HOME: The trade event for homewares & interior accessories

Today sees the launch of HOME, a new retail trade show taking place in London alongside the successful giftware event Top Drawer. Taking place at Earl’s Court from the 15th to the 17th January, HOME features an inspiring selection of stylish, high-quality interior accessories, lighting and occasional furniture, from hundreds of the best design companies in the UK and Europe.

Exhibitors include the likes of Alessi , Coach House, LSA International, 95%, Design House Stockholm, Authentics, Koziol, black+blum, Content by Conran, Greengate, Serax and Eva Solo to name but a few.

The event is headed up by Ian Rudge, the co-founder of 100% Design and Tent London, so it promises to be a refreshing, exciting environment in which to do business. Ian has already identified a number of key buying themes that we can expect to see in 2012 including British Heritage and the Stoke Renaissance.

For those who are going to the event in the next few days there are some great products on show that are not to be missed. I’m going to do a little round-up here so you know what to expect from. And for those of us who are unable to attend, here’s a little taster of what we’re missing. (Living in Devon does have its disadvantages, especially when it comes to the fact that the most exciting trade shows usually take place in London!)

First up is the new Hybrid Collection from Seletti, designed by CTRLZAK. East meets West in a series of table objects born from historical and cultural reflection. The pieces are divided with a marked coloured line highlighting the boundaries between the two styles.

Next up is the debut collection of London-based textile designer Lindsey Lang who will be introducing an exciting collection of contemporary printed textile and ceramic designs for the home. Lindsey’s homeware products are created with a playful use of colour, graphic shapes and high quality materials resulting in functional, decorative products.

Marimekko is one of my favourite design houses and the company will be launching a new collection called Helsinki/Helsingfors designed by Per-Olof Nystrom to celebrate Helsinki’s designation as World Design Capital 2012. The range includes mugs, tea towels and small trays in lime green or light blue.

Anouk Jansen, creative director of Jansen+co and renowned fashion illustrator Piet Paris have teamed up to launch a new collection of tableware at HOME. Capturing fashion in imagery is the starting point for the Girl Talk tableware collection for Jansen+co.

New English are launching various new collections at Home. Firstly, the Love London collection by renowned photographer and design guru Barbara Chandler features four collectable plates and six trinket boxes, that provide the perfect antidote to cheesy souvenirs.

Secondly, following a collaboration with Maxim from the global dance phenomenon The Prodigy, the Lepidoptera collection includes plates, cups and saucers featuring delightfully colourful and exquisitely delicate butterflies with a sting in their tale.

Thirdly, Supermodel, designed by Phoebe Richardson, is a fabulous 10 plate installation piece featuring a human skeleton, which makes a wonderful centrepiece for any room.

Authentics have teamed up with young designer Harry Allnatt and they are launching Hitch Lamp and CAF Chair. Hitch is a cute table lamp that encourages user interaction. With rubber plug joints, it is easy to take apart as it is to put together, allowing the user to wax and care for the wooden parts, promoting a strong relationship between the lamp and the user.

CAF is a lightweight, stackable steel chair which embraces the utilitarian aspects of nostalgic school furniture and translates this language in its new context. By taking the endearing elements of the old school chair and reducing it to its most minimal form, the outcome is humble by nature. The subtly formed plywood seat ensures a sustained level of comfort while the backrest envelopes the body.

Royal VKB will be launching a new product called Lazy Linda presented by 95%.  This multipurpose, rotatable holder is perfect for storing utensils, spice jars and all other daily cooking necessities.

If you’re lucky enough to be going to Home this weekend have fun and I hope you discover all these great products and more! And if any of you do a write up of the show on your own blogs please leave a link to it in the comments below so we can all find out more about it.