Project 2 - House and Garden Exhibition Stands

A Contemporary Flat for House & Garden Fair with a strong mix of Art Deco and contemporary furniture and one or two fine antiques.

 Picture 1: The linoleum floor was a design Karen White had previously adapted for a client, based on an old marble floor from a French lighthouse. The painted corner cupboard was designed by Karen to mimic the traditional Swedish porcelain stoves which are usually covered in decorative ceramic tiles. She worked closely with her specialist painter and between them they decorated the corner cupboard. Karen also designed the painted blue dining table with drop leaves.

 Picture 2: Karen was once taught a life-saving lesson: “You get what you inspect… not what you expect!”  Hanging the curtains and dressing the table told us that we were on the right track.  It also produced a photograph which showed off the hand-painted decoration which is centred on the pelmet of the curtains, and that the table decoration was fun.

Picture 3: Late 17th Century English Black Japanned Chinese Cabinet on Stand was a stunning focal point in the room furnished primarily with contemporary furniture.  Antique dealers, Wakelin & Linfield, loaned all the antique furniture for this exhibition and had a lamp base especially painted for me, taking the orchid design from an antique Chinese Porcelain vase which Karen found while in Hong Kong. 

Picture 4: A glass and Perspex, coffee table sits between a Donghia curved sofa and a footstool, designed by Karen White for the exhibition. She had it upholstered in a traditional way as if it were a mattress and used antique square brass studs all around the base.  The right hand writing table, also designed by Karen White has a secret life as the supporting base for an oval dining table top which is stored elsewhere until needed.

Picture 5: Ibach Grand Piano has 12 beautiful Japanese hand coloured woodcuts of Iris sourced from Helen Linfield.  Here was a treasure from the past brought to life by finding a collection, and then sorting them into suitable sets and making the investment to have them exquisitely framed. It was a real pleasure for me to add them to the mix. 

Picture 6:  Chimneypiece: Antique chimneypieces can fit very comfortably into modern settings.  This white marble Louis Philippe chimneypiece was loaned by Thornhill Galleries.  Above is an unusual contemporary Venetian style mirror in a silver gilt frame and a pair of antique Chinese porcelain cats.  The mirror was originally inspired by a small pair of candle sconces which had been turned into wall lights!  A change of scale can often be put to good use.