Gorgeous, Pricey Furniture I'll Never Be Able To Afford: Design Junction

The London Design Festival 2012 is in full swing and a co-worker thoughtfully registered me for Design Junction - a design exhibition held in what used to be Royal Mail's sorting office near Holborn. Think big warehouse space, filled with Scandinavian design and pop-up shops that would have trendy, trust-fund 30-somethings chomping at the bit for. Plus a whiskey "tasting masterclass". Uh huh.

I spent my time wandering around the space, lusting after gorgeous, pricey furniture I'll never be able to afford. These are the designs that IKEA will rip off 3 months later in a slightly more cumbersome way. "Ooh, this is cool!" I enthused, picking up a salt and pepper grinder for £65. It's all about the design, dahling. A few familiar names were represented: Orla Kiely (and her instantly recognizable leaf pattern), Arne Jacobsen and Conran. I wasn't as struck by the lighting options as I was the furniture: retro, Scandi designs dominated, with sleek, minimalist silhouettes in bright and cheerful colors.

And the textiles. Oh, the rugs. And the scarves. In particular, this throw from Klaus Haapaniemi:

Just. Obsessed. The catalogue is beautiful and filled with cushions, wall hangings, rugs, and bed spreads that I can only dream of. One day, one day.

In the end, I scored a free, awesome tote bag and a coveted perfume sample from Diptyque. Afterward, I cleansed myself of all pretentiousness by spending the remainder of my lunch hour in the newly opened Primark on Tottenham Court Road, investing in a pair of £6 furry slippers and a £10 fleece robe bedecked with pink stars. Those would not look good lounging on an Arne Jacobsen sofa. No.

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Design Junction is on between 19-23 September. Entry is free. For more information, click here.

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