This week we round up the Decoration + Design Trade fair before moving on to the next industry fairs in Melbourne in August.
A favourite at Decoration + Design and I’m happy to say, now featuring on DecoratorsCatalogue.com.au is Linen & Moore owned by Anna Lofts.
This year Anna’s company celebrates ten years of designing and producing beautiful linen and soft furnishings including bed and table linen, guest and kitchen towels, quilts, cushions and throws.
Anna wholesales to homeware stores, interior designers and display homes all around Australia and also undertakes custom orders for hotel accommodation.
Here is a sample of this season’s Linen & Moore collection featured at the fair. Reds and earthy hues feature strongly
You couldn’t walk past The Outpost Trading Company stand without stroking the lush and eco friendly 100% bamboo Chenille throws (below left) launched at the fair.
They are available in 130cm x 150cm and 150cm x 250cm sizes and a range of nine colours. The company can also piece dye in 10kg batches. The throws can also e ordered with or without tassels or with hand knotted fringe.
Owner , Edith Brown said a great deal of care and research goes into sourcing the best quality materials for the company’s collections which are all hand -made to last with a cornerstone of good environment practice.
The 100% bamboo and cotton towels (above centre) from The Outpost Trading Company are bath time heaven. According to Edit the latest range represents the crème de La crème of internationally available flat towels which are woven with a bamboo chenille weft on a pure cotton warp.
I though the luxurious texture and subdued pallet were just gorgeous. The towels come in bath sheet, bath towel, hand towel and guest towel sizes.
And here’s the best idea I’ve seen for a long time. The Outpost Trading Company’s Four Season Duvet (above far right) is such a simple idea yet I’ve not seen it anywhere else.
The duvet comprises two separate down duvets, one lighter than the other. The lighter duvet is ideal for summer while the medium weight one is perfect for autumn and spring. In winter you can simply clip the two together for generous warmth.
Both duvets are box –stitched so the filling stays evening distributed. 10 out of 10 from me for that idea!
Town & Country Style never seem to run out of beautiful additions to their already prolific range of European country chic.
Owners Suzette and Perri’s stand always creates a huge amount of interest with their now trademark ‘Peekaboo’ rooms providing gorgeous vignettes with walls covered bin wallpapers by Brunschwig & Fills.
Items creating most interest at this fair were the company’s Martha’s Vineyard vanity basin seen above (single and double) series which proved a winner with decorators, designers, retailers and architects alike.
A completely new look at design for Town & Country Style this season is the Lachlan desk, sideboard and cabinet (above right).
The Long Island four posted bed (below) with its upholstered and deep buttoned head board caused many to dream of romantic evenings in the Hamptons.
And causing an absolute stir with designers all trying to find the most imaginative space to showcase this extraordinary statement piece, the Kelly clock took centre stage on the stand.
With a new showroom due to open shortly in Sydney and a new division distributing some of the world’s finest furnishings fabric ranges, 2010 looks like a very exciting and busy year for Town & Country Style.
A visit to the pintinK stand always has me walking away with plans to recover every piece of upholstered furniture in the house.
printinK studio was founded in 2005 by Jason Cesani, Nadia Husiak and Lisa Carroll.
Based in Melbourne, printinK studio creates and prints fabrics for leading Australian designers in fashion, interiors and home furnishings.
To compliment their successful printing and design service the studio decided to launch their own brand, tinker by printink in 2008.
The initial focus was on childrenswear and small gifts for the home.
The 2010 collection has a stronger emphasis on home decoration - pouffes, scatter & floor cushions and throws. These items will add colour, texture and a sense of ease to any room.
Nostalgic influences are re-worked and made contemporary. Over scaled paisley designs sit alongside bold geometrics and naïve florals.
The palette is built around cool, clean neutrals with accents of palm green, splash blue and dusk orange. These shades can be mixed together or separated into three distinct colour groupings – neutrals (Coastal), blues/greens (Pacifika) and oranges/washed greys (Primitiva).
All fabrics are designed and hand printed in the Melbourne printinK studio.
A shiny newcomer at the fair was Red Door Home. The company originated in Singapore, where two Melbourne natives who shared a background in art and design found a commonality in their passion or unique, contemporary style and materials.
Christine and Diane launched their Red Door Home at the fair featuring their collection of original pieces inspired by their travels.
The collection featured unusual design elements contrasting reclaimed timber with stainless steel and glass.
The girls say all of the wood used in their furniture is reclaimed and recycled from old buildings and houses that have been abandoned, ruined or destroyed for rebuilding.
Known in India as ‘sal’(Shorea Robusta), the wood is derived from a species of tree native to southern Asia and prized for its durability and coarseness.
Designers can add their own interpretations by specifying any selection of fabrics or leathers.
Uniqwa Import’s stand featured a range of the company’s organic, earthy yet naturally modern furniture and furnishings. 
Always a favourite at the fair and a stand I save to linger over at the end of the day is Globe West which never fails to show a host of new products across a broad spectrum from Scandinavian influenced to rustic and earthy.
Barbara and John Hermon celebrate 20 years of business in their Richmond, Victoria store this year and they show no signs of loosing their touch for stylish and timeless furniture, furnishings and lighting. 
An exciting find at this fair was a new entry to the Australian market; 
Jhana is a supplier of homewares and furniture made its debut at the fair.
Jhana’s furniture range is design and made in Aspe, Alicant, Spain and features designs that are highly contemporary yet reflecting traditional lines.
Features are:
If you have kids or pets or both, like me, then choosing a carpet poses more questions than what you think you’ll like the look and feel of.
Question: Do you have some tips on carpet maintenance?