Leading the way since 2001, The House Directory celebrates its position as the UK's longest established sourcebook for top-end interior and garden design suppliers and services, as well as all things decorative, from antique fireplaces to zinc lanterns.

Starting out as a telephone information service called Design Line, providing answers to questions about interior and garden design from the public and professionals alike, the brand was able to quickly build up a valuable database to produce 3 editions of The House & Garden Book of Essential Addresses, which was the foundation of The House Directory, now boasting over 3500 companies listed and is lauded with industry testimonials from influencers such as Colefax & Fowler who say: "No other website offers such a range of information and quality of sources."  

Founded by former deputy editor of The World of Interiors, Nicolette Le Pelley, and interior designer and journalist Cheryl Knorr, The House Directory.com is now run by interior designer, architect and entrepreneur Angel Tan alongside a team of contributors.

Angel Tan talks to ANF and looks back over the trends of the past 20 years: "Some trends have disappeared without trace over the years, but it’s fascinating to see how many have transformed into the styles and concepts that are still relevant today. It’s very much to do with the ease of discovering trends, styles and decorative details drawn from online sourcing services such as The House Directory.com offering visitors the opportunity to connect with the finest specialist designers, decorators, craftsmen and suppliers in the UK."

Five Key Trends From The Past

In celebration of The House Directory’s 20th anniversary, Angel has selected five longstanding members who represent key trends from the past 20 years.

Paolo Moschino for Nicholas Haslam – More is more
Nicholas Haslam Ltd. collection derives inspiration from different cultures and styles, providing a selection of high-quality products to create interiors that reflect the personality and lifestyle of their clients. Paolo Moschino has won numerous awards, including a place in the House & Garden Top 100 Leading Interior Designers list, and the Architectural Digest list of the Top 100 Designers worldwide.

The Water Monopoly – Old meets new
The place to go for antique, reclaimed and reproduction bathroom fittings. A popular designer destination for traditional and contemporary original bathroom ware of the highest quality.

Lewis & Wood – Botanical and Floral
Lewis & Wood was originally established 25 years ago and has excelled at producing fabrics and wallpapers with a ’sense of individuality’ and the aura of distinctive, British hand-crafted design. The company also offers a bespoke service to print wallpapers in your own colourway and to scale patterns for specific locations to great effect.

Martin Moore – Classic English Design
In 1975, Martin Moore founded a company specialising in original luxury kitchens inspired by classic design and constructed using the highest quality materials. Over 45 years later, it’s still a family business with designers, cabinet makers, decorative painters and kitchen installation experts who have been with the company for decades.

Colefax and Fowler – Chintz
Originally established in 1939 as Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler Ltd, over the past 80 years the eponymous Colefax and Fowler fabric, trimming and wallpaper company has acquired the U.S.textile firms Cowtan and Tout and Jack Lenor Larsen, the British brands Jane Churchill and Kingcome Sofas and the French fabric house Manuel Canovas. The successful and sought-after interior decorating side of the business goes by the original name, Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler. There is also Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler Antiques, offering 18th-20th century English and Continental furniture lighting, mirrors, pictures and decorative objects displayed in their inviting Pimlico Road showroom.

Trends For 2022 And Beyond

The House Directory.com team has identified five trends and movements that are forecast to become widespread in the years ahead.

Artisanal/Craftsmanship/Bespoke: A trend towards choosing hand-crafted quality over mass-produced quantity encapsulated by the slow living movement, connection with the makers and considered and personal design unique to each project.

Sustainability and Green/Eco: Production and manufacturing methods will become an important part of decision making as sustainable, eco-friendly and ‘green’ choices are a growing priority across the industry.

Maximalism! Skilful combining of large and small scale prints, patterns, checks, stripes, florals, geometrics with the addition of deep, bold colour, wall murals or striking wallcoverings, resulting in layered interiors ad-infinitum.

New Minimalism: Natural textures, organic forms and accents including antique or vintage pieces in contemporary interiors resulting in neutral, calm and sophisticated simplicity.

Wellbeing at Home: The importance of ‘home' has become apparent over the past 18 months; wellbeing at home seeks to create a peaceful sanctuary for entertaining, cooking, indoor-outdoor living, relaxation and family life.

The House Directory.com is looking to introduce Sustainability, Wellbeing, Craftsmanship and Slow Living to the sourcing conversation as The House Directory.com looks to the future.

For trade professionals: To celebrate 20 years, The House Directory.com is offering 20% off membership, starting from £135 plus VAT/year (reduced from £169 plus VAT). Offer expires 31.01.22.

Follow this link to sign up using the code THD2020G The House Directory 20th Anniversary Offer

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