Corston Architectural Detail

This May could be our most creative and sociable month yet. In Europe, we’ll be attending Design RDV events throughout the month. On 12 May we’re in Rome and Belfast, on the 14 May we’re in Florence and Dublin, and on the 19 May we’re in Milan. For London Craft Week, we’re hosting events at our Pimlico Road showroom. Starting with a bookbinding workshop on 12 May with Megan Stallworthy, followed by an evening with interior designer Alice Gaskell on 13 May and a stone carving workshop on 14 May with Lisi Ashbridge. In the spirit of spring, Belgravia in Bloom begins soon after (18–24), and our Pimlico showroom will be decorated with a floral display from The Wild Sweet Pea florists. At the same time, we’ll be exhibiting alongside more incredible plant displays at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show (19–23). We’ll also be at Clerkenwell Design Week, where we’ll co-host an afternoon tea for interior designers on the 19 May with Edinburgh Weavers Ltd in our Pimlico showroom. Then it’s time for ARCHITECT@WORK in Brussels (20–21), followed by Warsaw (27–28). In the USA, we’re at HD Expo in Las Vegas with leading hospitality professionals on the 5–7 May and the ICFF tradeshow from the 17–19. It’s a full and inspiring month ahead, and we’d be delighted to see you along the way.

When it comes to their design philosophy, Laura and Gracy Berkeley-Hawkes believe in a pared-back, blended way, with a little bit of imperfection. They recently transformed a Cotswold threshing barn, blending agricultural, Georgian and Roman influences in a way that honours both the building’s heritage and its setting. ‘We love visiting historic houses and looking at the surfaces and fabrics and how they've aged,’ Gracy tells us. ‘What we do buy, we really love. It’s a very considered choice.’ That same care was extended to even the smallest details, such as the addition of our bronze switches and paintable sockets. ‘It's very hard to get good finishes,’ says Laura, but making the investment is worth it, because ‘you're touching those switches all the time. The way the push feels in your hand and how the surface feels is extremely important.’ ‘I think they are like jewellery,’ adds Gracy. ‘You look at the wall, and it's adorned with a nice piece of jewellery. People never believe how much difference it makes, but it does.’ To find out more about their approach to design, read our latest article: https://lnkd.in/ezU74EAg

We’re looking forward to returning to the home furnishings capital of the world. It’ll be our third time at High Point Market in North Carolina, and we’ll be unveiling something new for our American customers: our Brookfield pendant light. Featuring an elegant, three-tiered shade in hand blown fluted glass, this statement light is available in two sizes (medium and large) and three finishes (bronze, antique brass and polished nickel). We’ll also have other lighting designs, as well as our hardware, switches and sockets on display. It’ll be great to meet everyone – and if you’re attending, do drop by our stand and say hi. Our team are always on hand to help, whatever your project. You can find us on stand IH201, floor 1, International Home Furnishings Center, Commerce Concourse, from 25–29 April. High Point Market Authority

We’re excited to announce that our Grove collection of switches and sockets, tailored specifically to the Italian market, are now available. Joining the Kew collection, which features thinner, flush-fit plates, our Grove collection offers a slightly thicker, bolder design in solid brass. Retrofitting these new plates is incredibly easy; they simply clip on to standard Italian back boxes. Like all our pieces, they share the same refined design, precise engineering and timeless three finishes: bronze, antique brass and polished nickel. To see them for yourself, follow this link: https://lnkd.in/eYip7GEB

We go to trade shows all over the world, with hand-built stands displaying our pieces. This Earth Day – and because it’s trade show season – we’re taking a moment to share our sustainable approach to exhibiting. Here, our product design and development engineer, Ross Titherington, shares how we reuse the components of our stands, which are made from high-quality materials. ‘Our aim is to create physical environments that best represent the Corston brand. We want them to be sustainable, adaptable and beautifully executed,’ he explains. Take a closer look at our approach to sustainability from Ross, as well as other members of our team on our website: https://lnkd.in/eg9Mb6kE EARTHDAY.ORG

Our Milan Design Week pop-up is open. Come find us at Tortona Rocks, a key location on the Fuorisalone circuit, where some of the week’s most exciting design moments unfold. We’re presenting our Grove range – our bolder collection of switches and sockets that are easy to retrofit and which we’ve newly redesigned specifically for the Italian market. We’ve also got other recent launches here, including the Cotswold lighting collection and our Sloane reading lights. Find us at Via Tortona 31, Milano (20144), from 8am to 8pm, until 26 April. Fuorisalone.it

For the first time, we’re participating in Milan Design Week. A driving force behind this week is the world-famous Salone del Mobile.Milano, as well as Fuorisalone – a series of independently run events held across the city every April. As part of the Fuorisalone circuit, we’re exhibiting at Tortona Rocks, one of the most dynamic hubs of Milan Design Week. Our pop-up is showcasing the new iteration of our Grove switches and sockets, which are easy to retrofit and have been recently redesigned specifically for the Italian market. We also have our other recent launches on display: the Cotswold lighting collection and our Sloane reading lights. Come and visit us  at Via Tortona 31, Milano (20144), from 20–26 April, 8am to 8pm and check out Fuorisalone.it for the full Design Week programme.

For 33 years, CASA DECOR has exhibited in Madrid, Valencia and Barcelona. This time, they’ve picked a house in Madrid, in the artistic, historic and literary neighbourhood of Barrio de Las Letras – where many greats from the Spanish Golden Age lived. The house dates to the 1800s, and it’s a beautiful example of an urban palace in a classical style, with a white marble staircase, high ceilings and decorative mouldings. Now, 3500 square metres have been transformed by designers and industry professionals, and we’ve been looking at our lighting, hardware, switches and sockets in their designs. As the opening events unfolded, we also had the pleasure of seeing Mireia Semis again, who gave a talk on one of her latest projects, and how she used our pieces in the space. The house is open to visit until 24 May. Find Casa Decor at Calle San Agustín 11, Barrio de Las Latras.

This barn renovation brings contrasting elements into perfect balance. After years living in and renovating London properties, which also served as shoot locations, Laura Berkeley-Hawkes decided on a totally different setting – a barn in the Cotswolds. Teaming up with her daughter, Gracy, for their first project together as design studio Berkeley Hawkes, they set about creating a space that’s classic, yet modern. Elegant, yet comfortable. If you’re curious about how it all came together, we’ll be sharing their design philosophy soon.

For 33 years, Casa Decor has exhibited in Madrid, Valencia and Barcelona. This time, they’ve picked a house in Madrid, in the artistic, historic and literary neighbourhood of Barrio de Las Letras – where many greats from the Spanish Golden Age lived. The house dates to the 1800s, and it’s a beautiful example of an urban palace in a classical style, with a white marble staircase, high ceilings and decorative mouldings. Now, 3500 square metres have been transformed by designers and industry professionals, and we’re pleased to see our pieces in many of their schemes. We’ve been collaborating closely with Ana Guillem & Puertas Sanrafael, Inmaculada Recio Villarejo & træ, MANUEL ESPEJO & edelmann kitchen, and Estudio Rebuelta Domecq & the Italian Trade Agency. To see their creations for yourself, you can experience CASA DECOR at Calle San Agustín 11, Barrio de Las Latras from 9 April to 24 May.