FEBRUARY 2022
Rugs
Inspirations
Review
imm that never was
where you want to be
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EDITOR’S COMMENT
Be proud and take a bow Retailers delivered an outstanding performance in 2021, despite facing many pandemic obstacles The ONS figures for December 2021’s retail sales confirmed that furniture and flooring retailers did an outstanding job last year. Despite significant periods where stores were closed, supply chain problems, absent staff and extended lead times, furniture sales in England, Wales and Scotland were just 0.39% below pre-pandemic levels of 2019. And December was the sixth best month since January 1986, when ONS records begin. Flooring retailers did even better, ending the year 14% up on 2019. Yes, the value of sales has been boosted by the high inflation rate for both furniture and flooring, but it seems shoppers haven’t been put off. DFS says it has been successful in persuading them to trade up and the prospect of further price rises is an incentive to place orders now rather than wait, when the sofa or carpet will undoubtedly cost more. Retailers – and their suppliers – should be very proud of what they achieved in 2021 and deserve to give themselves a large round of applause, or even a slice of cake. The calendar for major exhibitions is looking as unsteady as it has at any point during the pandemic. Salone has moved to June, Heimtextil will become a summer event, January Furniture Show is now an April event and Far East shows are already rescheduling for the summer. As we’ve all discovered in the past couple of years, trying to plan too far ahead is fraught with complications. Out of all this, JFS could emerge a bit different to the exhibition we couldn’t visit last month: with the cancellation of imm cologne and Salone’s movement, organiser Clarion might be able to attract some European players that wouldn’t usually be at the NEC. On the topic of shows that didn’t take place, I’ve put together highlights of what you would have seen at Cologne (see page 52-54) and Design Post, which had some exhibitors you’d normally find in Koelnmesse’s halls.
INTERIORS MONTHLY FEBRUARY 2022
INSIDE THIS ISSUE NEWS 4
December delivers for furniture and flooring
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Ikea lifts prices to meet rising costs
10
DFS and Dunelm report strong performances
FEATURES 12
New products
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Service
20
Experiences Shoppers not understanding discounts
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Sustainability Doing more
26
Carpet Addition, The Collection
34
Upholstery Where you want to be, And relax
38
Beds and bedroom Reality meets banking, The dark side
41
Outdoor Sun in style, Reef living
44
Rugs Giving it Volumi, All at sea
48
Preview JFS, BFM Fabric Show
52
Review imm that never was, Design Post
Editor: Andrew Kidd
T: 01273 930 029 E: akidd@interiorsmonthly.co.uk
FEBRUARY 2022
himolla: where you want to be Visit: www.himolla.com/uk Rugs
Inspirations
Review
imm that never was
where you want to be
Furniture advertising (South): Tim Boden
M: 07976 122 150 E: tboden@interiorsmonthly.co.uk
Furniture advertising (North): Jarrod Bird T: 01565 631 397 E: jbird@interiorsmonthly.co.uk
Carpet, flooring advertising: Joanne Paull M: 07817 624 922 E: jpaull@interiorsmonthly.co.uk
Representative in India: Amarjeet Singh Gianni T: 0091 98390 35458 E: as_gianni@yahoo.co.in
Published by Interiors Media Limited Minerva House, Kinnings Row, Bordyke, Tonbridge, Kent TN9 1NP E: enquiries@interiorsmonthly.co.uk Registered in England no. 6397722 Print: Knockout Print Design by Truprint Media © Interiors Media Limited ISSN 1756-2236
www.interiorsmonthly.co.uk
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NEWS
Strong month for flooring and furniture sales Furniture and lighting sales in England, Wales and Scotland climbed in December 2021 compared with November, but were below December 2020 and 2019, while flooring sales plunged but almost matched December 2019. Furniture and lighting saw sales rise by 11% to £1.461bn compared with November 2021, according to Office for National Statistics data, but were 4.72% down on December 2020 and 3.11% lower than December 2019. December 2021 was the sixth best month since January 1986, behind December 2020 (£1.53bn), December 2018 (£1.515bn), December 2019 (£1.507bn), September 2020 (£1.499bn) and June 2021 (£1.48bn). Sales in 2021 totalled £14.78bn, up 12% on 2020 and 0.39% below 2019. Flooring sales experienced the normal seasonal drop in December 2021, but sales almost matched December 2019. Sales dropped by 25.28% compared with November 2021
to £136.656m, 102.6% higher than December 2020 and 0.79% below December 2019. December 2021 was the 376th best month of 432 since January 1986. Sales in 2021 totalled £1.7415bn (peaking in June at £193.7m), 30.1% higher than 2020 and 14.14% higher than in 2019. To put the figures into context, September 2020 was the strongest pandemic period performance with sales of £204.996m, but that was the first time monthly sales had topped £200m since September 2014 (£234.9m). The top 10 performing months remain March 2008 (£290.4m), September 2007 (£270.75m), March 1997 (£266.42m), June 1997 (£261.4m), November 2007 (£259m), March 2009 (£258.28m), June 2007 (£256.88m), December 1997 (£251.62m) and September 2009 (£251.39m). The December data is preliminary and subject to revision.
Carpet Foundation to debut online home interest titles campaign The Carpet Foundation is set to launch an online advertising campaign that will see 1.5m advertisements appear over a 10-week period. The £20,000 campaign kicks off at the beginning of March and will run for three weeks, returning in May and the Autumn. The objective is to promote Carpet Foundation independent retailers as the people to buy carpet from. Four leading home interest magazine websites will be used: homesandgardens.
com; livingetc.com; idealhome.com and realhomes.com. Each advertisement utilises one of four simple yet strong messages: ‘Before you choose your carpet, choose one of our experts’; ‘The first step in choosing your new carpet’; ‘Where you buy your new carpet is as important as what you buy’ and ‘The only carpet retailers with an approved Code of Practice’. The advertisements direct consumers to the Carpet Foundation website.
Inflation: up and down Annual furniture inflation climbed further in December while flooring saw a slow in price rises. Annual price inflation for household furniture rose from12.2% to 12.5% in the year to December 2021. A year earlier it was just 1.2%. The rate for carpets and other floorcoverings fell from 8.8% to 7.8%. A year earlier it was 2.9%. Among household textiles, inflation for bed linen jumped from 3% to 6.1%. A year earlier it was -4.1%. The overall consumer prices index rose from 5.1% to 5.4%. In December 2020 it stood at 0.6%.
Sextet looks to May event
The campaign will feature four advertisements
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Interiors Monthly February 2022
Six Belgian flooring manufacturers have proposed holding a joint At Home event in the Spring. Balta Group, Beaulieu International Group, Belgotex International Group, Coretec Floors, Lano Carpets and Unilin Group have combined to organise Flanders Flooring Days from 2-5 May. With no Domotex last month, the sextet will hope to attract visitors later in the year thanks to their geographic proximity and portfolio of brands.
himolla is one of the UK’s leading upholstered furniture manufacturers and their recliners are packed with market-leading innovation such as independent headrests, backrests and footrests so your perfect seating position is only a button press away. A 5 year guarantee gives you confidence in the quality and durability of their recliners and they only select the finest leathers, fabrics and woods so we guarantee you will not sit in anything as comfortable as a himolla chair. Bestsellers and also novelties are available as manual or electric armchairs and the Winter Sale has begun!
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NEWS
Ikea hikes prices to meet rising costs Ikea has implemented an almost double-digit increase in prices, with some items being increased by more than 50%. ‘Since the start of the pandemic, Ikea has managed to absorb the significant cost increases experienced across the supply chain while keeping prices as low and stable as we possibly can. Now, like many other retailers, we have had to raise our prices to mitigate the impact on our business,’ says the chain. ‘Price increases vary but remain in line with what we are seeing globally at Ikea, which is approximately a 9% average increase across countries and the product range. Affordability remains at the heart of our business, and our focus will always be on continuing to offer quality, sustainable home furnishings at an affordable price for the many people.’ Although the average increase is 9%, some items have been increased by substantially more. The Malm desk has gone from £99 to £150; a Jokkmokk table with four chairs has risen from £99 to £149; the Hemnes daybed is 30% more expensive at £279; while an Alex nine-drawer unit increased 35% to £115. The group warned in November that it was likely to have to raise prices
Housing Units lifts sales Interiors retailer Housing Units saw sales increase during last year’s lockdowns. In the year to 28 March 2021, sales rose from £24.6m to £25.05m. ‘The business’s other key measures of performance, EBITDA £2,921,000 (2020: £1,642,000) and profit before tax, £2,786,000 (2020: £1,542,000) increased during a period of unprecedented trading challenges for the business,’ it says. ‘Normal trading activity was significantly disrupted
due to the restrictions put in place by the government in an effort to contain the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Throughout the periods of government-enforced closure of non-essential retail premises from March 2020 to April 2021 online sales levels performed strongly. ‘During the periods within which the retail site was allowed to re-open, pent-up consumer demand resulted in significant growth in sales order volumes compared to historic trading patterns.’
More shows rescheduled April’s planned Salone has been moved to 7-12 June, with Heimtextil and Proposte also re-timed. ‘The decision will enable exhibitors, visitors, journalists and the entire international furnishing and design community to make the most of an event that promises to be packed with new things, in total safety. As well as celebrating a major 60th anniversary, the event will focus on the theme of sustainability, acting as a showcase for the progress made,’ says Maria Porro, Salone del Mobile.Milano president. ‘Moving the event to June will ensure a strong presence of foreign exhibitors and professionals, always one of the Salone’s strong points, and give companies time to plan their presence.’ Heimtextil will take place as a one-off summer event, after January’s planned show was cancelled. The exhibition will take place from 21-24 June, alongside Techtextil and Texprocess. Fabric exhibition Proposte has been pushed back to 26-28 April. It will again take place at Villa Erba overlooking Lake Como.
Property moves to boost Likewise Flooring distributor Likewise has revealed a trio of property moves to boost capacity. It has agreed to relocate Likewise North East into larger premises in Newcastle, increase capacity at A&A in Manchester by 50% by using the adjacent unit and use Valley Wholesale Carpets’ distribution centre in Newport to target South West England and South Wales. The Newport move comes after the completion of the £30m takeover of Valley. David
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Interiors Monthly February 2022
Stottor, Floorco commercial director became md on 17 January, with Simon Miller remaining as operations director. David Mitchell will take part in a handover period, 40 years after he founded the company. Likewise says Valley will operate autonomously from its distribution centres in Erith, Kent and Derby. The group saw sales jump 29% to £61m in 2021 and says pre-tax profits will be about £1.6m.
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NEWS
DFS and Dunelm report strong performances A ‘very strong performance’ in furniture has helped Dunelm to a record quarter. Sales rose by £46m to £407m in the quarter to 25 December 2021. The chain says the growth in furniture reflected better availability and extended ranges, helping it to increase market share. It continues to invest in stock to ensure availability. It has £204m of stock, up from £157m in 2020 and £167m in 2021. ‘We continue to expect that we will largely mitigate the impact of inflation on commodity costs and freight rates by working closely with our suppliers to create sourcing benefits, managing the mix of products across our price bands whilst maintaining choice throughout the range, and increasing retail prices where appropriate. We feel that we are relatively well placed to address these challenges whilst continuing to focus on providing great value and quality for our customers.’ Thanks to the increased sales and improved margins, it expects pre-tax profits to be about £140m for the half – £28m higher than in 2021 – and full-year profits to be ‘materially’ higher than market expectations of £181m. ‘Current order intake performance remains strong, with
the important post-Christmas trading period starting well. This sustained performance reflects a positive customer response to our initiatives to drive higher average order values that help mitigate the inflationary trends that we continue to experience,’ says DFS. The group says orders remain £200m higher than pre-pandemic levels. Completed deliveries were up 10% on pre-pandemic levels but 2% lower than the second half of 2020. ‘Covid-related absences, supplier manufacturing capacity and logistics performance have affected both the furniture and wider retail industry, particularly in the first quarter. We have, however, seen a strong increase in deliveries across our second quarter, with overall gross sales in Q2 23% higher than in Q1. ‘Looking forward, as a result of the significant recent operational investment in The Sofa Delivery Company, combined with the additional production capacity from new manufacturing partners, we have confidence that delivery levels will continue to grow across H2 FY22.’ It says it expects previous profit forecasts of £66m-£96m to be achieved for 2022.
Tapi cuts losses, welcomes first EBITDA profit Tapi saw its losses cut dramatically in 2020, to £5.2m. Pre-tax losses fell from £17.55m in the year to 26 December 2020, although three-quarters of the difference was thanks to the rent concessions and furlough payments introduced to ease the impact of the pandemic. In common with
other retailers Tapi also benefited from the business rate holiday. Rent concessions and furlough payments totalled £8.22m. Turnover rose 2.4% to £99.8m. During the year a further £10.1m of shares were issued. ‘Much has been written about the unprecedented
events seen in 2020 continuing into 2021, so I will not expand on the context of the year unnecessarily. Needless to say, a significant number of challenges have been weathered by our teams through the year, and our continued focus on our core value of “treating every customer like they are our
Charity golf tournament tees up for return The Kidderminster Carpet Manufacturers’ National Charity Golf Tournament is set to return this spring. After the 2020 and 2021 events were cancelled because of the pandemic, the 64th edition of the tournament will take place at its traditional home of
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Kidderminster Golf Club from 24-25 May. It will be sponsored by Manx Tomkinson. The opening day will be a four-ball format and twoball on the second. Entry fees are £75 per person for day one, £60 per person for day two, or £100 per person for both days, while there is also
Interiors Monthly February 2022
the opportunity to sponsor a hole. The event will support Macmillan Cancer Research and a number of smaller charities in the area. For more information contact Shaun Lewis (shaun. carpetman@gmail.com) or Mike Dobson (mnjdobson@ yahoo.com).
nan”, as well as supporting our Tapi colleagues, has put us in a great position for future growth,’ says James Sturrock, Tapi ceo. ‘The tailwind of home improvement in consumer shopping trends in the second half of 2020 helped Tapi to record a strong underlying revenue growth rate and a modest maiden EBITDA profit for the first time, despite disruptions throughout the year,’ he continued. ‘Revenue was 2.4% above 2019, which is a positive performance given the disruption of 16 weeks of full or partial store closures in the year.’ Gross margin grew 3.3%pts compared to the previous year, to 59.5%.
www.sleepeezee.com
NEW PRODUCTS
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3 1 ETRO Home Interiors presents the Intimate Escape catalogue. Set in a modern residential context surrounded by greenery, the catalogue presents three living areas, two comfortable bedrooms, two cosy dining rooms, a home office, an outdoor space and a poolside relaxation area, for a complete lifestyle story. Visit: www.etro.com 2 Louis de Poortere has launched the Runners Box, a compact and portable display option for its Richelieu Family Runners programme. Capturing the quality, craftmanship and flexibility of the collection, the new Runners Box presents the hundreds of opportunities available. It is compact enough for home and on-site consultations, yet carries 144 colour poms, design cards and catalogue. Visit: www.louisdepoortere.com
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3 BerryAlloc will make its debut at KBB Birmingham 2022, from 6-9 March. Alongside the main stand will be the BerryAlloc show truck, temporary home to the manufacturer’s focused flooring collections for the show. The show truck will provide a chance for visitors to KBB to see the updated HPF, Ocean+, Chateau and DreamClick collections, all made for the demands of kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms. Visit: www.berryalloc.com 4 Massproductions has updated Spark with an adjustable headrest and new clamping construction to keep the leather armrest taught. Its steel construction is available in Ivory, Black and Ultramarine Blue. Spark also comes with a separate footrest, which can also be used as a standalone stool. Visit: www.massproductions.se 5 Providing some 10,000sqft of warehouse space, as well as a new sample centre, showroom and offices, Granorte’s new Telford headquarters provides retail and commercial clients with improved service and support. Giving improved stock levels across the company’s range of cork walls, floors, furniture and design objects, the facility is centrally located for efficient distribution across the UK. Visit: www.granorte.co.uk
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Interiors Monthly February 2022
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Fall in
love again with...
NEW TUDOR TWIST Classic • Regal
Tudor Twist, Sweet Pea
To see more of our collections, visit myvictoria.co.uk
NEW PRODUCTS
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6 A no-frills, minimalist piece of furniture, versatile and at the same time stable, Jasper Morrison’s aluminium chair Plato for Magis can be used indoors and out, in private as well as public settings. Inspired by its philosopher namesake, Plato is the expression of perfect harmony between form and function and is able to bring a sense of calm into a wide range of different environments, especially outdoors. Visit: www.magisdesign.com
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7 Omexco has introduced three wallcovering collections, including Moonstone: a timeless selection crafted from natural mica with luxurious 3D effect in a range of stone sizes, from super-fine to tantalisingly textured. Visit: www.omexco.com 8 With a shortage of talent making work plentiful, flooring installation is increasingly attractive, and training at the Academy for Excellence in Flooring is a way to maximise income and build a successful career for life. Thanks to foundation courses for novices and the Master Installer scheme for warranted workmanship, the Academy is a great place to forge a career in flooring installation. Visit: www.quick-step-academy.co.uk 9 Moooi has introduced its third wallcovering collection: Momenti – six designs including Medley (pictured) in Dawn. Visit: www.moooi.com 10 Dine or daydream in Tribù’s new Senja armchair and deep-seat lounge chair, which complete the Senja family. Visit: www.tribu.com
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Interiors Monthly February 2022
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Four bar Hexham This variant to the established eight bar Hexham spindle aims to give a cleaner, more contemporary look yet remains also able to cross over into traditional. A winner with painters.
Hexham Eight bar Our highly popular eight bar back plain spindle back chair is where modern meets the best of Victorian simple. Equally at home in town or country dining settings. Available in beech or oak.
Hoop back
Windsor Hoop Carver
An enormously popular and stylish hoop back with elegant good looks and features, robust enough even for contract. This is a quality beech chair that fits many bills.
We have taken a classic Georgian style an adapted it for modern living. The ageless lines evoke their traditional background but also harness a more modern edge. Great as a stand-alone chair in its own right or a carver complement to our hoop or Hexham’s.
SERVICE
Richard Renouf
Special journeys Some visits live long in the memory
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Interiors Monthly February 2022
modern woodburning stove sitting directly on the flooring. The customer was at pains to ensure I understood how much cost and effort she had been put to, because the installer had insisted the stove had to be taken out so the flooring could run underneath it. As a result, the flooring could not move at all in the very place where there would be the most heat expansion, so damage to the joints was inevitable, and it would be widespread because of the additional fitting issues. I was with the customer for less time than the inconsiderate buyer had kept me waiting all those years before, but it was worth it to be able to identify the cause of the problems upsetting her. I
was careful not to disclose my thoughts while I was there, though: she was going to be very unhappy at the unnecessary costs the installer had caused. Later than planned, I headed across to my Glasgow hotel and then set off early the next morning towards Manchester. Half an hour in to the journey I stopped for my first coffee and checked my phone. A new inspection request had come in just 10 minutes before: would I go and see a customer near Perth? Too late on this trip – I would have to make a special journey after all. Visit: www.richard-renouf.com Richard Renouf is an independent furnishings consultant IMAGE: ACR STOVES
Many moons ago, as marketing manager for an up and coming company (that no longer exists), I had to drive for six and a half hours to visit a retailer on the North West coast to try and sell a new range of bedroom furniture. There’s a reason why I’ll never forget it: on being told I’d arrived, the retailer’s buyer kept me waiting and then sent out a message to say that something had come up and he wouldn’t be available to meet me after all. It would have been easier to take if there had been some other calls to do on the route, but all I could do was drive home and report to the office the following morning. My boss was ready to avenge the rudeness (probably only because he had to pay for the petrol) but realised this would probably not be good for business. These days mobile phones and instant messaging mean that no-shows are rare. They also mean that last-minute calls can occasionally be fitted in if they coincide with the day’s route. When a call comes in that is more than 300 miles away from home, and is on my way back from an even more distant call, it’s a real bonus. So having to divert from the Glasgow side of Scotland to fit in a call closer to Edinburgh was actually very satisfying as it meant I wouldn’t have to make a separate trip a couple of weeks later. I had the briefest of outlines about what was wrong: click-together LVT that was lifting on the shorter end joints. It was fitted over a chipboard subfloor, with the correct underlay. However, the installer had clearly not realised that LVT flooring expands and contracts with changes in temperature, and this natural movement has to be taken into account in the way the product is installed. I found no expansion gaps, heavy use of silicone sealant – and a fabulous
Keeping sources of direct heat away from LVT is advisable
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EXPERIENCES
Pirates take the stage Customers are failing to understand discounts and more fitters are selling directly, says our correspondent THE RETAILER Fludes Carpets
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Welcome to the new year – let’s hope this is goodbye to Covid. It’s still pantomime season in village halls up and down the land. Tales of Jack and the beanstalk, lost shoes and dodgy pirates hold the stage. Oh yes, they do! And we are still suffering with misplaced deliveries, and customers who ask us for discounts and promise to come back with the order. What they really mean is they will take the
earth-shattering period of trading. We are noticing an increasing number of customers bringing samples from Carpetright and Tapi to see what we call them and if we sell them. I find it amazing that people really believe that a 50% discount on a £30 per sqm carpet is a better deal than the same carpet at £15 without a discount. Even when they look at the carpet and it is patently the same carpet,
tickets. One advantage in price increases, though, is that it provides a lever to get customers to buy now and avoid a further price increase. I have read that inflation on floorcoverings is just below 10%. If we maintain that increase with our pricing regime – and if we achieve the same sale levels as last year – our turnover will also be up by about 10%. This quarter will show
quote into Carpetright and beat them down still further. As for price increases… like the magic beanstalk, they're reaching high in the sky. Well, at least we can look forward to a relaxation in the Covid rules, and an increase in customer flow. For carpet retailers, post-Christmas is always a bit of an unknown and depends on when the bank holidays fall. This time we opened for four days between Christmas and New Year and then came back on 4 January. We took quite a few enquiries and measures. We loaned out quite a few samples and took some smallish orders. In all it was time well spent and the first 10 days of 2022 were a solid but not
they will not be convinced that the carpets are the same. One of our biggest challenges at the moment seems to be the increase in competition from fitters selling directly to the customers – either through a number of pattern books they have on board or by asking the potential customer to select in store from an independent retailer. Either way, retailers are losing sales as the fitters purchase from wholesalers, or directly from some suppliers. Price increases! Hopefully things will settle down in the next month or so, and we can stop spending time changing the prices in our price book and printing out new
us if that works for us. In the past few weeks we have had time to get the stores looking good and the warehouses tidy and well organised, with cuts of carpets on shelves and not on the floor. The cardboard tubes are even being collected again. In the next few months, we might see some more consolidation among the manufacturers, with Likewise picking up Valley and moving southwards, along with Victoria Group adding part of Balta. It is all very interesting and hopefully will prove beneficial to independent carpet retailers in the longer run. Andy Laird, Fludes Carpets md
Interiors Monthly February 2022
17th & 18th May
2022
● ● ● ●
Over 60 exhibitors FREE parking FREE lunch Central location at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire
For a full list of exhibitors and to register please visit
www.springfurnitureshow.co.uk
SUSTAINABILITY
Materials fit into three categories
Do more
A design studio wants others to follow its lead Design studio WeWantMore has developed a sustainability-based classification system for its material sample library. The goal? To make it easier for interior designers and architects to select sustainable materials and partners for their projects. It firmly believes it is a designer’s responsibility to design and develop sustainably. At the same time, the Belgian design studio also realised it had failed to do so itself until recently. ‘During the 2020 Stockholm Design Week, we were invited by Emeco to join its zero-waste dinner. Gregg Buchbinder, the ceo of the recyclable furniture company, asked how WeWantMore applied sustainability in the design process and what our clients’ expectations were on that topic. I told him it was often a part of the briefing but it didn’t have a bearing on our design process. It wasn’t a decisive factor like the budget or the aesthetics of a material. That evening was eyeopening, because I realised not only that we couldn’t ignore it any longer, but also that, as designers, we are in a key position to have a significant impact when it comes to sustainability,’ says Ruud Belmans, WeWantMore co-founder. ‘A lot of material suppliers and furniture brands are already making great efforts when it comes to
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Interiors Monthly February 2022
sustainability. But unless a designer or studio selects that particular material or brand, there’s little they can do. Designers are in a key position. They are involved in the early stages of creation and production, so the potential impact of their choices is huge. Sustainability should be a decisive element in the design process. It should count for something in the decision-making process and the project in the same way that aesthetics and budget do. ‘In order to achieve this, we need to understand fully what sustainable development is all about. It’s complex because it’s not just about sustainable resources. Environmental, social and economic factors are important too. To understand every angle is part of the responsibility of a design studio. But for individual designers it might be too much. This was one of the reasons we developed the system. Because it’s the studio’s belief that designers should be able to make choices based on their strong aesthetic sense without having to spend all of their time researching and analysing how sustainable a material or supplier really is.’ The materials and brands are graded using a simple colour code – green, orange and red – to denote their environmental impact and their involvement in sustainability, making
it easier for designers to make a sustainable choice. WeWantMore’s colour-coded classification system is based on a comprehensive study and survey of two key components: the materials and the companies supplying them. Both were evaluated and awarded points according to their environmental impact and involvement in terms of sustainability. This resulted in two separate classifications. Afterwards, the two grading systems were weighed up to determine the place of a material on a green, orange or red coloured shelf in the studio’s sample library. The result is a simple colour code to highlight the environmental impact of the material and the sustainability involvement of the brand at hand. Yet WeWantMore doesn’t consider its work to be done. The studio is fully aware that it still has lots to learn and that both the study and the system are a constant work in progress. By sharing its method freely and openly, it hopes to encourage other studios and designers to implement it in their own sample libraries. In addition, the studio sees this as a way to kickstart a conversation about sustainability with designers, studios and experts across all disciplines. Visit: www.wewantmore.studio
New
To find out more speak to your Abingdon Sales representative
abingdonflooring.co.uk
Featured Image Indulgence Cappuccino
Indulgence
Photo: Jason Yates
DESIGN
Concur
Design first
The inaugural Ralph Saltzman Prize has been won by a furniture designer Furniture designer Mac Collins has won the inaugural Ralph Saltzman Prize, a new design award that celebrates emerging product designers. It includes a £5,000 bursary and the opportunity for the winner to exhibit their work at the Design Museum in London. The annual award is supported by the family of Ralph Saltzman, the founder of Designtex, in recognition of his design legacy. Nominations were
put forward by established designers, with a brief rationale on how the individual will make an impact on the profession. A review of the nominee’s skill, innovation and sustainable approaches also formed part of the criteria for the award. The judges – Justin McGuirk, Design Museum chief curator; Sumitra Upham, Crafts Council head of public programmes; Susan Lyons, Designtex
Mac Collins
Bowl for Vaarnii
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Interiors Monthly February 2022
president; Professor Jane Pavitt, Kingston University head of impact; Professor Daniel Charny, Kingston School of Art professor of design and Lisa Saltzman, Ralph Saltzman’s daughter – were impressed by the breadth of ability and creativity on display, though commented that Collins’ ‘deeply personal design’ made him a worthy winner of the prize. ‘He is breaking away from paradigms and introducing clean decisions,
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W W W . C O N D O R - G R O U P. E U
DESIGN
Iklwa for Benchmark
and there is something quite strong in his processes as a designer. The judges were almost surprised to find themselves awarding this prize to a furniture designer, given the scope of design today, but it was the way Collins channels an alternative cultural heritage through otherwise traditional objects that felt like it was pushing in a new direction,’ says McGuirk. From Nottingham, Collins is committed to designing and making narrative-rich pieces. Alongside his design practice, he lectures at both Nottingham Trent University and Northumbria University. The Design Museum is exhibiting together three chairs that have helped evolve and develop Collins’ design practice: the Iklwa chair for Benchmark, Concur chair and Jupiter chair. To support these pieces are some of his
Mid
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Interiors Monthly February 2022
smaller objects, as well as process material, drawings and models, and the tools used to create his designs. ‘It is an honour to receive the inaugural Ralph Saltzman Prize at the Design Museum. The bursary provides a degree of financial, and thus creative, freedom to communicate a current narrative through a new collection of works. This accolade also provides a physical platform to present work within an institution that carries considerable weight. Though I presented work at the Design Museum for Discovered in September, I am yet to show a solo retrospective of this nature, an opportunity for which I am humbled and grateful,’ says Collins. He was nominated by design studio Industrial Facility. Shortlisted designers were: Marion Pinaffo and Raphaël Pluvinage nominated by Doshi Levien;
Jupiter
Sky Lucy Young nominated by Michael Anastassiades; Alexandra Fruhstorfer nominated by Anab Jain, Superflux, and Francisco Norris nominated by Matt Jones. ‘I created the prize as a legacy to my father. He was an innovator and a pioneer who had a keen eye, great taste and he thought outside the box. The Ralph Saltzman Prize will be a way to give young designers an opportunity, an honorarium and a show. Mac is a worthy winner. In addition to the aesthetic quality, Mac brings personal narratives into his work and considers his practice as an exploration of his identity within the African Diaspora, and that is interesting,’ says Saltzman. Collins’ work will be featured in a free display open to the public until 2 April. Visit: www.designmuseum.org
Rudimentary stool in red oak
THE
BFM Fabric Show London 2022 DATES: Tuesday 8th March 9.30am - 6pm Wednesday 9th March 9am - 4pm Come and join us at our spacious NEW VENUE The ILEC Conference Centre near Earls Court. 47 Lillie Rd, London SW6 1UD. This is a hosted buyer event for professionals sourcing high quality contemporary fabrics for upholstery, beds, and soft furnishings. Over 40 UK and International prestigious fabric suppliers will: Showcase their latest collections, best sellers and exclusive options. Present the very latest fabric protection and cleaning treatments.
To secure your invite to this highly regarded event please register at
www.bfmfabricshow.uk
Brought to you by
www.bfm.org.uk
CARPET
Taking it easy
Linwood comes in 16 shades
Cormar Carpet Company has bolstered the ranks of its Easy-Clean offer Following the successful launches of the 80/20 wool twist Woodland Heather Twist and the contemporary stippled Primo Tweeds, Cormar Carpet Company has started 2022 with a new addition to its Easy-Clean collection: Linwood. Made with 100% Excellon, Linwood also comes with a 10-year stain and wear warranty. This soft yet durable range is manufactured on 1/10th gauge machinery to ensure a dense, luxurious finish and is available in 4m and 5m widths. Featured in an extensive palette of 16 modern shades, the collection is a mix of plains and heathers in a luxury twist pile. ‘We’ve had great success with our family of Easy-Clean carpets over the past few years, as homeowners increasingly look for durable, great value, low-maintenance carpets. With that in mind, we created Linwood to sit between our Primo Plus and Primo Ultra ranges,
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Interiors Monthly February 2022
offering homeowners more choice when looking for something that ticks all the boxes for a luxury, family-friendly carpet at an attractive, affordable price,’ says David Cormack, Cormar Carpet Company marketing director. As well as bringing a new bank of on-trend shades to Cormar’s Easy-Clean offer, Linwood will be displayed on Cormar’s new-look POS, featuring an eye-catching design and communicating the range’s key benefits to consumers. Cormar Carpet Company delivers across the UK and Republic of Ireland from its distribution sites in Hemel Hempstead and Bury, using its fleet of more than 70 vehicles to ensure a fast, reliable service. With an online trade portal and dedicated, experienced sales and customer service team, it offers retailers 24/7 access to ordering, delivery tracking and online account management, as well as servicing its
customer base through a team of over 30 sales representatives. Visit: www.cormarcarpets.co.uk
WIN
£2000 C ! + TO ASH + TROOLS PHY
national institute of carpet & floorlayers
HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE & skills to be
CARPET FITTER OF THE YEAR 2022? THE 2022 COMPETITION FORMAT IS AS FOLLOWS: 1). * You do NOT need to be an NICF member to enter this competition. Applicants must be aged 18 years or over on 30 April 2022. NICF Council members and previous Carpet Fitter of The Year winners are excluded from entering. 2).
Deadline for entry is 23:59 on Saturday 30 April 2022.
3).
Entrants are initially required to complete a questionnaire giving the most full and accurate answers possible. Entries will be evaluated by a panel of judges based on the answers provided and 10 fitters will be selected to progress to the Semi-Final practical trials.
4).
The Semi-Finals will be held on Monday 27 and Tuesday 28 June 2022 at the FITA Training Centre, Loughborough. Five fitters will progress to the Final.
5).
The five Finalists MUST be available to attend a briefing day in July 2022 which will be held online via Zoom.
6).
The Final is at The Flooring Show, Harrogate, on Sunday 18 and Monday 19 September 2022.
ENTER ONLINE @ www.nicfltd.org.uk/FOTY-Competition
The Final will be held at The Flooring Show, Harrogate in September 2022 Fitter of The Year Carpet 2022 Competition is kindly sponsored by
CARPET
Best of the best
2021’s merger has created a 55-strong collection
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Interiors Monthly February 2022
Concept Two 7217
CARPET
Xposive 1840
Xposive 1843
Object Carpet’s merger with its affiliated company Toucan-T in March 2021 created the foundation for a new joint collection. The result of this collaboration is a range of the 55 best designs in fresh, new colours: The Collection. Powered by their combined innovative strengths, the unified team is launching into 2022 on a definite green mission. The goal is to expand internationally, while building on proven quality and consistently environmental principles. Object Carpet prioritises sustainability, circular production processes and a high proportion of recycled materials: well over 70% of the company’s products are now composed of ECONYL yarn, made from waste plastic and recovered fishing nets. Highlights include styles such as Cryptive, Cosmic and Struttura, which use interesting surface textures to generate distinctive, striking effects in interior spaces. The popular styles Poodle, Highloop, Maxime and Silky Seal have all been given a refreshing update
Newcon 1853
Cryptive 1893
too. There are six new expressive nuances for Highloop, for example, extending the colour palette to create fresh interiors full of individuality and character. Styles in the collection are available as broadloom carpet, acoustic tiles and as RUGX individually custom-cut carpeting.
Gloss 7911
The Collection makes a powerful statement about the advantages of concentrated skills in design and innovation: the company is starting its 50th year with a clear and exciting vision for the future. Visit: www.object-carpet.com
Loft 6573
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FURNITURE
The new outdoor Cannes
More for less
At a time of rapidly rising prices, one supplier has significantly cut them At a time when furniture inflation is at 12.5%, Gallery Direct has reduced prices on about 2,000 products: a third of its offer. And not just by a little: by an average of 17%. This, says Peter Delaney, Gallery Direct md has been achieved by increased volumes and efficiency improvements. ‘We had a positive direction of travel in the past few years and this continued in 2021. We had already turned the business online pre-Covid, with packaging and delivery. We invested in staff – there are now more than 200 in the UK – and brought in experts and increased warehousing. We invested in stock, which paid off particularly strongly. Retailers were asking: “Do you have stock? Is it in the UK?” Yes, we’re a UK business,’ he says. With 355,000sqft of warehousing it has more than 750,000 products ready
Packed-Flat Barbican
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Interiors Monthly February 2022
for delivery using its own delivery fleet, either to the retailer or DHD. ‘Business increased by 40% in 2021. There are still things we can improve: it’s about being a service to our customers. The emphasis is to make it as easy as possible for them. We are well into the journey, but it is still a journey.’ A significant stage was to be the unveiling of the SS 2022 collection and three look books at January Furniture Show. This will now happen at Spring Fair this month, and will include the launch of the company’s first outdoor furniture collection, developed in less than a year. There are 28 ranges in a variety of styles and materials, plus a full complement of lighting, textiles, accessories, side tables, mirrors and parasols. Furniture remains Gallery Direct’s largest category and within that made to order is
the major sector. ‘Having Westbury has allowed us to respond to trends, and UK manufacturing allows quick delivery times and avoids shipping costs,’ says Delaney. For 2022, there are 19 upholstery designs including three new models, the majority in a choice of 75 fabrics. The same fabrics are available on the six made-to-order dining chairs, six bedsteads, seven divans and ottomans and 12 headboards, which means stores only need one swatch. And for greater ease, all are the same price. This year also sees Gallery Direct’s second Design Project: following on from Sofa in a Box, Packed-Flat is a collection of flat-pack living and dining furniture described as ‘inspired designs without the price tag.’ And as with all its products, it comes with a full range of accessories. Visit: www.gallerydirect.co.uk
Made to order Hempstead
S P RI NG S UMME R COL L E CTI ONS
N E W F O R 2022 GE T A F I R S T L OO K AT
After the success of our first Design Project (Sofa in A Box), we are proud to
announce
our
second
collection,
‘PACKED-FLAT’ - Design and quality
S TA ND 7 A 3 0 -B 3 1 6 - 9 F EB
without the price tag. Easy to build and easy to place, our ‘PACKED-FLAT’ collection is a commercial,
S TA ND 2 -E 4 0 2 4- 27 A P R
modern
and
solution
to
self-assembly
design-led flat-packed, furniture.
View our full collection online at www.gallerydirect.co.uk
UPHOLSTERY
New age
Siegfried
himolla has revealed its new UK collection ‘Exciting colour combinations, sensual fabric, fine leather, lavish flower arrangements and large illuminated pictures transporting visitors to a lush and chic vision of a tasteful home future,’ is how Tamara Härty, himolla design, product and marketing manager describes himolla’s presentation at last month’s INDX Furniture, which saw the 2022 collection introduced. ‘I need to point out this is not a bland collection, which once it is developed is shown everywhere. No, this is uniquely designed, accentuated and composed for UK customers. Special colours, a lot of new models with all the bits and bobs and new features have been made available. Some are first of a kind. Like
Azure
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Interiors Monthly February 2022
a tsunami of splendour,’ she says. ‘The new lift and rise feature integrated in the petit sofa Siegfried is astounding. Hidden within and not visible in comfort position, it in no way compromises its personality as a smaller, very elegant sofa. The new model Cumuly Cleo has powered, height-adjustable headrests and accentuated wooden feet. ‘Programme Arya provides numerous individual combinations of base frames and a size grid of 10 cm. A new heavyduty recliner is now available with new massage functions, a 160kg load-bearing capacity, extra width, more comfort and a portable battery. Fresh and bold colours – sky blue, blackberry and hunter green – have been issued as well. Last,
Cleo
but not least, small upholstered elements or “icons” have been introduced as well. ‘Every sofa, every recliner, every programme comes with dedicated POS elements uniquely composed for the UK. ‘The new himolla is respectful of its past but is not harnessed by it. This is a new collection for a new age, specially tailored for the UK. Its unique personality is accentuated by distinctive design, well thought-out and proven features and maximum individuality for customers, making the collection highly desirable and seriously comfortable – visually compelling sofas and recliners that wear their design and engineering integrity with uncompromised commitment.’ Visit: www.himolla.com/uk
Crofter Loop B E A U T I F U L LY
CRAFTED Colour shown: Peat
Inspired by our much loved Crofter cut pile Berber, we are delighted to announce the addition of our new Crofter Loop range. Crafted in the UK using premium 100% Wool, 3 ply mothproofed yarn, and complemented by our traditional sustainable jute backing, this timeless classic is available in the same 9 natural tones as its sister cut pile range. Available in guaranteed 4m and 5m widths, this beautiful carpet combines effortless style with practicality. Penthouse quality – naturally.
For samples and further information please call 01706 639 866 or visit penthousecarpets.co.uk
UPHOLSTERY
And relax
Jalis now has a reclining chair
Jalis has been extended Jehs+Laub has added to the Jalis collection for COR with the introduction of the lounge easy chair, a modern variation of a recliner. The folded seat cushion shape has served the Stuttgart designers as a source of inspiration for the collection since 2010. Relaxed communication on floating cushions is their motto. Now the sofa and chair family has been extended
The release button is concealed
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Interiors Monthly February 2022
to include a lounge easy chair. With visually accentuated contours and firm upholstery, it is both elegant and cosy. ‘We always follow an idea and are faithful to it for a long time, developing it further. For us, the product has to tell a story,’ say Markus Jehs and Jürgen Laub. In the version with the swivel plate base, it has an invisibly integrated tilt mechanism that gently tips the seat
shell backwards. The release button is concealed in the armrest and revealed by just one visual cue: a small tone-ontone embroidered circle. A further embroidered detail strikingly emphasises the V-shape of the back upholstery, while the headrest can be tilted by 20deg. Jehs+Laub has also created a fixed wire frame version. Visit: www.cor.de
Embroidered detail emphasises the V-shape
For a greener footprint With a commitment to zero waste, all Ball & Young PU underlays are manufactured from re-purposed trim which can again be recycled at the end of their usable life. The company you can trust with over 25 years of sustainability and innovation. It’s in our DNA.
Scan the QR code to see our sustainability story.
01536 200502 / bysales@ballandyoung.com / www.underlay.com
BEDS AND BEDROOM
In it together
Alison Hammond visited the Kent factory
Sleepeezee is featuring in a NatWest/ITV initiative Sleepeezee is featuring in NatWest and ITV’s Backing Business initiative. The collaboration between the bank and TV network champions small businesses, focusing on the hardships they have faced and how the two organisations can help to overcome these challenges. The latest mini-documentary in the series sees NatWest business customer Sleepeezee in action at its factory in Rochester, Kent. The short video features reality TV star, actress and author Alison Hammond as an ‘intern’ for a day. She takes part in the mattress-making process,
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Interiors Monthly February 2022
meets the factory team and discusses Sleepeezee’s family culture with Steve Warren, Sleepeezee md. ‘What I love about it here is the people,’ says Hammond. ‘Well, it’s the workforce that makes Sleepeezee, and even though we’ve been through some tough times in the past couple of years, we’ve managed to keep everybody together,’ says Warren. As part of the Backing Business campaign, ITV offers matched funding for eligible businesses towards advertising for campaigns, and additional creative support if required. NatWest offers an array of support to ‘make it easy to do business’. From helping businesses manage their money better through banking tools such as its mobile app and accounting software, to connecting business owners with experts and specialists such as relationship managers and business coaches, the Backing Business initiative is a support network for small businesses. In light of the pandemic, Sleepeezee has received significant support from NatWest that has allowed it to continue its development in bed manufacturing in the UK.
‘The support from NatWest keeps Sleepeezee at the forefront of technology in the factory and helps drive investment towards becoming a much more sustainable company. We are always looking for more new ways to expand our sustainability efforts, alongside our recent instalment of 665 energy-saving solar panels at our factory, which contribute more than 46,000kg to our CO2 reduction per year,’ says Amy Curtis, Sleepeezee head of marketing. NatWest provided the company with a Government-backed Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan of £2m to support it through the pandemic, ultimately guaranteeing that Sleepeezee could make it through the crisis and keep its employees together. In addition, NatWest provided financial support for three key sets of machinery to improve Sleepeezee’s environmental credentials and factory efficiency, including solar panels, tape edgers and a quilt machine. Sleepeezee has NatWest’s continued support with access to diverse services such as mentoring and the bank’s introduction to other key services such as insurance groups. Visit: www.sleepeezee.com
BEDS AND BEDROOM
The dark side
Dunkeld
Darker finishes have grown in popularity for one supplier The past 12 months have seen a considerable increase in sales of darker finishes for Core Products. Two ranges that capture the essence of darker finishes are Boston and Dunkeld, both from Core’s Highland Home collection of traditionally styled flatpack furniture. Boston has been a popular product within the Core Products portfolio for almost a decade and has seen annual growth over the years. Made from a combination of softwood, hardwood and ash veneered inset panelling, the range is finished using a deep wood stain and several layers of semi-sheen lacquer, creating a surface finish that is both hard-wearing and easy to clean. Real metal handles complete the look. Dunkeld is a new addition to Core’s portfolio but in just a matter of months is already achieving good sales. Based on the Boston design but in a midnight blue semi-matt paint finish, with contrasting tops made from solid hardwood frames with ash veneer inserts, it is finished with a warm antique wax. To complete the look, brushed steel effect cup handles
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Interiors Monthly February 2022
are used on the cabinet pieces. An extensive selection of bedsides, chests, dressing table, wardrobe and bookcases is available to choose from. The Highland Home collection captures the look and feel of traditional cabinet-built construction methods, in simple, easy-to-assemble flat-packed kits. Each piece is far easier and smaller
Boston
to transport, meaning quicker deliveries and cost savings against equivalent assembled products. Delivery to store is free on orders over £500, with the option of delivery direct to the customer’s home, with costs based on the weight, not the size of the product. Visit: www.coreproducts.co.uk
image: tommaso sartori
OUTDOOR
Sun in style
Borea
Borea is a sun lounger with a difference A delicate balance of oval shapes defines the essence of B&B Italia’s Borea sunbed lounge, a small yet surprising series of outdoor lounge sunbeds with character that are impossible to forget. The Borea sunbed lounge is available in two versions: chaise lounge and sofa, both featuring a large section of reclinable back. The chaise lounge has
an elongated, welcoming form just right for one or two people lying or reclining. By lowering the back, it becomes an island with multiple uses, where you can sit as you wish. The same is true of the sofa, with construction and structural features that are perfect for the pool, the lawn, or even the terrace. The supporting frame of the Borea
sunbed lounge is made of curved aluminium tubes, available in white, tortora and clay colours, supporting a base of fixed slats in aluminium sheet. The 6cm thick upholstered mattress guarantees comfort and is covered in line with the entire range of B&B Italia outdoor textiles. Visit: www.bebitalia.com
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OUTDOOR
Reef living
Dedon developed a new fibre for Paros
Inspired by Mediterranean architecture, Paros is design to last for decades The new Paros by Jean-Marie Massaud is classic Dedon design with a contemporary twist. The generous proportions, grounded presence and comfort of this woven modular lounge system harken back to the roots of the brand. But the low horizontal volumes, signature feet and specially developed, strikingly natural new strand of Dedon Fibre put Paros in a class of its own. Rustic yet refined, timeless yet modern, this is the kind of outdoor collection that becomes a part of the landscape, welcoming friends and family for generations to come. For the design of Paros Massaud drew inspiration from the vernacular architecture of the Mediterranean, from Greece to Spain, Italy to North Africa. Essential, consistent and charming, it is a style that has endured for centuries and will do so, Massaud believes, for
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Interiors Monthly February 2022
Paros offers modular flexibility
OUTDOOR
The design is finished in the Silt colourway
centuries to come. According to the designer, Paros embodies this same ‘quest for the essential’ while reflecting ‘the art of living with the sun’. Paros is characterised by simple, comfortable compositions and lowlying forms that seem to float above the ground, ensuring clean, uncluttered views. With its large stainless steel circular feet, the collection can be set on the grass or ground as well as on a terrace or deck. Strong, versatile and weather
Paros has stainless steel feet
resistant, Paros is also easy to maintain. For Paros, Massaud worked closely with Dedon’s fibre specialists to develop a new strand of organic, natural and tactile fibre, almost like a vine. Woven in this new fibre, the collection’s extra-wide armrests and backrests can be sat on in comfort. The design is finished in Silt, a warm, matte brown colourway that lends even greater depth while melding easily with organic elements. ‘Paros is not just a sofa but a reef to live on and around,’ says Massaud. ‘Its warm, welcoming look gives an inviting feeling for chilling or partying. We had a lot pleasure exchanging ideas with the Dedon team to develop a lounge collection that can be loved and enjoyed for a long time to come. That’s our understanding of sustainability.’ ‘Paros is an iconic expression of Dedon’s quest to offer people places to enjoy life under the open skies. As a fully woven modular lounge system, Paros is deeply rooted in the Dedon DNA, offering a fresh take on the idea of the outdoor living room, which Dedon pioneered more than 30 years ago.
The natural-looking fibre that Dedon specially developed for this collection only adds to its appeal, grounding it in the landscape, where it becomes a part of memories that last a lifetime,’ says Chloé Sos, Dedon creative director. Paros is available as two and threeseater sofas, left and right modules and left and right corner modules. Visit: www.dedon.de
The sofa sits close to the ground
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RUGS
Irregular rules Antoniolupi has deepened its relationship with Gumdesign Volumi is the new range of rugs designed by Gumdesign for Antoniolupi: a collection with irregular shapes that plays with perception. ‘Volumi is the new collection that extends the range of the Tramato carpets that trace everyday living. Vertical, horizontal and oblique lines intertwine with coloured backgrounds and generate unexpected spaces and perspectives, geometries that chase each other in a contrast between white, black and the Antoniolupi colour palette,’ says Gumdesign. Best known for its bathroom products, this is Antoniolupi’s third rug collection. Volumi takes up the timeless black and white palette, while introducing an extra touch of colour: terracotta red. A warm brushstroke of colour that helps to animate the two-dimensional surface
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Interiors Monthly February 2022
The collection has 25 designs
RUGS
of the carpet. A disruptive and unexpected detail that transforms the rug into a sort of abstract painting. It's not just colour, though. The rugs come to life from the encounter between lines and geometric backgrounds: inclined lines that define new perspectives, geometric backgrounds that convey a sensation of movement
and depth. A balance of full and empty, of light and dark, of thin parallel or perpendicular lines that outline welldefined areas of different dimensions. Optical effects that give dimensionality to the surface, creating ‘volumes’ that are decorative without taking up space. The classic rectangular, square and round formats leave room for
asymmetrical and deconstructed compositions. A contemporary interior trend that Gumdesign has interpreted in a new and original way. The result is 25 rugs with unusual shapes that can adapt to very different environments and styles: from the bathroom to the living room, from the entrance to the bedroom. Visit: www.antoniolupi.it
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RUGS
On board
Being trapped at sea inspired Deirdre Dyson’s 2022 collection ‘During one of the lockdowns I found myself marooned on a boat for nearly three months, as we couldn’t get ashore without isolating,’ says Deirdre Dyson. So, like great artists before her – Turner, Monet and Katsushika Hokusai – her muse became the endless sea surrounding her. It’s this extraordinary experience that serves as the basis for the All At Sea collection. What began as a sailing holiday around the Guadeloupe islands was taken off course by changes in lockdown restrictions. Dyson decided to extend her time offshore rather than dock and have to quarantine. This surreal period became a life raft while the Covid-19 pandemic took hold of the world. ‘Being on the sea can be both peaceful
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Interiors Monthly February 2022
Shallows (on floor) and Aquarelle
Sea Shell
RUGS
Sunset
Starfish
Splash
Golden Glints
Sunlit (top) and Sun Shaft
and threatening. The sheer moving volume is hard to comprehend, as is the hidden life below,’ says the artist. The previous year, Dyson had explored the Greek Polyaigos islands by boat and been transfixed by the movement of water – the way it transforms and reflects in sunlight, especially close to the cliffs, which ‘changed the colour of the sea in various lights’. In response, she began documenting everything on her iPad as material for future designs. Using the time afloat in lockdown productively, she contrasted photographs from her Greece trip with what she saw
Sun Shaft
in the Caribbean. ‘The sea became my inspiration and the collection gave me something to think about and work on. ‘To translate the pictures into designs, I expanded them to get close to the waves and then abstracted areas worth working on. It was an easy task as I’ve always been fascinated by the light patterns the sun makes in shallow water.’ The nine designs include Aquarelle, which incorporates a rainbow of all the colours of the ocean with 21 different shades, and Golden Glints and Sunlit, which interplay wool and silk to illustrate the reflections of the colours of the cliffs.
Shallows concentrates on the flow of water; Sun Shaft depicts the light pouring through a tunnel. The unusually shaped Sea Shell, based on concentric repetitions of the design, demonstrates that rugs don’t have to be regular in form, while Starfish is taken from a photograph of a blue starfish in shallow waters. The collection has a medley of blues, ranging from navy, indigo, cobalt, aqua, turquoise and sea green through to smoke and baby blue. White silk is used sparingly in some designs to recreate the flickering reflections of the sun. Visit: www.deirdredyson.com
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January Furniture Show, 24-27 April, NEC
PREVIEW
48
New scope Rescheduling has presented JFS with extra opportunities At the end of December 2021, January Furniture Show organiser Clarion Events announced that the pandemic meant the exhibition would be rescheduled to 24-27 April. ‘The response from the industry for the April dateline has been fantastic. Major brands in the UK, Europe and Far East have confirmed their attendance and visitor registration is ahead of the 2020 event. We’ve had an influx of brands register their interest now the dateline is in April and visitors stating they are now able to attend the April dateline,’ says Zoë Bonser, Clarion Events portfolio director retail. ‘The safety and well-being of the community and everyone involved with the January Furniture Show is paramount and this will always be put first. We wanted to give our exhibitors, visitors and partners the best possible chance of success as well as give the industry the time it needs to prepare for an event like JFS. With this in mind we felt it was the best option to postpone to a later dateline where the industry could feel confident, safe and secure. ‘We felt the UK would be in a better position with regards to the evolving pandemic and, through consultation with the market, we know April is still a good time to run the UK’s leading furniture event safely and successfully. Plus, we have managed to secure the same footprint with the venue. ‘We know we’ll attract more European buyers and European brands to the April event. The show features a new talks programme and the VIP offering will be the best yet for our visitors. The April timing will really benefit the brands’ order books and give buyers that much-needed opportunity to touch and feel product as well as meet the whole industry, in person. ‘With the cancellation of imm Cologne and the relaxation of travel restrictions we have already seen increased registrations from European buyers. As the exhibition now falls outside the Chinese New Year we’ve seen a number of enquiries from Chinese brands, as well as enquiries from new European
Interiors Monthly February 2022
brands wanting to showcase to the UK market. This is an exciting opportunity and we look forward to welcoming a wide range of exhibitors. ‘January Furniture Show 2022 will see the launch of a new seminar programme: Furniture Talks, which will give attendees access to the latest trend insights as well as to the industry’s leading experts, who will be on hand to share their advice through keynote presentations, masterclasses and panel discussions. ‘We will also be announcing and showcasing the winners of the Furniture Awards and buyers will benefit from seeing the winning brands and products at the show. Emerging designers from the Young Furniture Makers awards will also be showcasing their inspirational designs. We can’t wait for the industry to get involved in all the new activations that will take place in April,’ she says. ‘We always look forward to coming to the January Furniture Show. It’s a great chance to meet the owners and representatives of the companies we deal with and it’s a great place to meet new businesses and see new products. I believe Clarion is doing the right thing with the Covid measures it is implementing and look forward to the new date in April,’ says Steve Walker, owner of Homescape Flooring and Furniture, Ashwellthorpe, Norfolk. ‘I look forward to showcasing our new
Zoë Bonser
ranges at the January Furniture Show in April. It remains the most important event in our events calendar. We look forward to meeting and completing business with new and existing buyers in April,’ says Ian Kettle, Kettle Interiors md. ‘Working closely with Clarion has enabled us to develop an active exhibition programme throughout the year. This has helped us engage with existing and new retailers to grow our business as we emerge from the pandemic. It has been both flexible and supportive over the past 18 months with the disruption that occurred and it remains the backbone of our annual exhibition programme,’ says Adam Morley, La-Z-Boy UK head of marketing. Visit: www.januaryfurnitureshow.com
January Furniture Show will return to the NEC for the first time since 2020
NEC, Birmingham
24-27 April 2022 100s of Industry Leading Brands, 1000s of Product Launches…
Register now for the UKs largest and most important furniture and interiors event
januaryfurnitureshow.com
BFM Fabric Show London, 8-9 March, London
PREVIEW
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On the move
The show has a new home and more exhibitors The BFM Fabric Show London offers an unrivalled exhibition experience for buying professionals to source high quality, contemporary fabrics for upholstery, bed and soft furnishings. The BFM has moved the event from Chelsea FC’s Stamford Bridge stadium to the ILEC Conference Centre, near Earls Court, to offer increased capacity and space, as well as greater opportunities for more fabric suppliers to showcase their latest products. Running from 8-9 March, the show will offer a vibrant space for more than 40 prestigious UK and international
Interiors Monthly February 2022
fabric suppliers to showcase their latest collections, bestsellers and exclusive options – featuring world-renowned fabric manufacturers and suppliers from Belgium, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Turkey, Germany and the UK. Fabrics on show include wools, tweeds, velvets, cottons, linens, chenilles, silks, leathers, faux leathers, backing fabrics and FR treatments. The latest fabric protection and cleaning treatments will also be presented, to give industry professionals an insight into innovations in this important area.
‘The BFM Fabric Show offers an unrivalled opportunity to see high-end fabrics from some of the best mills, weavers and suppliers in Europe,’ says Sean Holt, BFM md. ‘We are delighted to be attracting an international audience, and to be able to offer certainty with the date.’ At Stamford Bridge, dates could not be finalised until the club’s fixtures were confirmed. ‘With the industry pushing for an opportunity to network and move business forward, we took the decision to press on with plans to invigorate the event, after the challenges of the past two years due to Covid. ‘The BFM Fabric Show London has previously operated at capacity, so the extra space the ILEC Conference Centre offers has enabled us to include more exhibitors this year, so we can expand the scope of products on display and make the show even more compelling for buyers to visit.’ Pre-booking will be a requirement of attendance. Visitors will be given a lengthy time slot in order to allow ample time to visit as many suppliers as they wish, while some suppliers may operate their own time slot system within the event. Visit: www.bfmfabricshow.uk
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REVIEW
Cologne calling
More’s CUT is available as a dining, coffee or side table. On the coffee table the top and legs taper from 3cm to 1cm.
Here are some of the highlights of what you would have seen at imm cologne if the pandemic had not seen it cancelled again. Visit: www.imm-cologne.com
The maximum resides in the minimum could be the maxim for COR’s Noto. The minimum is immediately apparent: strictly rectangular surfaces, completely upholstered in fabric or leather, dead-straight outer seams – that’s it. The maximum can be sensed on the softly sprung seat and in the gently swaying, almost free-floating S-line back. Designer Pauline Deltour died unexpectedly in September, aged 38, shortly after finishing the Noto collection.
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Thonet has relaunched Günter Eberle’s S661 from 1954
REVIEW
Draenert’s Dexter has been expanded with a die-cast aluminium rotatable cross-based version, with optional return mechanism
Bruhl’s modular Bongo Bay sofa, armchair and corner suites are offered with standard height backrest or as a high-back version with adjustable backrests. A compact sofa and armchair complement the range.
ferm LIVING’s Desert sofa, available in one, two and three-seater versions, has UV and water-resistant cushions, while the Level coffee table is made from one steel tube
ClassiCon’s Corker seats by Herzog & de Meuron, first seen at the 2012 London Serpentine Gallery Pavilion, come in three sizes and are made from Portuguese cork
Walter Knoll’s Joco Nest, designed by EOOS, gently receives newspapers, magazines, blankets and favourite personal items on a bed of supple, soft dark brown or black leather. The frame is available with a matching finish in matt powder-coated bronze or black.
www.interiorsmonthly.co.uk
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image: peter fehrentz
REVIEW
The shiny metallic surface of Kymo’s Melting Lines is regularly interrupted by fine lines that create an almost technical pattern. And yet they look as if they have been artistically engraved. If you look at the surface from the other side, the lines merge almost magically with the background and are barely perceptible.
Midgard introduced a white option to its Ayno Silk lighting collection
Gallotti & Radice’s Lilas is available in fixed or 180deg swivel movement with return action versions
Janua introduced a new smoked oak raw finish for its Monolith limited edition tables: only a handful are made each year Emu’s Lyze chairs now have the option of teak seats
Fermob’s rectangular and cylindrical ITAC vases bring the outside in and are available in four colours
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Interiors Monthly February 2022
J OI N T H E I N V I CT U S F LOO R I N G T E AM COMMERCIAL BUSINESS / SPECIFICATION MANAGER SOUTHEAST (Inc. LONDON) This is an exciting time to join our company, as Associated Weavers is building on its success with INVICTUS Luxury Vinyl Flooring in the Commercial Sector.
We are looking for a motivated and committed Commercial Business / Specifications Manager to join a new team, to enable our company to drive forward in the fast-growing Commercial Flooring market. The ideal applicant has experience and an understanding of the commercial sector. Ideally, you are living on the territory, as you will be required to visit existing commercial customers, as well as sourcing new customers along with generating business through End Users and Architects & Designers... and of course, building the brand. Interested applicants should send their CV and covering letter to commercial@associatedweavers.co.uk
A UK brand since 1964
www.invictus.co.uk
© Inga Powilleit
REVIEW
Gathering together
Arco’s Dew
The permanent Design Post showroom in Cologne welcomed new exhibitors last month While its larger neighbour imm cologne was cancelled, the nearby permanent Design Post showroom welcomed Cascando, Kalon and Prostoria as new exhibitors, swelling numbers to 36.
Arco’s Dew table marked a departure for designer Sabine Marcelis, working in wood for the first time. ‘The curved edges invite interaction. People want to feel the wood’s softness and warmth,’ she says.
Prostoria’s Cloud is a modular sofa with a relatively low backrest and elevated armrest to emphasise its volume. Zeitraum introduced Bold versions of some of its bed designs, with higher
Prostoria’s Cloud
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Interiors Monthly February 2022
We are hiring Area Sales Manager Location: Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Buckinghamshire, Suffolk & Norfolk area, so therefore an individual based in/or around these areas would be essential. Salary: Very competitive salary & commission Fully expensed company car & iPhone/iPad Contracted hours: Full time For more information, please contact Dave Francis on 07841 048413
Univ rsal
Area Sales Manager - South Coast/South West Due to pending retirement, we are looking for an enthusiastic, results driven individual to strengthen our UK sales force. Victoria Carpets & Design Floors house an extensive portfolio of both carpet and hard flooring (LVT) solutions. The ideal candidate must be able to demonstrate: • The ability to build and maintain strong customer service relationships • Be self-motivated • The ability to multi-task, manage time effectively and produce IT based data on time, every time. • Display a ‘can do’ attitude • Residential based customer facing sales experience Benefits of the role include a competitive basic salary, uncapped bonus, company car, phone, tablet and expenses. Applicants should send a CV and a covering letter to Mark Paice at mark.paice@myvictoria.co.uk
RECRUITMENT If you are looking to recruit staff for your furniture or flooring stores, looking for sales staff or reps for your manufacturing outlet, then INTERIORS MONTHLY offers a great package! Our online package is just £175. Your advert will appear in our jobs section on the website until the position is filled or you ask us to remove. Our weekly newsletter, which is mailed every Thursday to 7000 industry professionals, also includes a list of these latest jobs. If you have both online and quarter page recruitment advert in our magazine, the cost will only be £250! Costs for larger recruitment adverts are available upon request.
Please contact Jarrod on E: jbird@interiorsmonthly.co.uk T: 01565 631 397
REVIEW Zeitraum’s In Heaven
frames allowing for deeper mattresses or motorised slatted frames. In Heaven, for example has a frame 17cm taller. Comprising sofa, lounge armchair, coffee table and pouf with structure in pickled teak, Ethimo’s Rotin is inspired by Asian tradition, which sees bamboo as the main element for outdoor furnishings, with techniques more familiar to rattan furniture production. A distinctive arc silhouette defines the
Ethimo’s Rotin
upholstery of the Bensen’s latest version of Circa Lounge, this time with arms. The flowing organic shape envelops the body and provides comfort within a small footprint. In a deviation from her generally more ‘loosely’ upholstered furniture, Paola Navone has gone bold with Bold for Linteloo. The slight backward tilt in the armrest and the inward tapering back of this modular seating series are
reminiscent of Art Deco club chairs, but this traditional vernacular is brought up to date by the soft, round outline. Arper showcased its update to 2006’s Aston, the Aston Club Low Back, inviting the user to repose, rest and shelter in any environment: a space of one’s own. Muuto’s Fiber chair has a greener version, using at least 80% recycled plastic alongside wood fibres. Visit: www.designpost.de
Bensen’s Circa Lounge
image: salva lopez
Giorgetti showed at its city centre showroom, including the modular Vesper sofa, by Roberto Lazzeroni
Linteloo’s Bold
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Interiors Monthly February 2022
Arper’s Aston Club Low Back
Muuto’s Fiber
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