Ele Cooper visits the Country Living Magazine Spring Fair and finds it very difficult to leave her credit card in her purse…
I was up bright and early this morning for the opening of the Country Living Magazine Spring Fair at London’s Business Design Centre.
Within half an hour of the doors opening, the entire venue was packed to the rafters with enthusiastic visitors eager to snap up the best of British homeware and garden accessories. The beautiful spring sunlight filtering through the skylights certainly helped emphasise the exhibition’s seasonal appeal.
The usual array of cutesy bunting, huggable mugs and sumptuous bed linens were all present, along with slightly weirder stands like one rife with ghostly white dragon statues, but a handful of items particularly caught my fancy.
So, without further ado, the 15 most gorgeous homeware items at the Country Living Magazine Spring Fair were…
1. Cushion by Chloe Croft
As well as cushions, Chloe creates mosaic-style pictures using more of these amazing fluoro colours – truly unique.
Cushion, £35, ChloeCroftLondon.com
2. Butterfly picture by Roxana Alamouti
Roxana’s stand boasted a range of eco-friendly products using this 3D cutout effect, from bottles to lamps.
Butterfly picture, £25, RoxanaAlamouti.com
3. Melamine cups by Pinks & Green
Pinks & Green was bursting with bright, cheery pieces ideal for garden parties. As well as these beautiful beakers, I was rather taken with a neon pink watering can in the shape of a duck.
Melamine cups, £4.50 each, PinksAndGreen.co.uk
4. Glass dish by Jo Downs
Jo’s stall was a treasure trove of glass pieces, all handmade in Cornwall.
Fish dish, £145, JoDowns.com
5. Lantern by Petra Boase
I loved the Japanese theme going on with Petra Boase’s collection; this lampshade has a particularly appealing kitsch quality.
Lampshade, £26, PetraBoase.com
6. Butterfly lantern by Flutterbyes
Flutterbyes also made it into my piece on Country Living’s Christmas Fair – and it’s little wonder with such wonderful homeware. These lanterns would look beautiful in a girly boudoir or illuminating your first barbecue of the summer, and at this price you could buy a whole set.
Butterfly lantern, £3, Flutterbyes.co.uk
7. Bunting by the DotComGiftShop
It’s spring, I’m doing homeware, I couldn’t not include bunting could I? The DotComGiftShop had a wide selection of designs.
Bunting, from £6.95, DotComGiftShop.com
8. Cushion by Jorja Wilkinson
Bright colours? Check. On-trend? Check. Summery, linen fabric? Check. Face it: there’s nothing not to love about Jorja Wilkinson’s cushions.
Pelican cushion, £35, JorjaWilkinsonDesign.co.uk
9. Framed bird picture by Plum & Ivory
I know I know, it’s another bird, but they’re everywhere right now – it’s spring and the birds are a’tweeting after all – and this picture is absolutely lovely. I want!
£22.50, PlumAndIvory.co.uk
10. Lanterns by Love Lammas
The grey finish on these lanterns is a classy take on the traditional Moroccan lantern.
From left to right: £15, £15, £20, LoveLammas.co.uk
11. Mannequins by Grace & Favour Home
Though I love the materials used here, Grace & Favour will upholster a mannequin with any fabric you like – so get creative.
Mannequins, £175 on wood stand, £190 on painted stand, GraceAndFavourHome.com
12. Personalised new baby canvas by Sundae Best
Linda Thompson, who owns Sundae Best, told me that the first time she created one of these hand-painted canvases it was for her own grandchild – and it’s certainly a lovely way to mark the birth of a baby.
Personalised canvas, £59, SundaeBest.co.uk
13. Lanterns by Luna Lighting
Luna’s stand might be small but that only serves to make the warm glow cast by its lovely white lanterns more atmospheric.
Candle lanterns from £12, LunaLighting.co.uk
14. Tea towel by Made With Love by Charlotte Fleming
Who needs commemorative Royal Wedding tea towels? A lobster’s so much cooler.
Tea towel, £10, MadeWithLove.uk.com
15. Heart bowl by La Maison Blanc
I was immediately drawn to this wooden bowl. It’s nice and deep and would make the ideal place for storing trinkets (or maybe love letters…).
Bowl, £20, LaMaisonBlanc.co.uk
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