What a trip down memory lane – in London Design Week 2019: 70s Retro we run through the old favourites that featured in the top British design show. 1970s retro and Scandi mono dominated an exhibition which once seemed a distant dream at Chelsea Harbour.
The design hub was anything but designer – it was a deserted outpost in the wrong part of Chelsea, surrounded by building sites. But times have changed. As Design Week opened in march 2019, the claim to now being the “World’s Premier Design Destination” looked more justified.
The centre is bursting with brilliant design boutiques, a truly creative hub for the very best in design and well established names such as Nina Campbell. The designs and colours on show were impressive with glitz and glamour very much at the forefront.
Pop arty home decor and anything 1970s appear to be the new look, and how fabulous! decade of disco music, shiny fabrics, diamanté, David Bowie, Studio 55 and generally fun times…a happy decade. Minimalism was not a talking point.
Scandinavian Mono and Mini still in the Frame – Just
It appeared Scandinavian minimalism was not much in evidence at London Design Week 2019 either – but perhaps you have to be a Scandi to spot the trend. Plenty of white in evidence….bathtubs, lampshades and stands, accessories, clean lines and a lack of anything frilly.
Here’s a cool, simple but brightly coloured lampshade/pendant to hang over the dining table or breakfast bar – CLICK HERE for details.
The Scandinavian mono spirit shone through and here we pick some of our favourite pieces. Some pieces on display appeared to be white for white’s sake…such as decorative “pears” and “apples” and oversized, statement lamp bases.
There were fun pieces too – throwbacks to another time where fun was the key word such as this fun chair although it wasn’t quite clear whether it was actually for sitting on. But no matter. Plenty of eye candy on display and lots of fun pieces by an inspired design industry.
London Design Week 2019: 70s Retro – Celebrity Tiles
The black and white theme carried on in the shape of “celebrity” bathroom tiles…very effective piece depicting the late actor Humphrey Bogart.
However, lots of colours made their way into the luxurious boutiques serving up champagne. We particularly noticed the richly coloured tassels…now tassels may appear an unnecessary luxury, but in fact we’re huge fans. Tassels add that special something to a pair of plain or even grand curtains – a pair of huge, heavy tassels can change the look of a room.
