It is natural to expect modern and contemporary looks from shops like Conran’s in London. This has always been their point of view. But trend spotting in The Conran Shop this week revealed some more traditional looks as well. They were mixed in with new contemporary pieces in a confirmation that eclectic style is still strong in England.
On the contemporary side, the Miura barstool was a real attention getter. Made of textured plastic and colored in Graphite Gray, this stool was so much more comfortable than its quirky, angular styling suggested.
The Locker was a series of laser cut metal compartments, patined in Yellow. The cut floral pattern, with its open, lacey appearance, was inspired by flowers of the South African desert.
l-r: Miura barstool; a patchwork quilt combining daisies and small geometrics
A mirror displayed on the lower level came from a company I have visited at various trade fairs. Suck UK designed this piece to run an electronic message that each consumer can personalize. The Conran Shop chose to display the date, time and selling points of the mirror. I would buy two and program something motivational or affirming and set it up for my kids to see each morning (one of them would be sent with our daughter when she goes away to school in the fall). I really liked this piece because it is not only youthful and fun, but also a completely new concept.
On the traditional side, a leather sofa with a classic button tufted seat, arms and back was tucked in among the clean lined and streamlined forms on their floor. A few feet away, a pair of matching leather chairs with Deco features like stepped feet also appeared in another vignette. I’m not sure I have ever seen anything as traditional as these pieces at Conran’s.
An even bigger surprise came in the bed linens area where a patchwork quilt combining daisies and small geometrics covered one of the display beds. These quilts looked so great paired with modern and even minimal sheets that I have put quilts on my watch list for 2007.