In its first in-person event since 2019, Decorex was back with a bang, full of features and designer highlights, as Interior Designer discovered.
After hosting an in-person reunion at Olympia London in October 2021, the highlights from Decorex are in abundance and reminiscing is a must. Interior Designer takes a look at the top exhibitors, bar focal points, favourite features and popular talks.
Discover the highlights from the 2021 show at Olympia London, it was a superb edition and a very welcome return to in-person events for the design industry.
The exhibitors
Stands were dressed impeccably for the event and many exhibitors had taken the space between events to liven the look of their stalls. Plus, there were several new product launches that were exclusive to Decorex 2021. John Cullen Lighting’s interactive stand proved particularly popular with perusing visitors, winning Best Stand in the Decorex 2021 Stand Awards. Their stall involved a dark walk-through that allowed you to experience the power of their lighting collections in a unique way. The maze on the stand displayed the ways lighting can be used within a home to create drama, especially when applied to a painting, sculpture or textured wall. Kinkatou was another exhibitor that amazed visitors in 2021, they too were a winner at the Decorex Stand Awards, bagging the Best New Exhibitor Award. The judges were impressed with Kinkatou’s original designs and uplifting decorative objects.
The Bar for gathering
2021’s bar design was brought into fruition by none other than Sara Cosgrove of Sara Cosgrove Studios, whose whimsical circus themed bar really wowed. The sumptuous design touches included some gorgeous tassels that were used to hold the curtains in place, which were placed at the entrance to the bar. Other decorative items made the space feel exceptionally special; embroidered details, hanging rugs and hand-painted motifs all stood around the used grain silo that made up the bar itself. Fairy lights hung above the area, along with a huge mirror ball, which injected a sense of fun into the bar.
The special features
The fluttering entranceway feature proved to be a popular element of the show. As visitors entered Olympia London, they were greeted with a colourful display, the brainchild of Moritz Waldemeyer. Each butterfly was unique in its design, positioned around a large candle flame and surrounded by a tropical garden. Meanwhile, Decoex introduced a brand-new feature to the show in 2021 – the Live Wall, created by artist Jan Erika. For three days Jan took on a three-metre wall at the back of the event, applying gorgeous colour and creating texture with a mixture of creative tools, including an old credit card. The hues were chosen from Argile’s paint collections.
The conversations
The Talks Programme presented the most topical issues and was hosted by the most learned and pioneering figures in design. One of the most popular sessions was Storytelling in Design, with speakers: Jessica Jonzen, Brian Woulfe, Shalinia Misra and Laura Hammett. In the live talk the panellists discussed how they try to tailor their designs to each client and highlighted the importance of getting to know their clients inside and out as a starting point for a new design project. The group also discussed commercial projects and how these can also have their own imprint, describing the art of finding a story within a space.
Decorex will return to Olympia, London, 9-12 October 2022.
