DE S IGN CENTRE
D
esign studios typically work behind closed doors, yet each season, common threads inevitably emerge to define the zeitgeist. Whether it’s
a particular palette, a new silhouette, a nod to history or a shared inspiration from art or travel, the Design Centre captures these shifts by curating the latest collections into cohesive themes. As an authoritative voice with an ear to the ground, the creative team looks at more than 600 brands, sharing the results to keep the design community, and the media, connected and competitive. More than fleeting fads, these design directions often mirror broader
cultural shifts, bringing
attention to forward-thinking materials and evolving human needs that will bring new vitality to interiors, both at home and in commercial spaces. “Design directions aren’t about following the crowd; for the design industry they are an important visual pulse,” says Arabella McNie, the Design Centre’s creative director. “They represent how we are choosing to live, feel and interact with our surroundings.” According to legendary American decorator
Sister Parish, “innovation is often the ability to reach into the past and bring back what is good, what is beautiful, what is useful, what is lasting.” Inspired by the sun-drenched atmosphere of a beloved fishing
village in southern France, ‘Collioure’ transports us back in time to the ‘city of
painters’ that once captivated Matisse and Picasso. This direction celebrates artistic expression through the warmth of Mediterranean light, blending turquoise, blues and coral with washed whites that mimic a painter’s brushstrokes. Painterly prints include Harlequin’s ‘Pintura’, and ‘Machino’, an outdoor jacquard from Casamance. Highlighting his signature look of effortless cosmopolitan chic, Paolo Moschino Ltd offers a ‘Verdura’ armchair and ‘Taormina’ table. The rattan ensemble is enhanced by Heathfield & Co’s ‘Luna’ table lamp and Osborne & Little’s ‘Bistro’ fabric, which together create a relaxed, sophisticated café vibe. The sculptural vanity mirror by Belgian designer Bieke Castelyn (available at Tollgard) has an artistic beat. There is something joyful and triumphant about
‘Play’. With freedom and fearlessness, spontaneity and wit, this direction embodies a collective need to have fun. Think colour clashes and the unconventional use of them – it’s all about design with a wink. There are gently undulating geometric patterns like Etamine’s ‘Outremer’ or ‘Futurista’ and ‘Giardino’ fabrics by Nobilis, alongside the rhythm and fluidity of the ‘Bebelle’ embroidery by Isabelle de Borchgrave for Pierre Frey and ‘Pamir’ silk wallcoverings by Elitis. Adding zest are Vero Fabrics’ ‘Miami’ fabric in citrus (available at George Spencer Designs) and two ‘Monochrome’ vases in overlay glass from Alexander Lamont +
Miles. This direction reminds us to keep things light-hearted. ‘Santa Fe’ is a design story inspired by the desert’s raw beauty and the artistic
legacy of Georgia
O’Keeffe. This direction evokes sun-bleached landscapes, earth pigments and organic shapes. Materials come to the fore with pieces that look shaped by the elements themselves. This look is calmer and quieter, with plenty of warmth and interest added through texture and patina. Taking centre stage is the ‘Net’ accent chair by Turri with its woven leather seat, draped in ‘Brent’ velvet by Kirkby Design (available at Romo) and Stark Carpet’s ‘Marciela’ rug underfoot. An emphasis on craft that does not shout too loudly includes the ‘Serpentine’ vase by Lalique (available at Source at Personal Shopping), the marquetry and lacquer ‘Kingly’ sideboard from Julian Chichester, Samuel Heath’s ‘Octelle’ shower mixer and a marine vase in hand-cast bronze from Eccotrading Design London. This is desert dreaming with a modernist edge. Time and time again, the design studios at the
Design Centre prove that there is always a new way to look at interiors, feeding our imagination for the future. Homes are no longer conceived as pared- back spaces, but as places that feel deeply personal. If this is the case, then take these design directions as a starting point, for as decorator Billy Baldwin succinctly put
it, “be faithful to your own taste, because nothing you really like is ever out of style.” CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: ‘Carousel Stripe’ fabric, (CAR/38 pink/sage), Lisa Fine Textiles at Tissus d’Hélène; ‘Mysore’ wallcovering (W8121-03), ivory/multi, Osborne & Little;
‘Tiberio’ mirror, Porta Romana; ‘Roya’ fabric (M4201 07), paprika, Manuel Canovas at Colefax and Fowler; ‘Nira’ fabric (V3652 04), plume, Villa Nova at Romo; ‘Calypso’ bobble fringe (33218 9100), Houlès; ‘Eton’ fabric (RSC-2211-01), Ramm, Son & Crocker at Turnell & Gigon; ‘Turkish Moon’, Cobogó Gallery; ‘Ripple’ fabric (30752/07), acqua, Rubelli; ‘Yumi’ sofa,
Philippe Hurel; ‘H01’ lever handle on rose, Bankston at The Specified; ‘Fragrantia’ fabric (KS245 45), spritz, Casal at Houlès; ’Salt and Pepper Snail Set', Nymphenburg at Source at Personal Shopping; ‘Neo’ table lights, vanilla, chocolate & strawberry, Original BTC. Background: ‘Tulum Casement’ fabric (73597), multi, Schumacher
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