Categories / Design and Interiors, Homeware

Horrockses Fashions’ inspired products at the V&A

Horrockses apron


Vintage clothing connoisseurs will no doubt be aware of Horrockses Fashions. Started in 1946, the company specialised in full-skirted, colourfully-printed dresses. The company will be the subject of an exhibition opening at the Fashion and Textiles Museum, Bermondsey in July but if you can't wait that long you may be interested to learn that some of their bold patterns are being reproduced on products for the V&A

The V&A now holds the archives for Horrockses Fashions and have drawn on some of their textile designs for some Spring inspiration. The company had a long history of working with great textile designers and the V&A's range includes this apron in a Rose pattern that was originally designed by Pat Albeck in 1953. The pattern is also available on a (oh so twenty-first century) tote bag. 

Pat Albeck is actually Emma Bridgewater's mother-in-law (you can see some of her contemporary designs on their website), so perhaps these designs could also offer a little inspiration for this Mother's day? 

The apron costs £15 while the bag costs £10. 

Buy it from the V&A Shop

Categories / Design and Interiors, Food and Drink

French Bull ’60s-style tableware at W2

FB plate ring dinner

Previously only available by ordering through an American website (and paying the corresponding delivery fees) W2 are now selling French Bull's bright and colourful, '60s-inspired tableware on these shores. 

The products are designed by Jackie Shapiro who is one of the designers behind Tepper Jackson (we featured their Pop Art inspired passport holder at the start of year) and the products share the same bright colours and eye-catching graphics. This psychedelic style melamine plate is typical of their style and sells for just £8. 

The range also includes a similarly colourful platter for £20 and salad servers for £8. 

Buy them online

Categories / Design and Interiors

Monty 1930s-style armchair at Heals

Monty

It might have a wooden frame and plenty of curves, but we think the Monty armchair at Heals takes its inspiration from a few years earlier.

Indeed, those big, bold curves might be straight out of a 1930s home, especially when teamed up with that American black walnut (although you can opt for a lighter oak finish instead). Aside from that, the Monty also a distinctive curved back and a good, chunk cushion for comfort, upholstered in a vintage-style fabric.

Available now, it's priced around £1,495.

Find out more at the Heals website

Categories / Design and Interiors, Homeware

Graham and Green ’50s-style dining table and chairs

G&G table

A contemporary design with mid-century looks courtesy of Graham and Green's '50s-style dining table and chairs

The oak table and chair have a light, stylish look with their slanted legs, while the oval table top and chair backs add to the vintage feel. You just need to get out your favourite tableware to complete the retro look. 

The table costs £695 and the chairs are £185 each. 

Buy them from the Graham and Green website

Categories / Design and Interiors

Case Valentine midcentury-inspired bedstead and bedside table

Case_bed

A subtle midcentury twist for your bedroom is certainly offered up with the Case Valentine bedstead and bedside table.

It could well find a niche too, with very few retro-styled beds on the market – the only other one we've seen of late is the Retro bed by the Sleep Room. This one isn't quite so extreme, instead offering those tapered legs and a European oak construction,  as well as birch slats, an integrated headboard, a clear matt lacquer finish and plenty of room from its king size.

If you like that look, check out the matching bedside table over the page too. The price of the bed is £1,195, while the bedside table is £225.

Find out more at the John Lewis website

Read more

Categories / Design and Interiors

1970s space age Orix desk and chair by Vittorio Parigi and Nani Prina

Desk

As someone who spends most of his waking life at one, I'd like to think of myself as something of an afficianado of desks – and this Orix desk and chair by Vittorio Parigi and Nani Prina is one of the best I've seen in a long time.

Produced by Molteni and Co circa 1970, it's pure space, offering up a fibreglass and chromed metal desk and chair, the desk with a hinged glass writing surface, and adjustable lamp and sone grooves which might, by accident, be good these days for the cables from your laptop.

Each piece still has a paper manufacturer's label, making it something of a catch at auction. Yes, this is an auction-only piece, available via the Bonhams Pop and Op Art sale at New Bond Street, London on 10th March 2010. Estimate? What seems like a reasonable £1,000 – £1,500.

Find out more at the Bonhams website