London Design Festival is coming to an end but there’s still time to squeeze in a few things before the weekend is over and probably one of the best places to start if you’re looking for interior inspiration is the design shows (here’s looking at you designjunction, London Design Fair and 100% design).

The shows can sometimes be considerably different so it’s great to do a little bit of research on what kind of brands to expect and thankfully for you, I’ve once again taken it upon myself to do a little round-up, starting with my personal favourite designjunction. I spent the day looking around yesterday with the lovely folk at Culture Trip – an online research tool for finding inspiration all around the world – and this is what I’ve got to say!

designjunction, London Design Festival 2017 (Brands featured One Night Eight Five, Another Country, Eleanor Pritchard, Papersmiths, Moxon London & Bethan Gray)

designjunction has returned to take over King’s Cross once again with an expansion of its site and a new creative quarter. Taking place across five destinations including Cubitt House and Cubitt Park, The Canopy, Granary Square and The Crossing and with over 200 brands exhibiting, the show is a great mix of global furniture, lighting, accessory, material and technology brands as well as pop-up shops, installations, and interactive features.

The mix of design, separated into alternative categories, makes the show easy to navigate and if something isn’t for you then, of course, you can just skip it or move on. The show is also very manageable, which for me is a bonus – there can be a time where design fatigue sets in and you stop finding things interesting. Here’s the lowdown on the areas and the brands you should be watching out for.

Cubitt Park

Eley Kishimoto x Kirkby Design VIP and Press Lounge

If you’re lucky enough to have press or VIP access to the show then make sure you check out the seedy design from Eley Kishimoto x Kirkby Design who have kitted out the space in their wallpaper and fabric designs. Tala lighting features throughout and adds that extra seventies touch – perfect for lounging and feeling v.v.important.

Cubitt Park, VIP Room
www.kirkbydesign.com

2LG Studio + Custhom Cafe

Interior designers and bloggers extraordinaire 2 Lovely Gays have joined forces with design practice Custhom to create a range of wallpaper and fabrics in an abstract floral pattern. Pop by their cafe in Cubitt Park to grab a coffee, take a seat and then have a go at screen-printing one of their designs on G . F Smith’s Marrs Green paper.

Cubitt Park
www.2lgstudio.com

Cubitt House

Deadgood

Deadgood is always dead good and this year is no exception with the launch of their Pop rugs creating a wonderful stand design and providing excellent instagram content. The brand is also showing the Working Girl range designed by David Irwin in pink colourways as well as a rather luxurious looking lilac sofa avec monochrome rug – YAS!

Cubitt House, A10
www.deadgoodltd.co.uk

Tala

Tala is an absolutely beautiful lighting brand with a clear design aesthetic and the proud owners of the World’s biggest lightbulb. The brand aims to have a positive impact on the world and for every 200 units sold, Tala plants 10 trees. The lovely Beth of Tala explained to us all about shooting lighting and I’d really recommend going and have a chat to hear more about the design and how the brand is growing.

Cubitt House, B18
www.talaled.com

Eleanor Pritchard

Eleanor Pritchard’s textiles are a continual crowd pleaser with her graphic lines and contrasting colourways. Designed and woven in the UK, the fabrics are a strong representation of traditional skills that Britain has to offer and a lovely example of contemporary design within the UK.

Cubitt House, B12
www.eleanorpritchard.com

Bethan Gray

Bethan Gray’s stand is always flawless with its pastel colourways and intricate detailing within the product. This year you can expect to see navy and pink with scallop features providing a point of interest.

Cubitt House, A7
www.bethangray.com

The Canopy

Granby Workshop

Granby Workshop is currently running a Kickstarter to fund the production of their SPLATWARE – Colourful plates & cups made by squishing clay in a hydraulic press. The studio has joined forces with the money-raising platform to show the latest collection and has created a wall of plates as well as a table fit for any sweet-toothed humans.

Canopy, 50
www.granbyworkshop.co.uk

One Night Eight Five

One Nine Eight Five is a London based British lifestyle brand specializing in print and interior textiles. The textures and colours are undeniably special and while you might presume these products come at great expense, you’d be pretty wrong. The brand is offering 20% off cushions and blankets over the weekend so be sure to bring some pennies!

Canopy, 12
www.onenineeightfive.co.uk

Moxon

I’ve followed Moxon for about a year now and it’s amazing to see how their brand has developed since 2016 with many more products added to their site and a strong design focus running strong. You may have seen their frames feature on my art buying guide – now’s the time to meet them in person!

Canopy, 43
www.moxon.london

Papersmiths

The wonderful Papersmiths sells design-led stationery and paper goods and designjunction is the perfect chance to get your hands on some early Christmas presents and your 2018 diaries. The stand features gorgeous terrazzo detailing as well as Another Country lighting – stationery geeks rejoice.

Canopy, 60
www.papersmiths.co.uk

Tom Pigeon

Tom Pigeon is a creative studio founded by Pete and Kirsty Thomas in 2014. The brand designs simple things for people to enjoy including incredible prints, jewellery and stationery with a geometric twist.

Canopy, 10
www.tompigeon.com

Prepd

Prepd very kindly prepared lunch for us on our visit and I was suitably impressed by the nifty contraption that compartmentalised snacks and meals while remaining stylish and different. Prepd Pack redefines the whole experience of taking lunch, from planning and preparing to tracking the nutritional value of your lunches – check it out.

Canopy, 29a
www.getprepd.com

Granary Square

Gateways

Turkishceramics has collaborated with designer Adam Nathaniel Furman to design ‘Gateways’ – a ceramic installation for Granary Square consisting of 4-metre-high colourfully-tiled gates, referencing London’s Underground stations and the beautiful and bold facades of Ottoman architecture. As Furman rightly pointed out, more of our buildings should be decorated in this manner, fo’sure!

Granary Square
www.turkishceramics.org

Campari Creates

We finished off the day on the Campari Creates boat and with this weekend being a warm one, I can’t recommend it enough. Campari® is Italy’s iconic red bittersweet apéritif and the boat has brought the spirit of Milan to London by showcasing two of Milan’s greatest exports: Campari and creativity.

Granary Square Steps
www.campari.com

INFO:

1 Granary Square, Kings Cross, London N1C 4AA
21st September – 24th September 2017
Book tickets here.

Thanks to Culture Trip for organising the designjunction tour. With the EJP guide to #LDF17, you can navigate through the best installations, workshops, talks, exhibitions & design districts this London Design Festival. Check the rest out here.