Clerkenwell Design Week takes place once a year and is an opportunity to view some of the most incredible lighting, furniture and product design all in one area.
The whole of Clerkenwell buzzes with creativity when the design festival is underway, and is a great chance for projects to push the boundaries of design. Showrooms throw open the doors to host parties and you spend the days soaking up inspirational ideas and bumping into friends in the industry.
ClerkenwellDesign week took place in the Farmiloe building, which was once home to George Farmiloe and Sons merchants. It was part of London’s heritage of trade and commerce; the Farmiloe building was completed in 1868 by Browne and Robinson and is an unbelievable piece of Victorian architecture.
There’s so much to see and take part in during Clerkenwell Design Week it’s hard to see everything. So here are some of the pieces that caught my eye.
First up I travelled through admiring various lighting displays and furniture.
Foscarini and Jaguar were commissioned to create an impressive lighting installation that spread across one façade of the exterior of the building. The lighting sculpture was in the Farmiloe building’s dramatic atrium with slick Jaguars parked below.
Buster + Punch is a London-born interiors brand that actually started in a small garage in East London. The designs are extraordinary and really present the designers passion for unique concepts.
Cool pendants from Light Years looked great against the worn painted brickwork. Light Years are a leading Danish lighting specialist that has some really unusual pieces. The Pharaoh light transforms into a mirror appearance when the light is switched off. The shade turns into a metallic transparency and the light source is then on show. Pretty cool hey!
Zeitrum had some relaxed furniture pieces that specialise in hardwood timber. Each piece of timber is selected individually that makes the grain and colour combination incredible and of course great quality.
Bim Burton showing playful pieces such as these petal side tables, with pops of bright colours.
Teacup pendants were dangling from above.
SCP displayed Dutch designer Piet Hiet Eek scrapwood timber panelled furniture.
Before continuing through the rest of the furniture and lighting I thought I should admire the architectural elements of the building.
The Italianate palazzo style front that is finished in Portland stone is such a great piece of architecture.
The Victorian warehouse floors extend from a glazed atrium with exposed wrought iron beams evident throughout the building. The aged brickwork and worn paintwork create such a cool industrial vibe. There is a 1930s warehouse block, large basement and aged shed, all of which provide over 40,000 sq ft of space to exhibit.
Next up the retail side of the exhibition, which was full of cool accessories.
Lovely pieces from Holly’s House an eclectic range of furniture and home wares. Holly decided to start a company aimed at bringing a fresh style to the interior design world, and making beautiful and unusual home wares easily accessible.
Onto the next section of the design festival called Detail. Luxury brands featured throughout the majestic church, Crypt and Cloister garden.
After a day of viewing products and furniture, it was time for the showroom parties.
Poltrona Frau has a large showroom and always seems to have the best parties. The Italian brand produces high-end perfectly crafted furniture, combining rich materials to create stunning pieces.
We headed over nice and early and started the evening with lots of prosecco and a few nibbles.
As the night went on the showroom was heaving with people and they managed to run out of clean glasses so decided to hand out bottles instead.
We weren’t complaining, but the bottles were blamed for the antics that happened from there onwards.
Loads of brands to check out on the Clerkenwell Design Week website.
