Leading interior designers from across the length and breadth of the United Kingdom have been notified that they are shortlisted in the region’s most prestigious property competition in association with Google and Bloomberg Television. CFD is delighted to learn that it is one of the finalists that may win a highly commended or five-star award.

The gala awards presentation will take place on October 28th at the London Lancaster hotel near Hyde Park. The event is part of the International Property Awards, which is now in its 17^th year and has become recognised as the highest standard of excellence throughout the global industry. Attaining one of these coveted awards is evidence that CFD is capable of excelling over some very strong contenders within the highly competitive UK property arena.

Later this year, the highest scoring winners from the UK Property Awards will compete against other winning companies from Asia Pacific, Africa, Arabia, the Americas and Europe to determine the ultimate World’s Best in each category.

The judging panel consists of more than 80 professionals whose collective knowledge of the property industry is unsurpassed by any other property awards. This year’s judges include James Bacon, UK account manager of Google; Peter Bolton King, group chief executive of the National Federation of Property professionals; David Dalby of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS); and Mike McNamara of the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS).

Christina Fallah of CFD said of the award, “It is flattering to be amongst the finalists and recognised by my peers at an event like this”

For further information go to our contact page or email us on info@christina-fallah-designs.com

Looking through all the cuttings I realised that almost a half of the collection depicts animals. There are mainly birds and insects, therefore a ’new player’ on the scene immediately captured my attention – a tortoise. I was wondering why. Is there again a connection to Japanese Imperial family? What meaning do they have?

I started my research. Generally, the best place where to go to learn about arts is V&A museum. I learned that many Japanese art and crafts have decoration or shapes based on the natural world, reflecting the Shinto belief in the importance of the seasonal succession of seed time and harvest. Buddhism too teaches that people should try to achieve harmony with nature. Among the motifs on fabrics with embroidery or prints, tapestry, statues and objects from V&A collections, there was a carp, tiger, frog, dragonfly, cranes, swallows, butterflies, and a tortoise. First, I thought that it is a turtle as I was not sure where this creature lives.

Then I found out that in Japanese mythology the tortoise carries the world on its back and is the guardian of the northern section of the universe, together with the snake. Its shell is believed to show sacred inscriptions, and it is believed to live to an exceptional age. The tortoise is associated with longevity.

After all, a tortoise has a value, a symbolic meaning. Not only to Japanese Imperial family, but to all Japanese people.

Look at the little creature with a huge importance shown on our cutting.

Hana

CF

My thoughts were following. Each cutting is slightly bigger than A4 size, on a high quality hand-made paper, showing floral ornaments, birds, turtles, fans, all in the same “taste”. The rhythm of depicted motives is waved, pleasant, no sharp edges… the collection with natural motives seemed to me to be either Chinese or Japanese. But how could one without professional knowledge establish which one it is? I could not get it wrong. If someone made the effort to collect these, there must have been a reason why.  And I wanted to know it.

So, I took it step by step.  The motives – What are they? Mainly flowers. Or more generally, symbols. Does it tell me something? What kind of flower is that? I had a look into a book called Hidden China, flipped through, but I didn’t see these on every page. I only noticed a couple of birds and some flowers. Ok, but it wasn’t convincing enough. I continued my research on the internet. Decorative elements China …ehmm… to compare with Decorative elements Japan. Finally! I found a fan, more importantly, plenty of flowers. Not just random flowers, Chrysanthemums. Here we go, the Imperial Seal of Japan or crest is used by members of the Japanese Imperial family. A 16 petal chrysanthemum with 16 tips of another row of petals showing behind the first row. And the association with the Chrysanthemum Throne, a metonymic term used to identify the Emperor of Japan. So these flowers are very important in Japanese culture.

As V&A museum describes, Japanese decorations are often very simple and effective communicators of meaning (they are a high context culture). Flowers may be reduced to bare essentials, maybe as little as five petal shapes joined to a central circle.

Thus, confirmed, this Japanese collection of very carefully selected designs is highly valued, and has a symbolic meaning associated with the Japanese Imperial family.

You can have a look at this cutting with Chrysanthemums.

Next time, I will reveal what else I have learned from this investigation of Japanese symbols.

Hana

Papier peint “TENNIS” by Madame de Andrada showes unusual design combining art and sport.

What a great imagination!

Isn’t that amazing?

Hana

This original French edition by Henri Clouzot contains perfect examples of art at that time,  a combination of geometry, lines, planes  and flowers in imaginative style.

You can admire this design called “Mirage” with us.

Hana

Sneak into the selected homes wrapped in a special CFD cover and be one of the few people holding it.

Why not to have unique signed copy you cannot find anywhere alse at a fair price of £35.00 per book?

Postage or shipping and packing will be charged on top dependant on where the book is being sent to.

All you have to do is to contact our office on 02075841334 or send an email to info@christina-fallah-designs.com.

Perspectives on Design London brilliantly showcases the creativity of locally based residential design professionals, from architects to artisans, through crisply designed layouts with vivid photographs and interesting editorial. The stylistically diverse collection includes the work of dozens of celebrated creative experts. Whether focused on the home’s design, structure, decor, amenities, or outdoor living spaces, each professional featured in the upscale coffee-table book offers wonderful insight as to how bespoke residences come to fruition.

Although we were sad when leaving our ‘second home’ which we often called the place, we believe it is a change for better, with new opportunities for CFD. This new space is Grander in that it is on the Ground Floor with a gigantic window full of natural light, and yet it cosy, we are all happy to be here. We have moved right next door, where CFD’s sister company Lightplan is based. Having both companies under one roof brings more benefits and even closer collaboration.

Please note that our address has changed to:

2a Cromwell Place
London
SW7 2JE.

Georgia Horton designs and hand prints highly illustrative wallpapers combining themes of light and texture, symmetry and spatial illusion. The bold, graphic designs, bring a bright new look and upbeat contemporary style to Georgia’s wallpapers.
The wallpapers are all made in England, employing only the best quality materials.

View the collection