Alabasta designs for Avenida Home at Tent London 2012

The official launch of the Avenida range of tabletop accessories has happened in the last few days at Tent London and it seems to have gone very well. Tent is part of London Design Festival, an exciting city-wide series of Design events and launches and it takes place in the Old Truman Brewery on Brick Lane in London's East End. Last year my Alabasta trays were there as part of the Åry Trays stand (see this post) and this year their UK agent Isabel Saiz was there launching her own collection of mats, coasters and glass platters with her new separate venture Avenida Home. I was there on the first day and there was a very good response so I will be posting any developments from the show as soon I hear about it.

Here a few quick shots of the stand - lots of eye catching colours and patterns set off against a dark and moody background:

Isabel Saiz (on the left) on her way to chat to some friendly Dutch journalists on the first morning

The Alabasta and Michael Angove corner at the Avenida Home stand at Tent London

Avenida Home's Alabasta presentation at Tent 2012

All the Avenida products are available to buy online from Avenida Home.

New! Folk Stripe round coasters, placemats and glass platter

The Alabasta range of tabletop accessories is expanding! I've just designed some new round placemats to complement the rectangular Folk Stripe mats. These ones feature concentric circles like the best selling trays, have a modern glossy finish and come in four tropical colourways. There are four 28cm mats and four 10cm round coasters all made from top quality laminated eucalyptus wood with a heatproof melamine surface. They can be purchased individually so you can choose whichever ones you like most or create a combination, which is what I would do as I like them all mixed up. They are now available to order on Isabel Saiz' newly launched Avenida Home website, as are all the other Alabasta placemats and platters. Find the coasters here and the placemats here.

Alabasta 10cm Folk Stripe coasters

Alabasta 28cm Folk Stripe placemats

In addition to these new mats the 30cm glossy glass platter now has an intensely rich red border with shades of pink, orange, teal and kelly green. It's really vibrant - the photo hardly does it justice. It's great for cakes, bread and cheese but it's also heatproof to 180℃ so ideal for hot pans. Find it here.

Alabasta Folk Stripe Glass Platter

If you're in London and would like to see these and the other Alabasta placemats in real life, they will be on display at Tent London next month where they will be officially launched by Avenida Home on Stand F17. It's at the Truman Brewery in the East End from 20-23rd September and forms part of the jam-packed London Design Festival, a 10 day celebration of London's pivotal role in global design.

Tent London 2011

I went to visit the Tent London show yesterday to help Joakim, Isabel and Michael Angove on the Ary stand with the selling and see how my new trays were doing. It was busy with trendy East London types and journalists and the show had some really interesting exhibits. The show finishes on Sunday and it's well worth a look if you are in that part of town.

New Folk Stripe collection launching at Tent London

The new Folk Stripe collection will be launched this week at Tent London at the Old Truman Brewery and for retailers is now available to order online from the Åry Trays website:

38cm red Folk Stripe tray 

..38cm also available with an ivory background

..11cm mini trays in 2 colourways

Here is the 49cm Folk Stripe (also available in the very large 65cm size) and a 35cm diameter chrome leg stool with laminated seat.
The 49cm and 65cm trays can be purchased with collapsible chrome or white wooden legs to turn them into tray tables

..and finally the curved back birch ply chair with multi coloured stripes on the front and back.

This collection takes its inspiration from folk embroidery patterns combined with positive modern colours that will cheer up the dullest autumn. It took a long time to the get the juxtapositions of pattern and colour right but it was great fun and it is enormously satisfying to see them sampled and finally ready to be bought. Stockist details to follow as soon as I have them.
Photos: Andrew Wicks

Elle Decoration approved!

Yesterday I got the very exciting news that the 38cm Folk Stripe tray has had the Elle Decoration seal of approval. They have selected 10 products from the 200 international exhibitors at Tent and this is the first on the list..

"Our Media Partner, Elle Decoration has selected their top ten products at the show – you can also look out for the Elle Decoration swing tags on exhibitor stands too!

“Elle Decoration has always championed the idea of outstanding and enduring design, whether it be contemporary or vintage, from the UK or further afield. As the world’s best-selling homes magazine we are proud to support Tent London and its unique, trend-setting exhibitors.”

I am very pleased!