What CONRAN saw – London Design Festival 2011

‘So much to do so little time’ was the general call from many of the Conran team this time last week as the London Design Festival 2011 swung fully into action with the opening of many of the larger shows around the capital.

This year Tent and designersblock in the ever-fascinating Farmiloe Building seemed to showcase a more raw, up and coming talent whereas Tramshed and designjunction housed some of the design world’s most interesting and creative brands with a easy going but professional vibe. 

A group of us went along to the opening party of designjunction, which debuted in Milan this year, showcasing ‘the best in global design’. Fascinating to see inside the Victoria Building on Southampton Row too. 

 

 

Another Country was a highlight with current classics presiding over a small selection of exquisite new ideas including

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Terence’s Top 10 Conran/M&S products: The Marlowe Armchair

“This chair has always been a favourite of mine and for a long time I toyed with the idea of it being a floor-based item with no legs as when we saw one of the first samples the legs hadn’t arrived with the main body of the chair and we were rather taken with it just sitting on the floor.  However in the end we decided to give people the choice and so this piece is available with removable legs” Terence Conran

This chair offers sink-into comfort with the smart, good-looks of the finest contemporary upholstery. What’s more it’s hand-made in Britain. Who says we don’t make anything anymore?

£999, available from M&S stores throughout the UK and online at www.marksandspencer.com/autumn

Come and have a drink with us tonight and see what’s new at The Conran Shop Chelsea

It’s all happening tonight at The Conran Shop Chelsea- where they’ll be unveiling a fab new layout and some wonderful new products for London Design Festival 2011

 

Join us for drinks and check out what’s new tonight from 6-9pm. 

Click here to get your Design week E-INVITE

DIY Design Classic: Terence’s Top 10 Conran/M&S products: No. 9 – Basevi Chair covers

Yesterday we talked about our generous and immensely useful Pugin Dining Table. Check it out here if you missed it.

While we are on dining we thought we would talk about our Basevi chair covers – rather a humorous product that allows you to transform a standard dining chair into a design classic.

DIY Shaker Chair...?

Just drop one of these slip covers, illustrated with Terence’s drawings of some of his favourite chairs, over a standard dining chair or any tired looking pieces to get yourself a whole new look from a Shaker ladderback to a Thonet.

 They are particularly good for dinner parties and for outdoor use and can be easily removed for cleaning.

£299 for a set of two chairs with covers available from M&S stores throughout the UK and online at www.marksandspencer.com/autumn AVAILABLE NOW!

Terence’s Top 10 Conran/M&S products: No 8 – Pugin Dining Table

“A good size table should really be the heart of any home – with a multitude of uses from entertaining evening guests or enjoying long, relaxed Sunday lunches, to the ubiquitous use as a homework station for children or for adults to sit around reading the papers.” Terence Conran

Pugin is really generous in size so you can do all those things. There is even a useful, brightly coloured drawer hidden underneath the surface for hiding away cutlery, napkins or anything else that tends to hang around on the table – a common problem, as many of us know from experience!

£699, available from M&S stores throughout the UK and online at www.marksandspencer.com/autumn

Pugin with some of our other lovely AW11 dining products...

Terence’s Top 10 Conran/M&S products: No. 7 Jacquard Stitch Cushion

“I particularly love this oversize, generous cushion in tones of teal with a grey ground and ochre highlights. The gradient of colour is beautiful and the quality is superb” Terence Conran

We gave this away as a little press gift at our press day back in June and people loved it.

It looks great in a living room environment but equally the soft, sophisticated tones are very restful in the bedroom too and at 58cm square it makes an excellent oversize pillow to aid relaxing reading in bed!

£29.50 with real feather inner, available from M&S stores throughout the UK and online at www.marksandspencer.com/autumn. Available online 23 September.

Terence’s Top 10 Conran/M&S products: No. 6 – Segment Clock

“We have several clocks in this collection but I have to say I think this is my favourite. I sketched it when we first began talking about this project and its deceptively simple design belies a rather more challenging manufacturing process; layering three types of wood veneer onto a solid oak base, matching the woods together to make up the design whilst maintaining a beautiful, smooth finish.” Terence Conran

We are sure this clock is set to become a classic. Its graphic, contemporary form has the merest nod to the retro styling of the sunburst clocks of the 50s, when Terence first began working, but keeps it simple, clean and contemporary – what Conran does best.

£79 available from M&S stores throughout the UK and online atwww.marksandspencer.com/autumn