Merry xmas everyone!

Elle deco approved

Our stand at tent London

The talented writer Katie Garner has also written a piece about our stand at the show, and I loved what she had to say...so here it is! 

Sarah-Jayne Guest Splashes Tent London with her Signature Style

Unveiling the much anticipated new ‘Wasp’ cushion design, Sarah shows London a life of colour and dreams in textiles By Katie Garner

As the home place for innovative, fashionable and global talent, splashed across an array of textiles, furniture, ceramics, accessories and materials, it was only natural that British designer Sarah-Jayne Guest showcased her varied wares at Tent London last weekend (20^th to 23^rd September) as part of the massively inspirational London Design Festival 2012.

SjGuest Designs stand at Tent 2012

With her usual aplomb of eclectic colours and imagery, Sarah’s stand was a vivid rainbow-like streak amidst the white barriers of the stands and concrete surroundings. Her fabulously popular collection of cushions, made from 100% cotton, was proudly on display on different height shelves, including her latest patterns – the ‘Wasps’. Large luridly yellow wasps hover on backgrounds of hot pink and off white making the usually antagonistic insects strangely appealing.

Elle Deco approved award

Sarah used inspiration from her popular and  ‘Elle Decoration Approved’ ‘Pigeon’ cushion to create her latest animal-themed design, firstly by working out what appealed so much in the ‘Pigeon’ cushion. Not only did they hit three fashionable trends – mustard colourings, bird motif, patriotic British – but they also delved into a more unusual source of inspiration. “Pigeons are considered a pest, rodents, so it got me thinking to other animals like this and it got me thinking about wasps. Quirky, yet beautiful,” Sarah-Jayne explains. No doubt this is also the reasoning behind her ‘Frog’ cushions too. 

Grey wasp cushion £49.00

It’s not all about the wildlife though as Sarah’s designs also widely incorporate bold, oversized florals that demand attention in loud shades of yellow, blue, purple, green, red and pink, with accents of grey. They are often cunningly mixed with the mundane, for example you may spy a teapot nestling against a goose or a clock face propped against an enhanced petal. For something maybe more classic, Sarah’s geometric patterns of zig zags or checks in clean lines were also present, again in her signature shades.

Green wasp cushion £49

Sarah shows how uniquely versatile she is with her newest venture – her stone collection, which uses sandblasting to create patterns and designs on different coloured stone. It takes the polish off the glossy stone to leave shapes, in very much the same process as writing on headstones. Coloured stones in purple, reds and blacks etched with individually placed petals would create stunning splash backs or kitchen work tops as well as quirky floor or wall tiles. They have already attracted the attention of Italian restaurant chain Zizzi who have used Sarah’s stone designs on their table tops.

Zizzi can’t get enough of the talented designer as she has also worked on numerous location themed wall murals for their various restaurants, letting her bold illustrations liven up blank white walls. Tying in the connections with the local area provides an interesting twist, for example, the Shrewsbury branch is covered with Tudor buildings and flowers often seen in their famous flower festival. Durham on the other hand is drenched in imagery of its main emblem, the cathedral.

Sarah Guest and Katie Garner at Tent

As a sneak peek into the creative workings behind the uniquely different prints, Sarah’s stand at Tent was a perfect taster of the punchy and character-stuffed style of her ‘Imagination’ collection that would surely inject life and colour into whatever home they resided in. 

A review of Tent London

So Design week has finally come to an end, although it was brilliant, amazing, filled with talent it was exhausting!-but of course worth it. The show gave me a chance to spend some time with the very talented Katie Garner! Katie is a writer based in Essex and she so very kindly has offered to write a few posts for the blog to sum up some of the highlights during design week. I hope her thoughts will give those of you who couldn't make it a taste for the festival! 
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Welcome to Tent London 2012

Feeling like a kid in a candy store, grab inspiration from varied colour palettes, a kaleidoscope of shapes and a multitude of fingertip textures – all on display at London’s forerunning design exhibition  By Katie Garner

It was the return of London’s top design trade show this weekend, as Tent London invaded Brick Lane to add its individualistic and stylish stamp on the annual London Design Festival, running between the 20^th and 23^rd September. With over 200 international exhibitors showcasing furniture, lighting, ceramics, textiles, materials and accessories, there was definitely something for every one of the 19,000 visitors.

In its sixth year at trendy Old Truman Brewery, Tent London - hailed as the most cutting-edge and progressive trade exhibition- also offered an insight into the world of design with numerous talks by experts such as Ian Hunter, and CEO of Ginger and Jagger, Paula Sousa.

Stark concrete rooms had been transformed into a real rabbit warren of discovery that is a pure assault on the senses. You are bombarded with eye-catching splashes of colour, a multitude of textures and a feast of shapes, which leaves your head constantly spinning in owl-like movements as you try to absorb the sights in this unlikely Aladdin’s Cave. 

Here are our top five stands from the show…

Zoe Murphy

Clean, sleek rectangular shapes, paired with pretty pastels, fun etchings and geometric lines make these interior drawers and accessories a must-have for your home. Taking furniture basics and adding a dollop of playfulness makes Zoe’s signature style extremely eye-catching with this mix of classic and contemporary. 

Claire-Anne O’Brien

What is more snuggly, homely and cosy than a comfortable chunky knit? Claire-Anne takes this to the next level by adopting a fashion favourite and transporting into your homeware, with these unbelievably alluring chairs in soft shades of cream, green and blue that is the ideal combination of old-fashioned toastiness with modern finishing touches.

Endesigns

You can’t get more fun that these metal work pieces by Endesigns, that use the novel idea of imprints to create really individualistic and quirky pieces for your home.  Whether it’s dinosaur prints stomping next to your magazines, or a custard cream forever embedded next to your tea, or even heavy boot foot prints across the hall way, these unique works can’t help but make you smile.

Surfacephilia

For that magical etherial quality, then look no further, as fluttering feathers and mysterious dream catchers provide the inspiration behind these muted soft-stroked designs splayed across wallpaper, prints, plates and cushions. With dominant browns, blues and dusty reds on an off-white background , these gentle patterns create a lovely touchable effect.

Prooff

Modern and boxy but also effcient and useful, these chairs by Prooff provide sleek style and soft shades in a masculine square shape that offers privacy and a handy spot to place your laptop, iPad or tea – whatever you fancy. Very clean and sharp these chairs can’t help but catch the eye.

Find me at Tent London this year!