Imm Koln 2012

We made our annual trip to IMM Koln visiting the magnificent exhibition halls situated on the banks of the river Rhine.

The major trend theme was nature. Natural-looking and natural materials exude a sense of honesty and authenticity. Solid wood and veneer furniture is just as popular as parquet flooring. We saw many examples of oak with a slightly white washed finish that included saw marks kriss crossing the wood. This gave the wood an interesting textured feel

Lots of natural covering material was also in evidence with real leather, knitted wool and felt wool on display. Ligne Roset new sofa range The Elysee covered in range of wool colours was a good example of this trend.

The other trend we observed is the fact that furniture is getting smaller. A growing number of single people are living in smaller spaces and need small and multifunctional furniture. As various areas of the home merge, furniture has to be light and flexible because it is used wherever it happens to be needed at any given time rather than remaining in the same place for years on end. This not only includes smaller upholstered furniture, but small desks and bureaus as well, because the communication technology we use is also getting smaller.

Ligne Roset Ursuline desk sums up this trend with its sleek, slim appearance

Wall units are becoming ever more compact and slender. The large and chunky TV is increasingly being replaced by an elegant flat screen model, and thanks to digitized information, contemporary customers no longer need so much storage space. LED lighting technology has arrived in the furniture and interior design sector where, besides providing energy-saving lighting, it is being used to create lots of colourful atmosphere as well.

Brinkmann Moebel gave a perfect example of this

Colour trends were mid-century blue, shadow grey and  industrial pinks

Hulsta new products 2011

Every year in May we visit the Hulsta factory in Germany. They have the most stunning 100,000 sq metre showroom based there that they take the opportunity to display their new product ranges in once a year. I have included some images & brief descriptions of the new products we have chosen for our showroom that will be on display by September 2011

The new Living room range was Neo available in a stunning range of matt or high glossy lacquers with the possibility of combining these with walnut wood

A fantastic new media panel was introduced as part of the Neo range. This has integrated speakers & an optional Ipod/phone drawer that allows the user to play videos or music direct from ipod/phone through the TV. There is also an optional blue tooth function for further flexibility in terms of playing movies & music directly through the media panel.

Unique bottle storage adding another dimension to this impressive range

The classic bedroom range Venero was given a new lease of life with the addition of light brown ash as a wood finish

New clever under bed storage has been added

Lastly a new bed in the venero 11 range was added with additional height more akin to divan bed height

The Hulsta Multiforma wardrobe range was given an overhaul with some highly stylish new designs & features

Multiforma 11 wardrobes offer a new higher height & square corner solution

Also the introduction of a new-made to measure walk in wardrobe system in Multiforma 11 caught the eye

Salone de Mobile Milan 2011

As always it was great fun to visit the stylish furniture fair housed in the impressive Fiere Milano exibition centre. The Milan show never fails to disappoint & this year was no exception. The show sets the trends for the future of interiors, we can get an idea of colour & design trends for the Autumn & beyond.

With the current tough economic climate this years fair was more reactionary than revolutionary. There was not a great deal of new products but instead the focus was directed to updating existing products by  adding  new colours & finishes. Colours were easy on the eye with grown up neutrals high on the agenda, the emergence  of varying shades of taupes was livened up with splashes of sulphate blues, blush reds & perky yellows.

In terms of new design Orbital, the extending table designed by Pininfarina in collaboration with the Calligaris technical team who invented the ingenious opening mechanism stood out. The black or white coated rigid polyurethane column provides high stability while the dramatic aperture in the middle gives this table a streamlined look. The new extra-clear glass top reveals the ingenious opening mechanism with its stylish metal arms supporting two glass extension leaves that simultaneously lift-up from under the top with a fluid, circular movement. When extended, it can seat up to ten. All exposed metal elements are available in the stylish new Matt Silver finish.

There was a definite tilt towards casual & informal living evident on most stands. The new Rolf Benz Mio sofa collection demonstrated this perfectly with its laid back styling coupled with its flange stitching detail the emphasise on comfort.

Visit to Spring Fair 2011

We arrived at the NEC Birmingham just after 9am and were surprised at the full car parks with many visitors thronging the main thorough fair before entering the many different  exhibiting halls. The organisers announced record attendance, which is not surprising considering what’s on offer, from design-led gifts, kitchen & housewares fashion jewellery, christmas decorations, fireworks, art & framing, garden living, stationary, toys, gadgets and party and much more! At Beadle and Crome we cater for discerning customers so our sights are primed at market leaders. Our main suppliers always feature a must see showcase of design-led home and gift products including unusual home accessories so we made for their stands early on. We were not disappointed and bought new lights with stylish pebble bases in neutrals and this years vibrant colours.

Colour was much more evident this year featuring a lot of glass wares in vibrant blues, purples and pinks.

Some of these exciting products are beginning to arrive in our showroom including some unique iridescent aluminium pictures that change colour as you pass by including pictures with swarovski crystals. We know you won’t be disappointed when you visit our showroom looking for that unusual gift.

Free I Pad 2

For the whole of April 2011 we will be running a special promotion on all Hulsta orders received. We will offer less 15% on all Hulsta orders + a free Ipad 2 that have an after discount total of £5000. Please see our website http://www.beadleandcrome.co.uk/Hulsta+Promo.php for exact details & terms & conditions

Beadle & Crome Interiors International

At Beadle & Crome interiors we like a challenge. Our most recent venture entailed a particularly tight deadline, two direct international deliveries by our own top professionals, and detailed on site assembly work. Our client needed to furnish a high quality Geneva penthouse apartment for use by top company officers, and our tender involving a preliminary on site survey with subsequent follow up plans, incorporating brands such as Hulsta, Skovby, and Ekornes Stressless, persuaded them to enlist our services. A large proportion of the furniture was sourced from mainland European suppliers, who normally operate on 3 month turnarounds. This was not an option for us, as our deadline was only 8 weeks – which included the Xmas shutdown! With a considerable effort by all involved most of the furniture specially selected was delivered to our warehouse 10 days before D day. Because the timing was so tight, we decided to immediately dispatch one of our company vehicles on the long journey south through France, then across the Swiss border the following morning with all the furniture that was collated to date (we just couldn’t wait any longer). As you can imagine parking can be a problem in Geneva but with a little sweet talking and good fortune we managed to secure a spot just across the busy main road. Our top delivery team of Neil and Tweeky wasted no time in carefully installing the furniture and having done so, returned to base two days later. The remainder of the furniture arrived at our warehouse just 3 days prior to our deadline. We knew it was going to be tight but had already planned for a return journey for Neil and Jonathan with only 72 hours in hand! An early sailing on a cold Thursday morning in February, and a refreshingly traffic free journey through France again, placed us conveniently for the final leg to the Swiss border .With the paperwork settled we headed for Geneva central to install the final pieces of furniture and furnishings, and carefully check everything was just right for the first arrivals the following day. For us this project has been a complete success, and the feed back has been very positive. Although it is by no means the first time we have undertaken an overseas assignment, (to date we have been to Portugal, Spain and Dubai) we believe our logistical knowledge and experience gained over the years and our personal professional service, could be of great help for any future clients contemplating furnishings for overseas properties.

Below is a selection of images showing off the completed apartment

Trends for 2011

January is an important month for sales in our showroom but also for our buying team here at Beadle & Crome Interiors. Our buying team visit several important trade shows in order to purchase new products for our Spring 2011 collection. We also visit these shows in order to indentify the latest trends in furniture & interiors. We aim to produce a series of blogs that will keep you our customer up to date on with our new product selection & give you a sneak preview before it hits our sales floor. Also we aim to offer you an insight into interiors trends, colours, designs that you expect to see over the coming months here at Beadle ~ Crome Interiors.

IMM Koln is held every year in the middle of January and showcases the home interiors of the future,  the biggest furniture  suppliers from all over the world present their latest products here. We made our yearly pilgrimage to this exciting show and made some exciting buying decisions that will shape our Spring collection here at Beadle ~ Crome Interiors.

On the whole the aesthetics of the furniture we saw were defined by angular & folded structures. The dominant colour was cold grey, accompanied by ash grey & black and brightened up with vibrant dashes of citrus yellow, mandarin orange, lagoon blue, lip stick red & olive green. A light taupe mediates between grey and white and adds a little softness to the colour scale.
The most exciting new product we added to our collection was the ploum sofa designed by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec for Ligne Roset. Ploum is a vast shape on which the whole body rests on a soft, welcoming surface. Its seat is low & the whole sofa offers an organic feel. The use of a stretchy fabric is like a symbolic parallel to a contemporary lifestyle, in which flexibility of use and comfort seem to us to be essential. The Ploum is like a ripe, voluptuous piece of fruit.

Another exciting Ligne Roset product we added to our collection was the Ruche Bed designed by Inga Sempe for Ligne Roset. Last year Inga Sempe had designed the Ruche Sofa for Ligne Roset. This year she had transformed the same design concept into a bed. A thick duvet with unique stiching detailing lies across Ruche’s slim,elegant frame.

Perhaps the most exciting stand we visted was designed by Dutch manufacturers Leolux who created an under water garden themed stand to exibit their fantastic new Sella armchair designed by Patrick Belli

All in all we had a very exciting visit to IMM Koln 2011 & have a lot more to talk about in our forthcoming blogs

Hope to see you in our showroom in the near future

Howard Olley

How To Look After Leather Furniture.

As you examine your Natural Leather furniture you will notice the variation of the surface, divergencies in the colour and markings such as scars, patches, scratches, small holes and wide-textured areas (these are dung marks). These variations and irregularities, together with the creases, markings and insect bites, are the signs which discerning owners cherish in fine leather. They are not flaws, but genuine signs of an animals skin.

None of the aforementioned features have a weakening effect on the hide. Therefore, those characteristics caused by nature are not a justified complaint.

Fillings for cushions and arms are much softer and luxurious, departing from the older packed materials. The combination of these two factors means that during the first few weeks of use creasing and wrinkles will form naturally in the leather. They are designed into the furniture and give it that soft, inviting look which is an inherent quality of the best leather upholstery.

Nothing is proof against everyday wear and tear, so inevitably in the course of time leather upholstery changes its look and feel. However, certain guidelines may be followed which allow the natural leather to age gracefully.

To keep your leather in good condition it is essential that the surface is cleaned regularly and kept free of dust and dirt. This is best achieved by daily wiping over with a clean, dry, soft cloth, and every week washing completely with a damp, clean, soft cloth, paying particular attention to where the head rests, and arms, hands and legs are in regular contact with the upholstery. A mild soap may be used in conjunction with the damp cloth. Care should be taken not to flood the surface of the leather with too much water.

This regular treatment will help to prevent surplus dirt or grease building up on the surface. If this treatment is not followed the surface of the leather becomes clogged with layers of built-up grime, which will have an abrasive, damaging effect on the surface.

Some hairdressings have an adverse effect on the surface of the leather and care should be taken to protect the hide when such preparations are used. Do not use any of the usual hide products, such as saddle soaps, unspecified polishes, creams, detergents or varnishes, or any other form of treatment. They may have a damaging effect on the surface of the leather.

We can accept no responsibility for the use of these or any other unspecified remedies. After about a year certain leathers can benefit from the occasional application of our hide food.

Please do not hesitate to consult us for further details regarding your particular leather upholstery.