At a time when sales of ceramics are reaching record prices, Emily Tobin, Arts & Features Editor at House & Garden, Robin Cawdron-Stewart, Director of the Modern British Department at Sotheby’s and Marijke Varrall-Jones, Director of Maak, the online ceramic auction house, discuss the pleasures and perils of buying ceramics and why the medium is appealing to a new generation of collectors.

Harriet Forde, BIID president-elect will be chairing the discussion and will be joined by BIID Member and interior designer Brian Woulfe of Designed by Woulfe, Rosie Winston and Henry Prideaux.

Although environmentally sustainable interior design has become a bigger issue in interior design practice, the frequency with which interior designers make suere materials selection is concerned. stainable choices in real practice is still limited, particularly wh

Philip Mould will talk about his experiences in the art world and how research, technology and conservation have revealed secrets of undiscovered paintings.  Philip is also president of Plantlife (the charitable partner of the event) and will relate how his attachment to nature  has helped in the process of bringing lost paintings to life.

Interior decorator Lucy Hammond-Giles and bespoke wallpaper maker and conservator, Allyson McDermott will discuss how historic interiors inform decoration today with Elizabeth Metcalf, Features Writer, House & Garden.

Alasdair Cameron, Managing Director of Cameron Gardens, runs a thriving garden design business in London and Devon. Clare Foster talks to him about his passion for plants and taps into his ideas for urban gardens and container planting, showcasing some of his London projects and his own garden in Devon. 

It was Winston Churchill who said, “We shape our buildings, thereafter, our buildings shape us.” Research over the years has shown us that buildings have a direct effect on our physical & mental wellbeing. This is particularly significant, as we’re known to spend 90% of our lives within interior environments. We’re become increasingly aware of factors & lifestyles that can impact our health, but what part do interior environments play in enhancing or being detrimental to our wellbeing? If we want everyone in our building to be healthy, what design decisions need to be considered? Anna Whitehead discusses the principles, strategies & materials to consider when designing interior environments for our health & wellbeing. 

Architecture is an ancient profession, but the role of architect has constantly changed and evolved. It is surprising how many people today are unaware of the full range of an architect’s services. Giving practical examples, Sarah Khan will demonstrate both when an architect’s input is helpful, and what the reasons are for employing an architect. Referring to recent projects, she will illustrate what benefits an architect can bring to your home. She will also explain the practicalities of doing work to you house and how an architect can help with challenges, ranging from creative design solutions to applying for planning/ listed building/ building control consents as well as managing construction on site. 

Gain insight from the professionals on how and what to choose when investing in a new floor covering whether your preference is sisal, wool carpets, runners or a query on rug shapes and size. Laura Houldsworth, Executive Editor at House & Garden, will be in conversation with interior designer Irene Gunter (Creative Director and Founder of Gunter & Co) and wool expert Steven Parsons (Brand Director at Wools of New Zealand) to help you with your decision making. 

Designer and House & Garden contributing editor Matilda Goad, whose scalloped homewares are to be found in all the most stylish interiors, gives her guide to planning a house full of colour. Her practised eye for colour, honed by designing her own bright and beautiful lampshades, planters, and linens, is currently being occupied by her own top-to-bottom house renovation, and Matilda will be sharing her insights and techniques for choosing, coordinating, and living with colour in the home. 
 

The monarchist landowners returning from exile in 1660 brought with them from Holland or France new tastes in garden design, and a longing to put down roots. John Evelyn was one of many employed to create little Edens for them. Alongside the lake-digging and the tree-planting, there flourished a fashion for floral-patterned brocades, for printed chintzes and woven silks and embroideries showing sinuous vegetation curving around pillars and trellises, and for stumpwork – tiny gardens made of wool and silk. Both types of garden – those embroidered on textiles and those planted in the ground, feature in my novel, Peculiar Ground.

This talk is kindly supported by The Arts Society.

What is the value of a home that allows you to live longer? What is the value of one that sets the stage to enable the environment for our children to last? What is the value of a place that promotes an uplifting flow of space and light that engages with our wider worlds?  The talk describes how 1st Age to 3rd Age living, low energy and beautiful places can be created to give legacy at the intimate scale with existing and new buildings.  

Where planning permission is a definition of viability and possibility, Paul Vick architects bring you a 100% planning permission record with new build and listed buildings and those in conservation areas. The talk illustrates with case studies.   

David Nicholls, House & Garden talks to Salvesen Graham, one of London's most sought after design studios, and features on House & Garden's list of Top 100 Interior Designers (published in the June issue). Headed up by Nicole Salvesen and Mary Graham, the firm is known for its distinctly modern take on classic decorating ideas and techniques. Lessons from the past is an opportunity for guests to find out what some of Nicole and Mary's tricks are, where they find inspiration, and how to put your own individual spin on the tried and tested ideas that have been handed down to us from the greats.

Andrew Duff and Liz Hughes, Inchbald School of Design will talk about the important elements to consider when designing large country gardens versus small urban spaces. 

There are countless factors to consider when choosing an architect and often, they can leave homeowners feeling slightly bewildered and worried that their project might not fulfil their ambitions. Amos Goldreich Architecture has many years experience working with a diverse selection of homeowners on transforming their properties. During this talk, Amos aims to educate with his checklist of ‘must-have’ criteria when looking to choose an architect, and inspire with suggestions on how to really engage with your architect to get the most out of them. Choosing an architect should be an exciting process, not a daunting one. Join Amos to find out more! 
 

Panel discussion hosted by Lindsey Blair, Editor, Kitchens, Bedrooms & Bathrooms in conversation with Georgina Townshend, Features Editor, Lauren Gilberthorpe, Interior Designer and and founder of Lauren Gilberthorpe Interiors, and Graham Robinson, Design Manager at Halcyon Interiors flagship showroom.

House & Garden Editor, Hatta Byng speaks to Adam Hills and Maria Speake, founders of the architectural salvage and design company, Retrouvius, about how the stories behind salvaged finds, the imaginative re-use of them, and a commitment to craftsmanship can create inspiring and unique interiors for modern living. 

Man flies to space, astronauts benefit from circadian lighting - what will your home and new lighting technologies do for you? Our environments affect us on every level – physically, emotionally, and cognitively. Rebecca Weir, Creative Director of light.iQ will outline the key lighting design considerations and technologies to be considered when designing a happier, healthier home.

Helen Ritchie will present an overview of the British Studio Pottery movement, exploring handmade pottery in Britain from the last decades of the nineteenth century to the present day, including the work of the Martin Brothers, Bernard Leach, Lucie Rie, Alison Britton and Grayson Perry.

The National Gallery is currently showing the first exhibition in modern times in London devoted to the work of the Spanish artist Joachin Sorolla. He lived until 1923 and his wide range of work from sun filled landscape and genre scenes, to portraits, social themes and nudes, was hugely popular in his lifetime, but fell out of favour after his death. This brief introduction will contribute to the growing efforts to bring his wonderful work back before the public eye.

The Arts and Crafts Movement of the late 19th century brought with it a revival of traditional, handmade jewellery production utilising semi-precious stones, enamel and silver. The designers of these jewels trained using centuries old techniques without the use of machinery and their work is becoming increasingly valuable today. This lecture presented by Dr Sally Hoban looks at the work of designers such as Charles Ashbee, Bernard Instone, Arthur and Georgina Gaskin, George Hunt and Archibald Knox and also the silver and enamel jewellery produced by Haseler’s in Birmingham for Liberty and Company in London.

Amanda Ransom, BIID member and historic interiors specialist at interior design firm Amanda Ransom Design will be in conversation with Tim Corfield, expert at antique curators Corfield Morris. They will discuss the pleasures and challenges of decorating homes in period style and how to plan for and buy antiques.