Let’s Hear it for the Legends
‘Legends’ at London Design Week 2019 sees showroom windows and showcases dressed in their finest, expressing all the sophisticated glamour of the prevailing mood in design. The initiative celebrates collaborations, and for many, inspiration is provided by the photographic archives of Iconic Images. Through the lens of international photographers, images featuring luminaries from fashion, rock, film and the arts are creatively matched.
A roster of renowned interior designers includes Sophie Ashby, who has been inspired by a bold portrait of Bianca Jagger for George Spencer Designs; US design duo Yabu Pushelberg incorporates an image of film star Michael Caine at SA Baxter Foundry & Design Studio; Turner Pocock has looked to an alluring photograph of film star Ava Gardner for Tissus d’Hélène’s showcase, while Henry Prideaux partnered with Fox Linton, incorporating a stunning image of British model Twiggy. Further designer collaborations include Alidad with Tim Page Carpets, Hirsch Bedner Associates with Decca, US decorator Cortney Bishop with Holland & Sherry; Paris-based Bambi Sloan with Houlès and Interiors etc with Nobilis.
Phillip Jeffries, Arteriors, Gladee Lighting and Perrin & Rowe chose fashion images by legendary photographer Norman Parkinson while Pierre Frey selected a close-up of Dorian Leigh by Milton H. Greene for its boudoir scheme. Others were inspired by photographs of Hollywood stars including Raquel Welch at Abbott & Boyd; Diane Kruger at Colony; Marilyn Monroe at de Le Cuona; Elizabeth Taylor at Topfloor by Esti and Sean Connery at West One Bathrooms. Singer songwriter PJ Harvey is the inspiration for Altfield’s window while Julian Chichester choose photographs of David Bowie by Terry O’Neill.
Others have been inspired by art and literature. They include pioneering artist of the Vienna Secession movement Koloman Moser for Backhausen at Colony; Fornasetti at Cole & Son; fictional children’s character Pinocchio at Porada; and contemporary glass artist and lighting designer Jaroslav Bejvl at Gladee Lighting. Vaughan pays homage to legendary sculptor and artist, Alberto Giacometti while Porta Romana celebrates four influential female artists: Barbara Hepworth, Gillian Ayres, Lucie Rie and Vanessa Bell. Zoffany looks to 20th-century design influences and McKinney Gainsborough salutes designs which graced RMS Titanic. Colefax and Fowler honours design legend Jack Lenor Larsen while Watts of Westminster looked to one of their founders, Sir Giles Gilbert Scott.
More show-stopping curated edits include those from Nina Campbell who transformed her showroom into a decorated apartment and GP & J Baker who teamed up with interior designer Ben Pentreath.
