Focus/19 Event – Workshops

Find out what inspires the best in the business, and what goes on behind the scenes at exclusive interior design workshops, trend talks and personal shopping clinics at Focus/19. Taking place within the showrooms throughout the week, these sessions offer up the chance to tap in to the know-how of acknowledged experts in fields as diverse as lighting, floristry and bespoke design. 

INTERIOR DESIGN WORKSHOPS

REINTERPRETING THE PAST FOR THE FUTURE: THE POWER OF PATTERN 

Tuesday 17 September, 2pm
Hosted by The English Home
Morris & Co, First Floor, South Dome
Iconic heritage patterns are re-establishing themselves as relevant contenders in today’s interiors. In a creative mix of innovation, tradition and British daring, they are garnering the attention of a new generation. Join editor-in-chief Kerryn Harper-Cuss as she explores the phenomenon with interior designer Henry Prideaux, Lisa Montague, CEO of Walker Greenbank and Rebecca Craig, head of design at Morris & Co.
Secure your place CLICK HERE

COLOUR, CREATIVITY & COCOONING 

Tuesday 17 September, 4pm
Hosted by Milieu
de Le Cuona, Second Floor, North Dome
Three acclaimed tastemakers – interior designer Beata Heuman, Bernie de Le Cuona, founder and CEO of de Le Cuona and Harald Altmaier, floral designer, photographer and former creative director of Pulbrook & Gould – share their personal perspectives with European editor Katrin Cargill. With a finely tuned sense of colour of their own, expect revealing insights as they discuss how it informs and inspires their work.
Secure your place CLICK HERE

 BRING THE INSIDE OUT: NINA CAMPBELL’S GUIDE TO OUTDOOR LIVING 

Wednesday 18 September, 10.30am
Hosted by Country & Town House
Oomph at Nina Campbell Pop-up, Ground Floor, Design Centre East
Nature-inspired interiors are big news this season, reflecting a desire for a deeper connection with the world around us – but there’s a parallel trend for creating more liveable outdoor ‘rooms’, too, with terraces, patios, rooftops, and even tiny urban balconies being utilised as places for relaxation and entertaining. Nina Campbell, the doyenne of British interior design, shares her wit and wisdom with interiors editor Carole Annett about how to create stylish outdoor spaces that are elegant, colourful, comfortable and versatile.
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THE MAGICAL WORLD OF FABRICS

Wednesday 18 September, 12pm
Hosted by The World of Interiors
Pierre Frey, First Floor, Design Centre East
Global textiles have a fascinating story to tell. Take an unforgettable adventure around the world with award-winning interior designer Alidad as he shares his passion and knowledge for fabrics with Sophia Salaman, executive editor of The World of Interiors. Running like a thread through history, many are considered works of art, and have been created with techniques carefully honed over centuries by skilled artisans. Find out why textures and patterns are at the heart of his acclaimed, richly layered interiors in this detailed design workshop.
Secure your place CLICK HERE

KLC SCHOOL OF DESIGN PRESENTS NICOLA BURT: CREATING CAPTIVATING INTERIOR SCHEMES

Wednesday 18 September, 2.30pm
Baker, First Floor, South Dome
Many people have a fear of using colour and pattern, so they shy away from it and “play it safe”, often resulting in a room scheme that is flat and uninspiring. In this workshop, interior designer Nicola Burt discusses how to put together successful and captivating schemes that embrace colour, pattern and texture to add interest, personality and style to your space.

BEAUTY OF BESPOKE

Thursday 19 September, 4pm
Hosted by Studio
Decca, First Floor, Design Centre East
With today’s more considered approach to interior design, commissioning one-off pieces that endure has never been more relevant. Join editor Elspeth Pridham at a fascinating panel discussion with Ariane Steinbeck, managing director of RPW Design, Alan McVitty, founder and CEO of M Studio and Gemma Allman, European deputy MD of Decca, as they share the secrets behind some of their most exciting and challenging projects. Discover how original bespoke designs showcase artisanal techniques, a respect for materials, and an openness to innovation and integrity.
Secure your place CLICK HERE

KLC SCHOOL OF DESIGN PRESENTS REBECCA WEIR: THE RHYTHM OF LIGHT

Thursday 19 September, 2.30pm
Rubelli/Donghia, Ground Floor Design Centre East
Rebecca Weir, creative director of light.iQ reveals how to utilise new LED technology and design techniques to illuminate your way to a healthier and happier home. Circadian lighting, ‘tuneable’ white LEDs, dim to warm – clarity will be provided on how to introduce these new technologies into your designs.

FLORAL MASTERMIND: PHILIPPA CRADDOCK

Friday 20 September, 11am
Hosted by Tatler
McKinnon and Harris, Second Floor, North Dome
Join Tatler’s fashion market editor, Olivia Bennett, in conversation with florist Philippa Craddock as they discuss the transformative power of floristry within the home and Philippa’s inspirations in creating visually arresting floral installations for the likes of the Victoria & Albert Museum, Alexander McQueen and for the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
Secure your place CLICK HERE

KLC SCHOOL OF DESIGN PRESENTS ANNA WHITEHEAD – BIOPHILIC DESIGN FOR WELLBEING IN YOUR HOME

Friday 20 September, 2.30pm
Tai Ping, Fourth Floor, Design Centre East
As human beings we are encoded to be at our best when immersed in a sensory, natural environment which poses a great challenge for interior designers. How can we recreate nature’s beauty, variability and sense of wellbeing within our ‘static’ interior spaces? Anna Whitehead discusses how applying biophilic principles creates interiors ‘where the soul can engage and the mind can rest.’

DESIGNERS OF THE WORLD UNITE

Friday 20 September, 4pm
Hosted by BIID
Espresso Design, Second Floor, Design Centre East
BIID registered interior designer and founder of Run For The Hills, Anna Burles, will be making a call for design enthusiasts to do their bit for planet earth by joining the exciting groundswell of eco-sensibility within the design sector. Anna is passionate about weaving thoughtful design into her studio’s design projects and wants to spark debate about what we can all do to join the revolution. She’ll be offering practical tips that we can all do to make a difference.
Secure your place CLICK HERE

TREND REPORT: DESIGN DIRECTIONS – SPOTLIGHT ON AW19 LAUNCHES

Sunday 15 September, 4.30pm at Edelman Leather, Second Floor, Centre Dome
Wednesday 18 September, 12.30pm at Watts of Westminster, Third Floor, Centre Dome
Friday 20 September, 12pm at Davidson, First Floor, South Dome
Taking place across the week in various showrooms, Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour’s Becky Metcalfe rounds up the season’s latest design directions, explaining why individual style and a desire for a deeper connection with the world around us are in the ascent.

PERSONAL SHOPPING WORKSHOPS

ACHIEVING YOUR PERSONAL STYLE

Wednesday 18 September, 4.30pm
Lacaze London, Third Floor, Design Centre East
Join Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour’s personal shopper Gabrielle Grubanovich as she shares tips and tricks on how to bring individuality to your home. With so many decisions to make, it is easy to feel overwhelmed, so get some friendly advice on narrowing down the options from someone who is familiar with all the brands here. If you have distinct taste or a unique space that needs something special, find out how designs can be adapted to suit your needs. You might be surprised to learn how many showrooms can customise with small changes such as colour, finish and size.

GETTING TO KNOW FABRICS

Thursday 19 September, 3.30pm
Romo, First Floor, North Dome
Join Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour’s friendly personal shopper Gabrielle Grubanovich for a fabricknow-how session. With a huge selection of products on show, this is one area where it is easy to feel overwhelmed by choice – especially when factoring in practical issues such as fire-resistance and durability, in addition to the aesthetic side. This workshop is the place to gain tips and tricks from someone familiar with all the brands here. Learn how to decode jargon and interpret labels; understand the different uses of fabrics, and find out the design implications of details such as width sizes and pattern repeats.

SHOP THE SHOW

Friday 20 September, 3pm
Third Floor, North Dome
Focus/19’s dynamic campaign photography brings together the very best and newest products to be seen at Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour. On this specially curated tour, in-house personal shopper Gabrielle Grubanovich ‘shops the show’ to visit some of the designs in real life and share the stories behind them. Gabrielle is familiar with all the showrooms here so this session will offer a fast-track to the latest in design.