Rose Uniacke has redesigned and extended her pared-down and elegant shop on Pimlico Road.  In the light-filled rooms she combines an eclectic mix of antiques with bespoke pieces to create elegant and comfortable interiors. A spacious studio below acts as the creative hub for the expanding interior design side of her business.

On the large 17th century walnut refectory table are some of Rose Uniacke’s cashmere blankets. The range is exclusive to her, and available in different sizes, colours and textures.

The ‘Dodecahendron Pendant Lantern’ designed by Adolf Loos (1870-1933) hangs above an elegant antique sofa upholstered in grey velvet.  Also visible is a ‘Right-angled wall light’ designed by Rose Uniacke, available in four different metal finishes, and with clear or frosted glass.

Rose Uniacke installed the elegant staircase which leads down to the basement.

These occasional tables with wrought iron hoof feet are available with tops in different materials.

The practical Drapers’ table with boarded oak top can be made in any dimensions and finish.  The set of eight mahogany and leather dining chairs were designed by Kaare Klint (1888-1954).

Rose Uniacke is at 76-82 Pimlico Road, London SW1W 8PL. Tel:020-7730 7050 www.roseuniacke.com

Plain English Design have just launched a new collection of ‘colours for cupboards’ available exclusively to their clients. The palette of twelve colours, developed by interior decorator Adam Bray and stylist Sue Skeen, have some great names: ‘Rice Pudding’, ‘Woollen Flump’,  ‘Boiled Dishcloth’ and ‘Pretty Pickle’.

‘Hallway’ by Plain English with bench seat painted in ‘Inky Nib’;  walls painted in ‘Scullery Latch’ ; scullery painted in ‘Army Camp’.

‘The Anteroom’ with cupboards and stools painted in ‘Scullery Latch’.

‘The Spitalfields Kitchen’ with cupboards & walls painted in ‘Draughty Passage’; dresser interior & doorframe painted in ‘Army Camp’; larder doors painted in ‘Scullery Latch’; larder painted in ‘Boiled Dishcloth’.

In the downstairs showroom, the cupboards at the back are painted in ‘Rusty Nail’, and in the foreground, in ‘Coal Scuttle’.

This blind in their showroom acts as a paint chart. The colours are:

1 Scullery Latch ; 2 Starched Apron; 3 Inky Nib; 4 Coal Scuttle; 5 Pretty Pickle; 6 Dripping Tap; 7 Army Camp; 8 Draughty Passage; 9 Rusty Nail; 10 Wollen Flump; 11 Rice Pudding; 12 Dishcloth.

Plain English kitchens start at £40,000. Other rooms start at £25,000.

These shots are taken in their Marylebone showroom, at 28 Blandford Street, London W1U 4BZ. Tel: 020 7486 2674

www.plainenglishdesign.co.uk ,  01449 774028

Karin Verzariu of Key Interiors gives us essential guidance on how to choose the right fabric for your sofa and armchairs.

1.    A textured neutral fabric is a good choice, camouflaging any small spots; it will be more interesting than a completely plain fabric for some time to come. It will also blend well with scatter cushions in patterned or strong colours, which are easier to change if you tire of them.

2.    Patterns can be good for families with pets and children as they camouflage the wear and tear. Beware of mixing too many patterns though, as you may tire of a pattern more quickly than a plain fabric.

3.    Weaves and blends are often strong and durable, and frequently made in natural materials which will only require an interliner to meet fire retardant regulations, and so are softer, more pliable and comfortable to sit on.

4.    Leather is easy to clean but can be cold to sit on in winter and stick to you in summer. However, good quality leather does look better and better with age. Beware of very light coloured leathers – denim jeans might rub off on them and create an unwelcome blue effect.

5.    Polyester and blends: these can usually be more easily spot-cleaned but may not meet fire retardant requirements and may require back-coating which can stiffen fabrics.

6.    If there are pets in the family it is advisable to avoid velvets and chenilles as their fur will work its way into the fabric. Cats love to claw at them, too.

7.    Review the rub test; if it’s over 30,000 it would be a good choice as it’s more durable.

8.    If you dislike wrinkles it’s best to avoid linen. There are linens available with an added viscose or similar mix, and this can reduce this fabric’s propensity to crease. Linen can be prone to soiling especially in light colours.

9.    Choose the best quality fabric you can afford and you will enjoy it for many years.

10.   Don’t forget to think about the interior construction of your cushions when choosing your sofa – feather, feather/ down or foam with feather wrap.  The seat cushions are often filled differently than the back cushions, which need to be softer. Remember that the fabric is only a covering – what is beneath it is even more important.

Established for over 30 years, Key Interiors develop long-term relationships with their clients by offering personalised, bespoke designs and interiors for their residential or commercial projects. Led by designer Karin Verzariu (member of the BIID), the team create exquisite spaces tailored to their client’s wishes and advise on every aspect of design projects from inception to completion. Tel: 05601-267 291   www.keyinteriors.co.uk

Larsen‘s 2013 Collection focuses on two distinct themes: a sophisticated ‘haute-couture’ collection with chic metallic effects,  inspired by the glamour of Hollywood’s golden age in the 1930s, and a graphic and architectural look with vibrant colour contrasts.

These glamorous sheers are ‘Carson’ and ‘Crenshaw’.

‘Riverside’ in Silver.

The curtain is ‘Lynwood’ in Poppy gold; the chair is upholstered in ‘Conrad’ in orange; the plain cushions on the right are in ‘Lauren’ in Pewter and Lagoon, and the patterned cushion is ‘Fullerton’ in orange.

Curtain in ‘Jackson’; chair in ‘Fullerton’; cushion in ‘Sunset’.

Cushions in ‘Conrad’; chair in ‘Fullerton’.

Larsen are known for their high quality velvets, weaves, sheers, metallics, silks, upholstery fabrics and reversible patterns. Metallic and linen sheers with unusual openwork weaves and fringes; woven silks; textured squares, stripes and circles with copper metallics and plain silks. Also new this season are ten highly graphic wallpapers which feature both new and well-loved patterns reinterpreted for walls with iridescence, flocking, tone-on-tone techniques and textured grounds.

See the full collection at www.larsenfabrics.com

The Spring Decorative Fair is on this week in Battersea Park. Always popular with decorators, it’s a great  source of painted furniture, Gustavian & Swedish design, 20th century design, lighting, accessories and named-design furniture, and excellent mirrors. Here are some stands that caught our eye…

An early 19th century French confiserie cupboard filled with original sweetie packaging. It’s £7,500 from Appley Hoare.

Another corner of Appley Hoare‘s lovely stand. The set of fourteen 18th century Italian hand-coloured shell engravings is £4,800.

This regal French gilded lantern is £2,950 from Norfolk Decorative Antiques.

Antique French mosaic tiles, c1890,  sourced in Lyon. The set of 390 tiles is £3,500, from The Reclaimed Tile Company.

Amsterdam dealer Odette Welvaars is exhibiting at the fair for the second time.

These 1920s vellum suitcases, many of them with their original travel labels, are priced between £250 and £850 each. From Gallery 1930.

An impressive collection of mid-20th century rattan mirrors (£200 each) on the stand of Belgian dealers P&L&H.

Reclamation Warriors source these vintage ‘frigos de boucher’ in France and can convert them for you into larders or wine cases.

Blue Linen specialise in French antique linens, textiles & clothing.

18th, 19th & early 20th century chairs and sofas from The Antique French Chair & Sofa Company.

Jenny Hicks Beach’s Persian and Turkish rugs, rubbers, carpets, kilims and cushions.

20th century decorative furniture and lighting on C20C’s stand.

Vintage garden tools from Garden Artefacts.

For more details on all these dealers see www.decorativefair.com

The Spring Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair is on until Sunday 28 April at The Marquee, Battersea Park, London SW11. Opening hours: Thursday 25: 11am-8pm; Fri 26 and Sat 27: 11am-7pm; Sun 28: 11am-6pm.

This delightful fabric, Nonsuch Palace, is based on an original 18th Century English block print, and depicts Henry VIII’s magnificent Nonsuch Palace which only survived 150 years and then acquired almost mythical status.

This 1572 watercolour of Nonsuch Palace by Joris Hoefnagel is one of only four contemporary depictions of the palace. The painting captures the ornate building as it was in the 16th century, shortly after it was completed. It was sold by Christie’s in 2011.

It was said no other king’s residence could equal its magnificence. Yet this watercolour is almost all that remains of Henry VIII’s lost palace. It was finished shortly after Henry’s death in 1547. Built by the king to outshine his greatest rival, King Francis of France, the extravagant building was meant to make a huge architectural statement. Instead, it acquired almost mythical status as, despite its contemporary fame, it was ripped down after just 150 years by Charles II’s mistress to pay off her gambling debts.

‘Nonsuch Palace’ and ‘Nonsuch Ground‘ (the simpler design) are 100% cotton, 137cm wide, and £125 per metre.  They both also come in blue. Delivery is 4-6 weeks.

The latest (beautifully photographed) Spring look-book from URBANARA features these lovely accessories in an array of bright colours. This online brand specialises in high-quality home furnishings in natural materials sourced from around the globe, direct from local suppliers. All of them are very resonably priced too.

This ‘Cavaillon’ tablecloth is made in Lithuania. The textural look and feel of the natural fibre (it’s 100% linen) looks great with the delicate hemstitch border. Choose from neutral white, brown or a white/brown blend, £55 for the 130 x 170 cm size (available in a larger size too).

‘Kalpetta’ mango wood bowls with a silky feel. Sourced from aged mango tree plantations (mango trees don’t produce good fruit after seven years and are usually cut down), these unique designs have been finished with beeswax and have a brightly-coloured lacquer exterior in red, blue, or green. £18 each.

Cornflower blue ‘Amily’ with circular quilted design,  100% cotton (also comes in crisp white),  £45. The blue & white stripe bedlinen with shell button detailing on the duvet covers and pillowcases is a design called  ‘Nashua’, in 100% cotton sateen,  It’s available in four soft colours and three sizes. From £45 for a single duvet cover, £12 for a pillowcase.

This ‘Agra’ rug in a kaleidoscope of colours is handwoven in jute and cotton for a robust finish. It’s a generous 170 x 240cm size, and costs £85

See the whole collection at www.urbanara.co.uk

Kate Dyson of The Dining Room Shop in London shares with us the advice she gives to her private customers – and to a lot of decorators too if they are a bit unsure!

What style should you choose? Something antique, something contemporary, something timeless?  Something polished?   Something painted?  To a certain extent this will be decreed by the overall and other furnishings in the room.   There are no hard and fast rules.   Tables and chairs do not necessarily need to match in style, colour or finish.   Whatever style you end up choosing, this advice will help you select something that will fit in your house and lifestyle.

Size.  First work out the ideal size, whether this is for a table  in the kitchen or a dining room.  I do this in my shop all the time for customers.  It is worthwhile homework before you order.

For circulation around the table when people are sitting, you need a minimum of 3 ft  between the table edge and the wall or the next piece of furniture.  More space is more comfortable.   This will help you work out the best table width and length, or diameter if it is a round table.

As a general rule of thumb, rectangular and oval tables work best in rectangular spaces.   Round or square tables work best in square spaces. A rectangular table should be wide enough for large dinner plates on either side with space for serving dishes in the centre.   36 ins is a good minimum width.  This will depend on the space available.

If you are short of space, then 2ft between the table edge and the wall or next piece of furniture, will be enough for someone to sit, but not for someone to walk behind the chair.
You need 22 – 24 ins  minimum of length of table per person sitting, plus an extra amount to compensate for the legs and overhang.  This will depend on the design of table you choose, as well as on the width of your chairs.

Make a template. Now, if you want to do this yourself, make a template of the size you have estimated with newspaper and put it on the floor in the proposed table size.  If you have the space,  make the table as large as seems comfortable within the space.  You will never regret making room for more people.  A good bespoke or antique  table is something to hand on to the grandchildren as a family heirloom.
While the paper is on the floor, lay out a full table setting.  Do the plates and side plates fit comfortably?  If the setting is tight on the corners, see if the table can be a little wider and longer.  We can work this out for you with one of our computer sketches if wanted.
Where a table has four legs in the corners, multiply the width of the chairs by the number you need down the side of the table, then make sure this measurement fits between the “inside legs” of the table.  It is not comfortable to sit with your knee banging into a table leg that is badly placed.
If you are tight for space on a rectangular or rounded table, choose a trestle or pedestal style because it will be easier to accommodate chairs on the corners, rather than working around the legs.   This type also is best for tables in alcoves.
Gently rounded corners are good for tables where families have young children – less chance of banged heads.

Apron height. Think about the apron height.  Most tables need a frame to support the top (the apron or skirt).   Can you fit your knees underneath?  Our tables are made with a 24.5 ins  minimum space under the apron, which suits most people.   Tall customers are asked to measure from the top of the knee to the floor, wearing a shoe when seated.   This enables us to make sure the tables we make are comfortable to sit at.  I call it table tailoring. When buying antique country tables, which often have deep aprons, sit at the table before buying, using a normal height dining chair.

Extending tables. Do you want an extending table?   There are many different types.  I advocate having extension leaves at the ends of a rectangular or square table, rather than fitting them in the centre using a sliding table top.  Why? Because the table looks much better when unextended if it is one solid piece of wood.  Also if there are joins in the centre, especially on family kitchen tables, they are crumb traps.   This does not apply to antique style formal pedestal tables with leaves, nor to circular tables, which need either leaves to fit in the centre, or to fit around the edge to extend the diameter.

Round tables – as a rule of thumb work on a diameter of 4ft 6 ins to 5 ft for six people to sit comfortably, depending on chair width; 5ft to 5ft 6 ins diameter for eight; 5ft 6 ins to 6 ft for ten and 6ft to 6ft 6ins for 12 people.  Again, we will work this out for our customers using computer sketches. Also for a round table, make a template, and lay the plates around it, so you can see how it will look.   Do you need to add a couple of inches to the diameter if you have enough space?

Timber – hardwoods are best because if properly kilned before making up, there is less chance of the timber splitting.   We use well figured oak from sustainable sources for most of our kitchen and family tables, also elm, walnut  and cherry.   For new formal tables, there is mahogany coming through from sustainable forests in West Africa, grown often using seeds from Brazilian mahogany trees to give timber with good figuring.   We do not like to use hardwoods from non sustainable sources, such as South American rainforests.   Our tables are made in England and we are proud of this.
Pine is a soft wood and should not be used for tables in hot conservatories or any room which is centrally heated and has no humidifier.  A hot and dry atmosphere equals a table that can split. Cherry and walnut are beautiful, but should be avoided in a conservatory or a room which gets overhead sunlight, because they can shrink in the heat.

Finishes – nothing beats pure wax for a rich finish, but it needs looking after.  Spills and hot things make marks.  Modern varnishes are more hard- wearing and come in matt, satin and gloss finishes, which are applied above the wood stains to give durability – important for family and kitchen tables.   We supply polish samples so customers can make sure they have their table finished in the best colour – from natural or limed, through to dark tints or painted finishes.

Antique tables. An antique table should keep its value best – though “brown furniture” is not in fashion at the moment and therefore less expensive than it was a few years ago. Buy from reliable sources, so you are sure you are getting what it says on the ticket.   There is much to be said for having a bespoke table that looks antique or new and that exactly fits the space, rather than making a compromise on size.

Before buying, make sure you can get the table through your front door.   Or see if it can be delivered with the top or legs off when there is a narrow  access.   We can tell many stories about lifting tables over garden walls, down narrow brambly back alleys,  through windows, and manoeuvring up narrow stairs.

Chairs. Having chosen the table, don’t forget to consider the comfort of your chairs.   This is just as important.   Hard tiny chairs do not necessarily make for relaxed seating.   Cushions or upholstered seats make for more conviviality – and that is a whole different subject.

The Dining Room Shop makes tables,  chairs and associated furniture in a variety of styles, from the rustic to the formal and from antique-looking to pristine.  It also sells a wonderful selection of antique and new china, glass, silver and linen, and anything else you might need in your kitchen or dining room.  The shop is celebrating its 29th birthday this year.

Visit  The Dining Room Shop at 62 White Hart Lane, Barnes, London, SW13 0PZ. T: 020 878 1020   www.thediningroomshop.co.uk.

And for more suppliers of kitchen and dining tables, including made-to-measure tables,  see The House Directory’s listings pages. We also have other inspiring sources of china and glassware, cutlery, tablelinen and tea towels.

Interior and fabric designers Carolina Irving and Penny Morrison have transformed a storage container at The Gas Works, off the New King’s Road, into the prettiest showroom for their lampshades, ottomans and cushions made using fabrics collected from around the world.

The trade showroom opened last week. Contact www.irvingandmorrison.com for an appointment to visit.

And see Carolina Irving and Penny Morrison’s fabric collections across the road from their container showroom at Redloh House Fabrics, The Old Gasworks, Unit 7, Redloh House, 2, Michael Road, London, SW6 2AD

British textile company Fermoie has just opened a lovely new showroom in London, just off the Fulham Road in the heart of the ‘Brompton Design District’.

Fermoie (set up by Martin Ephson and Tom Helme, the original partnership behind Farrow & Ball), offers an assortment of charming contemporary designs alongside textured plains and stripes in a palette of soft, muted colours. Fabrics are designed using hand-drawn patterns and roller-printed to order in their factory in Marlborough, on base cloths woven in the UK.  Fermoie patterns are uniquely presented by colour Families – Reds, Yellows, Greens, Blues and Neutrals and edited to ensure infallible combinations whatever the scheme. They have now added cushions, lampshades and bespoke furniture to the range.

Your fabric order will be printed and dispatched to you within 5 working days with free delivery to mainland UK.

The range of 204 lampshades comprises ten sizes in three styles exclusively using Fermoie fabrics.

Fermoie also offers a new curtain service: they do everything, from measuring to making to fitting, and can advise on colours and designs if you need a second opinion.

The new shop is at 2 Pond Place, London SW10 6QJ

And some of you may remember it as it looked when it was Anoushka Hempel’s shop!