Search

Home Sweet Home: A New Show for September

Home London is a small but perfectly edited design-led homewares and interior accessories show that traditionally happens in January. A September edition has now been added, enabling it to join the London Design Festival. I’ve been a big fan since its launch, so I was excited to see the new version.

Home London LDF14

Oscar Francis is run by a trained architect, resulting in surface pattern design on a housing theme – products even ship in a cardboard tube similar to those used for architectural blueprints. This grey tote with just one yellow house is lined in the same sunny hue.

Home London LDF14

Home London was Wiltshire-based designer makers Robin and Mould’s first ever trade show, so it was really lovely to see their friendly little hedgehogs, which are screen-printed by hand in their rural studio.

Home London LDF14

Windy Hill’s table linens are inspired by French holiday homes: “those warm and welcoming vacation homes, where hosts are so pleased to have you in a simple but gracious environment, where guests are honored and filled with wonder in such a warm and pleasant ambiance,” explained the designer.

Home London LDF14

There’s something very pleasing about something simple done very well – Iris Hantverk works with five visually impaired craftsmen from different cultures to make brushes according to the Swedish tradition in Sandsborgsvägen, Enskede.

Home London LDF14

Young designer Nancy Straughan was launching a new range of fabric across her range of home and fashion accessories such as cushions and purses.

Home London LDF14

Rhian McLaren’s yellow and grey mid-century-inspired patterns caught my eye. There is a lot of work around at the moment evoking that era, but these designs avoid the obvious references and are executed with genuine attention to detail.

Home London LDF14

Tori Murphy was launching a new collection of kitchenware, a first for the up-and-coming designer more known for her cushions, fabrics, and upholstery. The rustic chopping boards are by Joby Woodhouse.

Home London LDF14

Cornish brand Block was showing their new range of pegboard pin boards – perfect for those who like the idea but don’t want to commit to a whole wall – also available in a duck-egg blue and a bright orange.

Home London LDF14

Finally, I was really excited to discover new brand Otago (also pictured at the top) who are fusing contemporary design with African craftsmanship and doing so with great success – definitely one to watch.

Katie Treggiden is a purpose-driven journalist, author and, podcaster championing a circular approach to design – because Planet Earth needs better stories. She is also the founder and director of Making Design Circular, a program and membership community for designer-makers who want to join the circular economy. With 20 years' experience in the creative industries, she regularly contributes to publications such as The Guardian, Crafts Magazine and Monocle24 – as well as being Editor at Large for Design Milk. She is currently exploring the question ‘can craft save the world?’ through an emerging body of work that includes her fifth book, Wasted: When Trash Becomes Treasure (Ludion, 2020), and a podcast, Circular with Katie Treggiden.