ForLook Interior Design

Summer is here and most of us want to go out more and enjoy the long sunny evenings. Here are a few suggestions as to where you can go in London if you’re interested in art & design.

Garden design

If you want some inspiration for your garden or just want to see top garden designs, the Chelsea Flower Show is the event to visit. It will be on between 22-26 May.  You can still get tickets.

TIP: the evening tickets are really good value. If you go on Wednesday, the 23rd - between 5.30-8pm, it only costs £12.50!

If you can’t make it, or you just can’t get enough of horticultural shows, visit the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show between 3-8 July or the Tatton Park Flower Show between 18-22 July. Buy tickets here.

If you like the Open House weekend, you might enjoy the new Open Garden Squares Weekend (9-10 June) when you can visit many of London’s private gardens.

Art

Starting today, and then on, on the first Thursday of every month, many of London’s art galleries and museums will stay open until 9pm to encourage people with a day job to see cutting-edge art. Well known art galleries, such as the Barbican and the Whitechapel, and many smaller galleries participate in the schemes - visit firstthursdays.co.uk to find out more.

It’s always worth visiting the Royal Collage of Art (RCA) Summer Show. This year they celebrate their 150th year, so expect an even more fabulous show. The show will feature the work of over 400 students from the Schools of Fine & Applied Art, Architecture & Design, Communications, Fashion & Textiles and Humanities - this is the place to spot future star designers. The Show will be on between 15th June-28th June, admission is free.

Interior Design

The Bathroom & Kitchen Expo at Excel between the 13-15 May is supposed to be a trade exhibition. However, you don’t have to be a designer to visit it, and if you want to remodel you bathroom or kitchen in the near future - this is the place to go for inspiration and trend-spotting.

If you like the Channel 4 TV show Grand Designs, perhaps you should visit the Grand Designs Show at Excel between 8-10th June.  The show will cover cutting-edge interiors, self build & gardens as well as providing a shopping arcade to buy furnishings and artworks.