the late 1950s to early 10970s and it’s hard to imagine now the impact it had on the art and design world. Previously, much of what you found in the home was pretty drab, conservative and a grown-up’s idea of what good interior design should be.
The new movement of Pop didn’t give a damn. It was bright, fun and playful. The protagonists including Achille Castiglioni, Charles and Ray Eames and George Nelson threw caution to the wind, using the primary colours of childhood – bright reds, yellows and blue colour palettes.
Just looking at George Nelson’s Marshmallow sofa from 1956 () is so pleasing to the eye, with its vivid custard yellow and classic black colour scheme – and you just want to sit on it – which is surely the prime function of any sofa.
Pic 2. Evelyne Axelle, Ice Cream 1, 1964
The delightful image by Evelyne Axell, a Belgian Pop painter, takes us back to halcyon days when the highest form of pleasure was slurping on an ice cream – and not to imbue it with Freudian overtones. Sometimes licking an ice lolly is just that.
This is when we see the beginnings of the cult of celebrity and commodity fetishism. We also see the rise of sexual politics in furniture and design. Allen Jones’ Chair, 1969, of a woman in high heels, which you sit on, is probably the least offensive of his series of ‘furniture sculpture’. Personally, I want to take a hatchet to it, partly because it is demeaning and objectifies the female form, but also because it’s downright ugly.
The baton for the best ideas in Pop art has been passed on to new designers and artists, such as Kate Jenkins, who crochets a range of Pop art items including ketchup and mustard bottles as well as coke cans. It’s good to see that the influence of Pop art remains alive and thriving today.
What I do like about Pop is its play on words, the questioning of what makes for good interior design, as in Richard Hamilton’s 1956 collage Just what is it that makes today’s homes so different, so appealing? It blows the lid off the seriousness and lack of humour that was all the rage in the design world previously.
Author Fiona Keating, Editor at Inside Property
Like at any big show, some stands at SIA Guest 2011 stood out. Here's a list of our favourite products and manufacturers...
1 - Concept: dimension beauty SCHÖNHUBER FRANCHI is proposing the Total Look at SIA GUEST. It is the original concept that sees the hotel as an experience that states its personality and brand, and with a new business unit for creating personalised spaces. The company also took part in the "Specchia" installation by De-Signum Studio Lab, an area dedicated to outdoor design inside the 100% HOTEL exhibit. (SCHÖNHUBER FRANCHI, Pav. C3 Booth 127)
2 - Turnkey restaurant, luxury within reach
Relying on the enormous experience it has acquired over the years, CARAIBA has enlarged its wealth of offers with the prestigious acquisitions of CARAIBA LUXURY to clad new openings and renovations of restaurants and hotels with the sophisticated design of its brands. At SIA GUEST 2011 CARAIBA LUXURY presented a genuine showroom of tasteful and quality products: Spiegelau glasses; Pot, Robbe & Berking, Cutipol and Robert Welc cutlery; Staub, Zwilling, Sha Ra Ku Mono, Kitchen Planning, Joel Robuchon and Forge De Laguiole kitchen products; Hering Berlin, Sieger By Fürstenberg and Fürstenberg, Dibbern, Feeling and Figgjo porcelain; and Mono, Amabiente, Daff, Opussum Design, Nick Munro and Jaur accessories. (CARAIBA LUXURY, Pav. C3 Booth 046)
3 - Mission culture… of textiles
Spreading the culture of textiles amongst everyone who loves to surround themselves with sophisticated atmospheres, making furnishings of impeccable quality by using the best processing and manufacturing techniques. This is the mission of GAMBA MANIFATTURE, which with the new project Contract completes what has been its commitment since 1918: meet every requirement with innovation and professional competence. (GAMBA MANIFATTURE, Pav. C3 Booth 166)
4 – The kitchen flies with the robot
Innovation of outstanding value comes from ALESSI. The Dressed line proposes white porcelain dishes with relief decoration and stainless steel cutlery, also with relief decorations. From KitchenAid (distributed by Alessi) comes an innovative robot with lifting mechanism complete with 6.9 l bowl, all in metal and highly versatile. (ALESSI, Pav. C3 Booth 041)
5 - The green room
The Daniele Menichini architectural firm is presenting the make-up of a real project in the development stage at SIA Guest. Every product and every technology in the "green room" meets all of the "eco" standards demanded by the low environmental impact ecological and energy qualification. It is increasingly the starting point from which hoteliers in Italy as well take off on the course of choices for interventions both on new buildings and renovation of existing buildings. (GREEN ROOM, Pav. C5 Booth 081)
6 - Love in a room
The love room to you. Love Suite Love places the bed in the centre and raises it off the ground to make it the focus of an 85-metre suite, a private theatre for a journey somewhere between dream and sensuality through the exclusive circle of sustainable products. (HOTEL SPA DESIGN, Hall A5-C5 Booth 005).
7 - An electric… table!
Waysol is an innovative line of tables - among other products - that capture the light and turn it into electricity. The surface is a photovoltaic panel protected by a pane of glass, and its simple exposure to light lets it generate energy that can be used to supply a lamp, charge a smartphone or iPad, and even light the room. Solutions are also available for outdoors: during the day a table in the garden captures the light and is illuminated during the night. Other variants seem incredible: an open book with miniature panels in place of the pages set on the windowsill during the day becomes a battery to supply a floor lamp inside the house. Italian technology boasting extraordinary creativity offers SIA GUEST a tasty novelty. (DELUXE DREAMING, Hall A5-C5 Booth 032)
8 - Beautifully made carpeting
EGE, one of the most prestigious European carpet manufacturers, is presenting the EGE PHOTOGRAPHY collection of art carpeting decorated with black and white photographs by the Milanese artist Elia Festa, which EGE was able to reproduce on top quality carpeting. In this way the works of art become a textile floor. No longer just a designer for industrial design, but an artist for Industrial Art. An idea that leads us into a new era in which art repeats itself thanks to the industrial potentials of EGE. The result? A collection of art carpeting and rugs. Complete with certifications. (EGE, Hall A5/C5 Booth 014)
9 - Heating a hotel while protecting the environment
Heating a hotel with natural gas and renewable energy-powered ROBUR heat pump. Two goals in one: not pollute and save on costs. Indeed, the heat pump proposed prevents the emission of 4.2 tons of carbon dioxide and increases the value of the property by increasing its energy class. It also makes it possible to save up to 40% on heating costs compared to condensing boilers. Last but not least, it is modular and flexible. (ROBUR, Pav. C7 Booth 199)
10 - ‘Mediterraneo’, the wooden house that loves nature
A natural oak laminated wood and solid Ipé wood house finished with non-toxic and non-polluting paints. 'Mediterraneo" is a real Luxury house that includes a wellbeing area fitted out with Whirlpool Bath Spa and chromotherapy, made resistant by a steel load-bearing structure and innovative by a new-generation photovoltaic system. Low electricity consumption and domotic management make 'Mediterraneo" a house truly on the cutting edge. (SPRECH, Pav. A5 Booth 172)
11 - The bed that rocks even adults to sleep Its name is Sway and is one of the most relaxing new products presented at Sia Guest 2011. This bed, made by the company Klafs has the feature of slowly rocking its lucky guests, who can also enjoy absolutely relaxing atmospheres of lights and music. (KLAFS GMBH, Pav. A3 Booth 049)
12 - Mini pools, super wellbeing
Your guests deserve the wellbeing of the FabarPool mini pools. The well-known company ensures and reintroduces it while asking the hotelier, "Do you know what is the must that attracts more customers to your hotel and makes them come back? Wellness." FabarPool produces mini whirlpool baths, nothing less than mini spas with an innovative design that turn the hotel into an oasis of wellbeing at a low cost. (FABARPOOL, Pav. A3 Booth 056)
November has come and gone and with it the 61st remarkable edition of Italy’s internationally recognised hospitality exhibition, SIA Guest. Officially partnered with the Society of British Interior Design (SBID), the exhibition once again offered a hub for top-tier manufacturers, service providers and designers, both Italian and foreign, operating in the hospitality market.
SIA Guest, organized by Rimini Fiera S.P.A. at the Rimini Expo Centre fair ground in Italy, took place on 26-29 November 2011 and focused on business and excellence in innovation, attracting 600 exhibiting firms and more than 37,000 professional trade visitors from 30 different countries. A stand was provided for the Society in the TREND hall to promote its hard work towards better standards in the industry, and the benefits of membership for international manufacturers and designers. Fittingly, SIA Trend is a new hall in which a business area and cultural exhibition are combined, under the banner of experimentation for hotels and collective venues.
The Society took this opportunity to officially announce that it will be hosting the SBID International Design Awards wp-content/2012 at SIA Guest next year, with a focus on contract interior design. The competition will be open from December.
A hand-picked delegation of SBID’s top interior designers and architects was invited to attend the exhibition, meet the best international manufacturers on a one-to-one basis and participate in broader networking events, with a complementary 5-star hotel stay at i-Suite.
The British delegation was impressed by the unique mix of innovation and trends showcased: alongside the products of leading firms in the sectors of contract furnishings (china, glassware, silverware, table linens, bed linens), interdeco’ (fabrics, flooring, carpets and interior décor accessories), food service equipment, technology and illumination, safety, bathroom, wellness and fitness.
The 60,000m² of exhibit space offered a series of special displays, workshops, demos and conferences which completed the agenda. Exhibitors were given a chance to meet a qualified, select public thanks to b2b meetings and new formats that attracted buyers from major markets. The setting made for stimulating and fruitful encounters between supply and demand.
With a unique mix of innovation, trends, atmosphere, and conferences, the hospitality trade show is a not-to-be missed annual date for hospitality sector professionals – book early or become an SBID member to join the free annual delegation.
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