Ohh what fun! A rather warm and sunny Monday in October wandering around Olympia, packed full to the brim with colourful interiors inspiration.
Trade shows are a pretty handy place to see no end of design inspiration all under one roof, with brands you already love and plenty of new ones to discover...
Here’s my highlights from Decorex 2023.
The Bar
Well it’s no secret that I enjoy a cocktail or two, so an invitation to a rather beautiful bar with complimentary bubbles at 12pm on a Monday… oh go on then! And whilst yes I did enjoy that glass of bubbles, the real reason Le Boudoir bar was such a highlight for me was its full on decadence and decoration - a maximalist feast for the eyes.
With great swathes of House of Hackney prints mixed with Temperley X Romo leopards (both firm favourites here at Batteson Studio), rich earthy reds, Rousseau inspired chenille walls and pattern on pattern on pattern. Under the glow of some truly impressive statement lighting lay a beautiful collection of vintage Persian rugs and upholstered chairs, sofas, stools and chaise longue's topped with tassels and trimmings. A visual delight!
Whilst you might not be looking to design your own bar, there’s always a way to embrace the indulgence of this aesthetic. It’s a look that suits a dramatic bedroom, an en-suite or dressing room and a dining room or parlour room. I’m not sure anyone actually has a parlour room anymore but I’m quite a fan of the name - surely it's time for a revival?!
House of Hackney
As mentioned above I do love House of Hackney, they are the very best of the bold botanicals. They are also a B Corp and infact my very first introduction to the world of B Corps, of which you can read more about here.
The House of Hackney stand was particularly impressive and definitely my favourite of the show, seeing such a wide selection of their prints on a large scale, pattern upon pattern was an absolute joy.
They also embraced lot's of lovely trimmings with the Camelot Stripe sofa with bullion fringe a real winner for me as well as the velvet Anaconda (a personal favourite) cushions. I am thoroughly enjoying trimmings at the moment. See below!
Trimmings
I am indeed a child of the eighties and I have pretty fond memories of the 'more is more' aesthetic of the era. Whilst a more minimalist approach can certainly be stylish there's a whole lot of fun to be had in the wonderful world of trimmings!
At Decorex they adorned sofas, chairs, poufs, glass lampshades and more. They are pure whimsy and fun and frankly couldn’t we all do with a little bit more of those right now?
Trimmings are a brilliant way to update your textiles without replacing them. A recent Batteson Studio project included the update of a pair of curtains that were over ten years old with a pom pom trim. It has completely elevated them and given them a new lease of life.
Pure White Lines
If you think chandeliers aren't for you then please look again. Last year Pure White Lines jaw dropping stand won best in show. This year, yet again, they had me contemplating the many, many places that yes absolutely, do indeed deserve a chandelier of their very own hanging in them.
For vintage Murano chandeliers check out Vinterior. But perhaps hide your credit card first.
An Amber Grande Palermo Chandelier is exactly what I imagine myself under whilst sipping cocktails in a Molly Goddard dress on a House of Hackney X Temperley X Romo chaise longue. Sigh.
Checks Molly Goddard penny jar...
And chandelier penny jar.
Light switches. And new technology.
Admittedly I'm not always the quickest when it comes to new technology, I’m more likely to be playing in the ribbon box than figuring out the latest tech. But I was actually pretty taken by Soho Lighting's latest designs. Already a big fan of their sockets and switches it was truly impressive to see their latest collection which allows you to completely change the light and ambience of a room with a single flick of the switch.
They are also working on new solar lighting and some very stylish outdoor sockets.
And really who doesn't need a centralised light switch for the Orangery, the Garden Room and the Rose Bed?
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Colour
Last but not least was the vast array of colour on show at Decorex.
It is easy to become nervous of colour and lose confidence with using it in our homes.
But with so many beautiful shades of paint, paper, tiles, rugs, fabrics and trimmings it is always good to be reminded of the incredible impact it can have.
So what was my biggest take away?
Visiting trade shows and seeing the latest trends is a lot of fun, I love to immerse myself in all of the incredible new designs on offer and a visit to Decorex really is a feast for the eyes.
But I truly believe when it comes to creating a home its about discovering your own personal style, tapping into who you are, what you love and creating a look that really reflects you.
If you need a little help with figuring out your own style my colour consultation can do the hard work for you for only £150. You can find out more here.
If you didn’t make it to Decorex I hope you enjoyed a peek through my eyes.
Chloé X