Interiors Events: The Decorative Fair returns to London Battersea Park Celebrating 40th Anniversary

This year marks the 40th anniversary of The Decorative Fair, taking place from Tuesday, May 6 to Sunday, May 11, 2025, at London's Battersea Park. To commemorate the milestone, organisers are hosting The House Directory LIVE on the Mezzanine level, featuring a programme of talks and events designed to ignite interior design creativity.

Among the highlights is a panel discussion hosted by Emilio Pimentel-Reid—award-winning editor, interiors stylist, and brand consultant. 

From All Things Considered by Emilio Pimentel-Reid. Photo: Edvinas Bruzas

Drawing from his latest book All Things Considered, Emilio will lead a conversation with renowned designers featured in the publication: 

Holly Howe, Co-Creative Director of Howe London

Michal Silver, Creative Director of Christopher Farr

Natalia Miyar, designer and architect

Together, they’ll explore how unique period pieces can be used to craft deeply personal and distinctive interiors. Signed copies of All Things Considered, featuring photography by Edvinas Bruzas, will be available for purchase.

The Spring Decorative Fair will feature garden antiques and collectable objects, plus vintage jewellery, watches and couture. 

Additional Highlights from the Week's Events Include:

Wednesday, May 7 at 12 noon

Bringing Homes to Life for Photography: Staging & Styling with Antiques & Vintage

With Alice Robertson (writer, stylist, art director) and Samaya Ling (interior decorator and founder of Porter and Gold)

Thursday, May 8 at 12 noon

Save the Future by Rescuing the Past

With Sara Morel (Salvo) and Sam & Louise Coster (Mongers Architectural Salvage)

Thursday, May 8 at 2pm

MEET THE GREEN GRADS

A showcase of visionary ideas from the UK’s most promising young designers working toward a more sustainable future

Friday, May 9 at 4pm

The Role of Traditional Craft in Modern Design

Featuring master blacksmith Ian Thackery

All talks are free with a valid Fair ticket. Use code THDFREE25 when booking to gain complimentary access.

On 10 and 11 May, The House Directory will also present Makers Market, a showcase of work by artisans and suppliers of exquisite, handcrafted products. 

You can learn more here.

Also taking place in London in the upcoming Week …

Running concurrently from Friday, May 9 to Sunday, May 11, 2025, Ceramic Art London returns to Olympia in West London. Celebrated as Europe’s leading ceramics fair, it will feature 120 outstanding makers from across Europe, Canada, Korea, and beyond. Many UK-based participants bring a global perspective to their work, drawing on cultural influences from places such as Tokyo and Norway. A strict selection process ensures only the finest ceramicists are included in this highly anticipated event.

London Antiques Event: The Decorative Fair in Battersea Park London celebrates 40th anniversary 21-26 January 2025

The Winter Decorative Fair, the first major antiques and interiors event of the year, and London’s largest, longest-running design and arts fair now in its 40th year, when it opens doors on January 21 2025 at Evolution London in Battersea Park. 

Organisers say visitors will be greeted by 130 exhibitors on the ground floor who will be offering "an exciting array of fine and formal antiques and 20th century design alongside decorative and unusual pieces dating from the 1700s to the 1970s", adding that art and sculpture of all periods, collectable ceramics and glassware, silver, architectural and garden antiques, textiles, curios and jewellery can be found in abundance. 

The Decorative Fair Winter, running until January 26th 2025, will also welcome The London Antique Rug & Textile Art Fair, in its annual staging, with 15 specialist textile and carpet dealers showing upstairs on the mezzanine level.

The Foyer Display is The Architect’s Study, inspired by the drawings of classical architect George Saumarez Smith, whose work features in the Fair’s 2025 marketing imagery.  As shown in the photo above, the drawing was taken from the architect's Sketchbooks:  Collected Measured Drawings and Architectural Sketches. The presentation will inspire visitors with a showcase of furniture, art and objects suitable for a study, reading or office area.  All items come from dealers at the Fair and are for sale.

The Winter fair will feature a cross-section of the best antiques and period design on the market today, including furniture, lighting and mirrors as well as rugs and textiles, garden decoration, glassware, silver, ceramics, fine jewellery, folk and tribal art, vintage watches and couture. 

Seasonal favourites at the fair will also include fireplace accessories such as decorative fireguards, irons and grates; club fenders and log baskets/containers; mirrors and lighting are particularly in demand in January; cosy upholstered seating such as Howard chairs and Victorian sofas; useful occasional tables; glassware.

Antiques, design and art Fair: London's Decorative Fair at Battersea Park 3 - 8 October

The Decorative Fair this season, running from October 3 - 8 2023 at the Battersea Park in London is showing a fresh stock selected by 135 of the UK’s top antiques, design and art dealers. It’s a feast for the decorator and collector, say the organisers.  

A treasure trove of refined reflection of stock have been put on display for collectors, interior designers, decorators and admirers to browse and buy from dealers who showcase a wide range and inspiring selection of decorative objects, home design collectables, furniture, lights and art, textiles and soft furnishings to bring unique style and personality to one's home or garden, covering a wide range of eras and cultural influences.

Nick Jones

Justin Evershed-Martin

The Fair’s front Foyer is a special Rococo display featuring a collection of antiques and art for sale from various exhibitors. 

Visitors can see and buy furniture designs and works of art in a light-hearted, often wildly ornate form of decoration that originated in early 1700s France.  Anti-classical in style, Rococo features exuberant swirling scrolls, and elaborate usually asymmetrical naturalistic outlines. 

Wallpaper and textile company Parker and Jules have supplied the Leopard print used on the wall in the window and a panel of a floral rococo-esque print called Eversley, used inside the stand.

A pair of rococo Murano glass wall lights, early C20th, Hossack & Gray.
Photo courtesy of the Decorative Fair

Elsewhere, for those looking for interior design ideas at the fair are a world of decorating possibilities.  

Gallery KIY

"Apple Core" by Brian Caster from MUSE The Sculpture Co.

"Apollo" by Thomas Joynes from MUSE. The Sculpture Co.

Jenna Burlington

DJ Green Antiques

From rustic country seating to sleek mid-century accessories, and traditional storage solutions to contemporary art for a gallery wall, as well as more personal accessories such as high-end jewellery and vintage handbags, and creative design from the last four centuries laid out at The Decorative Fair.  

Han Collection

This Autumn, new exhibitors include Ken Bolan Studio (Wiltshire) offering a mix of modern & decorative pieces, rare antiques & continental furniture, sculptures & paintings.

Also new is Spitalfields House (London) showing an erudite collection of C18th and C19th English and continental furniture and works of art. 

Historic Windsor Castle Desk from Martin D Johnson

L Prentice Art & Antiques of Old Spitalfields Market and The Old Cinema Chiswick shows British painting and sculpture of the 1950s to 70s; folk art and studio ceramics.

The Swedish Rug Company (London) displays Scandinavian ‘folk art’ rugs, flatweave runners and larger rugs dating from the 1900’s to the 1970’s while Schmid McDonagh (London) re dealers in C20th and C21st objects, furniture, jewellery, art, design and books.

King & Country (London) is a specialist in antique Louis Vuitton luggage & luxury travel accessories, unusual decorative items & rare collectables for the study, games room & bar.

Flora Black Ltd (London) shows a selection of vintage and antique vases, ornaments and art and Han Collection of Museum Street ,London showcases  exceptional Korean contemporary art & antiques.

Upstairs on the mezzanine is a specialist fair Tribal Art London, the long-established and only premier UK event for collectors and admirers of original tribal and ethnographic art and artefacts.  

Frans Faber

Kezhia Orege

Specialist dealers offer fascinating works of art, sculptural objects and textiles and accessories made by cultures from across the world, including Asia and African countries.

Photos by Lucia Carpio