I can hardly believe it’s been a week since I attended Decorex 2026. Every year I attend, and each year it seems to get better and better.
When you go as an Interior Stylist, you’re looking for key elements to include in shoots and features, but really I just want to share them here with you guys. I have to admit I got a little overexcited at the thought of sharing some of these new-to-me brands and some faves (with gorgeous new homewares) along the way. I haven’t stopped thinking about them all week.
After 48 years, Decorex is still a real must for anyone who works within interiors. It’s a very inspiring place to be. What started out as an industry event for interior designers to do business has become a friendly and inviting sourcing trip for people looking for their own homes. And the rows and rows of stands sound like friendly chatter at a party. Designers are catching up with suppliers they normally only talk to via email, and us lot are seeing what our PR friends are promoting. It’s like getting a behind-the-curtain glimpse of what’s really going on.
There were over 100 industry experts across the talks and roundtables, and I was gutted not to attend any this year (grrr, time constraints), but I heard they were good. There was even one on interior styling with a focus on tablescaping.
But less on what I missed and more of what you came here for… the great finds…
The very welcoming VIP lounge
Claudia Dorsch designed the VIP Lounge, and it was stunning. Named “Back to the Future, The Chalet Reimagined”. Claudia mainly designs for “City, ski and surf for internationally mobile families” so was the perfect fit to design this space. Every surface, corner and detail had something you wanted to recreate at home or include in a shoot- and maybe stroke a little; the fabrics were so soft and tactile. The curved set-up of the banquettes with the cute swivel chairs meant everyone felt part of the same room and conversation. The hand-painted wallpaper by Claire Coles was an absolutely beautiful mural of trees, as if you were looking out of the chalet window. The 70’s-inspired room had an eye-catching central fireplace, which was turned aluminium that was coated. The marks from fabrication made it look like glass.
There were sixty-four original works of art on both the inside and outside of the whole lounge – all commissioned to fit perfectly. And the last thing I’ll mention is the room divider. It’s one of the things I can’t get out of my head. It was striking in design and so clever and effective. I need to recreate this somewhere.
The place to be – the bar!
The Decorex 2026 Bar by Alex Dauley and Grant Pierrus, of AEVEN, had the most beautiful story behind it. It was called “A seat at the table“, and their philosophy is that ‘designers, architects, makers and suppliers work in the same industry, and belong at the same table, where everyone has a seat’. I mean, just to say that is lovely, but the way they designed the space was beautiful. There was one “U” shaped table with no separation, meaning everyone was at the top table.
Along the table were 70 plaques with conversation starters, again to encourage connection and conversations
Each chair was different, with some designed by students and some by well-known artisans. There were no labels, so you wouldn’t know if you were sitting on a £150 chair or a £10,000 one, forcing us to look at the chair we truly liked without being swayed by an impressive name. It was their way of supporting local British craftsmanship. It worked.
On the press tour, we listened to Alex and Grant talk about their process. Alex pulled out a chair at random to describe why she had selected that specific one for the bar. It had an embroidered message across the seat, and it just so happened that the student who designed it was standing right there. Alex didn’t know this. It was a really lovely moment. We all crowded around to congratulate her and take photos of her work
Really Wonderful wallpaper
One of the very best things about events like this is finding new brands and craftsmanship. People who do things a little differently and are just so inspiring. One such person was Tracy Kendall Wallpaper. We chatted to her for a while, and her passion and love for the creative process was evident. Her book of designs was so different, from pocket wallpaper with LEGO people inside to buttons and diamante brooches. Defo one to check out.
Natural Touch Lighting 
I know I shouldn’t, but I just can’t resist touching lighting that looks as good as the globes by United Alabaster Lighting. They just look like little planets all hanging out together with that warm glow. The closer you get, the more mesmerising they are. How beautiful they must look in the evening in a living room, all glowy.
Made in alabaster from Spain, the natural material is backlit to create that individual look. Every piece is as unique as the next, and in a variety of shapes and sizes. You have to check out their website to see more – my shots just don’t do them justice.
The Sexiest Rattan you’ll ever see
Yeah, I know. I said it. Rattan is sexy – especially when it comes from Paris and is in these styles, colours and patterns. I literally couldn’t choose a fave from these chairs by L.Drucker.
Each piece is hand-cained with coloured rattan to create these intricate designs. There’s even a highchair. Usually they’re made of wood, but that can be swapped out for aluminium, making them perfect for outside. I feel a new desk chair coming on – but I may need to save… for a long while first. Which would you choose?
Big WOW factor
Our friends at Hyde House were busy being interviewed; otherwise, I would have stood chatting to Joanne for hours.
Known for creating beautiful bespoke pieces of furniture – including their resinate surface designs – they can take pretty much any paper design, apply it to a surface, coat it so it’s not only gorgeous to look at but practical to use – think side tables featuring wallpaper designs, like the one on their stand.
The clever thing about this set-up is how striking the wallpaper is. Every time I’ve seen a Decorex shot with this in the background, I immediately think “Hyde House”. It really makes their stand stand out from the rest. Clever eh?
The colours chosen for the design are bang on trend, and the whole room looks like a luxurious place to relax, whether for a dinner, drinks or just a really long chat with a friend. Next time Jo – I promise.
You can hear all about Hyde House in my interview with founder Joanne Hauptman here
Floor Stories
I can’t believe I’ve got this far into this post without mentioning two of my favourite finds of the day.
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Studio Jantien
Okay, when I say I literally squealed with delight like a five-year-old on a trampoline when I saw this stand, I am understating it. Oh, my word! What a beautiful riot of colour and patterns, and we’re talking rugs and runners here!
From the Netherlands, Studio Jantien is a fully customisable way of creating a bespoke look to your hallway. As the founder says
“The most rewarding part? “Someone has a plain hallway, the place you drop your keys and rush through. Then our installers leave and suddenly it’s the nicest part of the house. That never gets old.”
— Jantien
You can choose anything from scalloped edges or contrasting edge stitching to runners in any size, material or colourway. They have fun brass stair rods and hardware including frogs, birds, bows and more.
Take a look at me disrupting their stand – I was so excited!
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Coban Rugs
When I first came to this stand, I was caught by how beautiful and natural the rugs were. Little did I know they are all woven on the same Turkish loom- that is just 60 cm wide.
“How then?” I hear you ask, “do they create those huge rugs that go across the whole back of the stand?” Well, I’ll tell you – they sew long runners together. Those seams seamlessly create a stripe design. I had to look really close to see. Even when there is no difference in colour I had to look closely for the seam.
They leave the strands from where they’ve been woven nice and long, so you can keep them as a fringe or you can plait them to give each piece a neat finish. The wool is all from goats and is kept totally natural, no dyeing- hence they’re all grey, beige or brown. They have amazing qualities and can be washed really easily, but I was assured a spot clean is all the owner has needed to do (even though technically they could be popped in a washing machine)
Take a look here
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Well, that tour took a bit longer than expected! But to be honest, I have only just scratched the surface. There was so much to see, so many inspirational ideas, colour combos, interior designers to inspire, and products to drool over. Decorex is still one of my faves.
Seen anything you like? Did I miss any biggies? Let me know in the comments below.
More posts you may enjoy
The Inside Stylists Edit: 8 Tile Collections to check out this autumn
How to Choose Tiles Like an Interior Stylist
10 (tongue in cheek) things no one warns you about when you become an interior stylist
How to Pull a Room Together Like an Interior Stylist
How to Create Moodboards – Coming soon
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