It’s been an exciting time at Fig1 as we grow into our larger premises. As a small business we’ve grown organically over the years. 2 years ago we were given the opportunity of a much larger premises in the city centre of Bristol. It has been a learning curve for me filling, stocking and displaying that much bigger space to its full. This season it feels like that process is nearly complete with the shop looking fuller than ever. Our small shop at Wapping Wharf hasn’t been forgotten. Although it cannot display as much stock as our larger shop it has a wide variety of items and we’ve been able to change up stock down there much more regularly.
Luke and I have mixed tastes and the great thing about the new shop is that we can curate a collection that spreads across different themes and styles. We’ve been able to encapsulate everything from quirky characters and bright blocks of colour to more sedate organic shaped items in muted tones. We love this variety and we think our shop shows that you can encapsulate different styles in your home with a little air and space between things. Here are some key styles from the new collection and more on what we love about them.
Our Top 4 Interior Trends for Summer 2023
Interior Trend No.1: Organic Shapes, Natural Finishes
Anyone who has ever glazed a pot will tell you that magic happens in a kiln. When you fire a ceramic object with a glaze on you do not know what will come out. Heat and fire will melt the glaze and the effect is not always what you expect. Fig1 is currently stacked high with products that celebrate the magic of the hand made. Although it has long been a trend to allow for more natural, less precise shapes in products, the pandemic saw a real surge in interest in this kind of product. People were more connected with craft and making things during covid and this kind of product became very popular.
In the collection we have a number of items from companies such as Nkuku and Morgan Wright that are hand crafted with glazes and patterns applied by artisans, not by machines. Nkuku bring us glassware that is mouth blown and where bubbles of air can be trapped in the glass. These small imperfections are part of the story of how the product is made. Bubbles in glass catch the light and “imperfect” shaped glasses have swirls in the glass that bend light beautifully. We love Nkuku’s new Adhit glassware for this – it is blown into a mould to produce ridged glasses that are perfect for a Negroni with a beautiful weight in your hand. Another favourite are the Kapi cups from Morgan and Wright which are hand made and glazed, the glaze varying slightly between each one. The hand made nature can be felt when you hold them in your hand.
Bloomingville have bought us a beautiful selection of mugs too all of which are glazed in ways to make each one unique.
Interior Trend No.2: Japandi
We’ve long loved both Japanese and Scandinavian design, and in fact the two are linked. Denmark had an early trading relationship with Japan and trained many craftspeople there. They’ve now coined a new word with this combination – Japandi. This celebrates the links between the two cultures and shows the crossover between them. Something seen in both cultures is a love of good design and quality materials, with an emphasis on texture and pattern.
Danish company Bloomingville has created the beautiful Neri range of ceramics, which combine a smooth black finish with a raised lined texture, creating a variety of striking pieces. Reminiscent of the pattern of the sun with the radiating lines coming out of the centre seen in many Japanese prints, this range would suit everything from fresh colourful salads piled high in the large serving bowl, to noodles and sushi in the bowls and side plates, to a steaming mug of hot chocolate or a morning cuppa. Sleek and stylish, the simple design will showcase any food, showing it off perfectly.
British design company Esmie (which stands for Elegant Stationary Made in England) has a love of colour and pattern and the unique qualities found in handmade Japanese paper. They have produced a range of cards and notebooks which celebrate the beauty of hand silk screen printed paper from Kyoto in Japan, creating exquisite images with bright colours and striking designs. The papers are then used to cover quality notebooks which are bound in the south of England. These are probably Luke’s favourite item we have found for this season and he can enthuse about them for hours!
Soon to arrive is a range of ceramics from Japan, which are designed by Tokyo Design Studio. With reactive glazes which lead to different patterns in each piece, contrasting smooth and raised textures, as well as a range of bowls, plates and cups, this is a collection we are really looking forward to sharing with you. The collection also includes some pieces in beautiful presentation boxes, which make the perfect gift.
Interior trend No.3: Mid-Century
There is a current trend in design of 2020s to reference aspects of design from 1940s, 1950s and 1960s including from later arts and crafts movements to classic Ercole furniture This can translate into simpler lines and less cluttered patterns, as well as an emphasis on the beauty of natural materials and clean sleek textures. The value of well designed pieces is being seen again and this has led to some classic shapes and patterns making their influence of current products.
The Eternity Calendar by Danish company House Doctor is a simple but clever desk calendar which is made up a a range of blocks and slates, which can be rearranged to create a perpetual calendar, with the date and day. With a nod to 1960s architecture, this combines simple Danish design with smooth and tactile materials to create a striking addition to your desk or to display on a shelf, perhaps next to a small vase or plant pot.
Bloomingvile, another Danish design house, has created the hand painted Frigg stoneware vase, which highlights the beauty of crafted pieces. It has a muted green colour with white vertical lines running down its rounded from contrasting with a more natural finish at the base. Perfect filled with a bunch of colourful flowers to liven up a living space or dining table, it is also striking enough in its own right to be displayed on a shelf or window sill.
We have many beautiful pieces of furniture which focus on sleek design and the varied patterns and grains in natural wood. of which the Milano Desk is a perfect example. This desk features a push release drawer and an open storage area, great for hiding away your papers and your laptop. The natural matt oak finish really shows off the beauty of this wood and the desk would great in any home.
Interior Trend No.4: Colour Block
Leading on from Mid-Century design, the geometric references of mid-century design are being paired with huge dollops of colour to give a different take on that trend. Amongst the team at Fig1 we’re calling it “Colour Block”. There are lots of references in art work we’re stocking to Bauhaus, although the truth is that the simplicity of Bauhaus wasn’t quite as colourful as the 2020s version of this trend. These prints use simple lines and geometric shapes combined with blocks of colours to produce bright, colourful images which will liven up your living space or bedroom.
This bock colour trend is also seen in many of our new cushions and throws, including the super bight range of cushions, seat cushions and throws by Remember. The bold stripes and wide range of colours are a great way to create a whole new look, buy injecting an explosion of colour onto your sofa or bed. The Portofino Beach Towel is in fact a huge throw which would be equally good on a sunny beach or on top of a bed. It also has clever corner pockets which you can use to hide your valuables as you head off to a swim in the sea or to weight the throw down with stones on a blustery day.
Colour is a key part of the Danish company Hubsch’s DNA. We have a range of their gorgeous new products including the glass Bonbon Bowl in pink and grey with the separate base which becomes a little bowl along side the main one, to the Line Knitted Cushions with their bold colourful stripes. Our favourite item, however, has to be the Pavilion Block Plaid Bedspread with its stripes and blocks of colour, cosy quilting and dark maroon trim. Brighten up your bed with this geometric bright bedspread, injecting loads of colour into your room.
