The RHS Chelsea Flower show is a hub of horticultural inspiration and exploration. From garden trees to indoor blooms, brightly coloured orchids to the most practical weed pullers and greenhouses galore…there is a great deal to enjoy. We’re always on the look out for interior and exterior ideas (whether we realise it or not!) and Chelsea is THE go-to spot for flexing our creative muscles. Much like our fellow exhibitors, we were not only desperate to show off our own display, but very much ready to get nosy and inspect everyone else’s.

Here are our top spots we are sure everyone will be tapping into post-show…

Everywhere! This vibrant towering bloom definitely had its moment throughout the week. Stunning ambers and rich pinks were a highlight. We expect that many visitors have gone home to plant some seeds. Don’t you think they would look lovely on a curtain fabric, perhaps like our very own wheatfield?

Image Via Ideal Home 

Are you as in love with black framed windows as we are? Silver Gilt winners LG also used crittall-look frames, and you’ll have noticed we did too! We made ours from scratch in the warehouse and received many a compliment and request. This look is perfect for French doors and windows for an inside-outside feel, as well as indoors to break up rooms whilst maintaining light and the illusion of open space.

These floral thrones were jaw-droppingly pretty. Okay, maybe not the most practical… but utterly beautiful. Part of the RHS Young Florist of the Year exhibition, these creations were made by a range of talented young people with a plethora of whimsical arrangements. We love how this can be translated into functional uses, such as inspiration for vertical gardens to save space in urban areas, as well as fantastic wedding event inspiration for arches and arbours.

Inside the show and out we enjoyed several botanical murals, whether draped over nearby buildings or as a wallpaper backdrop within stands. We love the idea of these supersized prints on cushions and fabrics. We’ve seen a few homeware brands creating similar wallpapers already, so expect to see this a lot more.

To combine two looks, we also spotted lots of velvets. There were many velvet clad cocktail chairs, bar stools and cushions – we even used bespoke blue velvet poufs in our own stand. This isn’t a new look by any means but it is certainly here to stay.

We can’t wait to see how all these translate into interior (and exterior) trends throughout the year. To see even more of the beautiful gardens and exhibitors, you can follow the RHS Instagram for continued updates.

Whilst we take down the stand at Chelsea, we want to thank everyone who came to say hello and bought an item or two, as well as the dedicated bunch who took home one of our heavy brochures (we ran out very quickly and had to keep topping up!) What a wonderful week it was, made even better by receiving a 4 star trade stand award. Already looking forward to next time…

Take any photos of our stand at Chelsea? Please do send in any snaps to press@jim-lawrence.co.uk or tag us on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. See you next year!

Chelsea is not just about pretty flowers (though that is a perk!) For us it is about the effort everyone has put into their displays, the quality and quantity of artisan design and the atmosphere and bubbling excitement that brews as the event unfurls.

We’ve been working tooth and nail for the past few months to bring you our latest event stand creation. This stand beats anything we have showed at an event before, boasting four rooms to display the finest selection of Jim Lawrence lights and accessories. We opted for a slick black frame with burnt cladding to make an impact when it comes to first impressions. The glass doors give a glimpse of the bulbs glowing inside, aimed at enticing in the crowd! Naturally, an RHS stand would not be complete without luscious garden greens to liven up the metallic and wooden structure. We hope you love the design as much as we are proud of it.

As you might have seen, we took the stand to the Badminton Horse Trials earlier in the month and won their Highly Commended award for our display! What a wonderful way to kick off the season and a testament to the hard work of our team.

We are thrilled to be showing alongside a number of sculptors, furnishers and high profile brands such as Chesney’s, Parks London and our favourite Wallgarden.co. It’s always an adventure exploring the grounds and gardens, so I’m sure we’ll discover many new companies to enjoy. The first ‘Chelsea Late’ experience will also take place on Friday 25 May, with visitors invited into Ranelagh Gardens between 8pm and 10pm for an exclusive evening of music, entertainment, demonstrations and much more. There’s going to be a lot to see!

Let us not forget that RHS is a royal affair, with prestigious awards bestowed for design, display and photography. Last year our Bulkhead light was shortlisted for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show Garden Product of The Year! We have had such an enjoyable and rewarding experience at Chelsea for the past four years and it was a true honour to be recognised in this way. With a few new products under our belt this time round we hope to create a similar buzz for customers old and new.

We’ll be at Pavillion 254 Tuesday 22nd – Saturday 26th May and can’t wait to see you all there. Tickets are almost all gone, so be sure to book yours (if you haven’t already) and don’t miss out! In the meantime, follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter for regular updates and of course a lot of gorgeous photos.

Nadine has been creating magical miniature homes since 2017. After a family project to create a whimsical garden getaway for their own child, the requests for bespoke playhouses like hers came flooding in.

These luxury and playful environments are perfect for forging beautiful memories and heirlooms that will last and be treasured beyond this generation. Out of Nadine’s own wish for her daughter to enjoy a recreational but also educational space in their own back garden as she had, Wallgarden was born to cater for other families and their dreams too.

A lot of brands (ourselves included) tend to put a lot of focus on the interior of a home. This is because it’s where we spend most of our time (inside, looking out) but what about when we’re on the outside looking in, realising the exterior is looking a little tired…? This is where a conduit comes in.

We have the perfect solution for transforming those drooping external wires from a nuisance into a stunning external feature. Our favourite way to light up the night is to group lights and create a glowing feature that wouldn’t look out of place indoors. There’s no reason to forsake style for function. Our Antiqued Brass Conduit is a smart way to hide ugly exterior wiring, particularly when combined with our slim Doncaster Wall Light or Bulkhead Light.

We want to make sure our conduit kits are a breeze to install, so here’s an easy “how-to” guide to assembling your own.

1) CHOOSING YOUR LIGHT

Firstly, decide on the style of light you want to connect the conduit to. We have two robust outdoor lighting designs that perfectly match the lightly antiqued brass of the conduit to bring an aged vintage elegance to your home:

• An RHS Garden Product of the Year finalist, the Bulkhead Light is a respectful nod to old ships lighting with a caged, modern twist. Made in solid brass and fully non corrosive, this handsome light will shine no matter what the lovely British weather throws at it!
• The Doncaster LED Light is suited to the smallest of outdoor spaces, but with no shortage of design detail. With an overall depth of just 5.4cm it would sit neatly in even the narrowest of spaces.

(View the entire outdoor lighting collection here)

2) CREATING YOUR KIT

A solution for even the most challenging space… simply add any of the following items to create the perfect industrial conduit solution. Our conduit kits give you the chance to be creative with your outdoor lighting.

The antiqued brass poles can be cut to size for your convenience, but we offer a 1m or 2m kit to purchase.If you are looking to group your lights as above, the Junction Box is a neat answer to even more wiring and a perfect antiqued brass finish to match your kit.

3) OLIVES AND ELBOWS

Please note that we always recommend you fit your lights using a qualified electrician. However, there is no harm in getting to know the tips and tricks behind the conduit so you understand exactly how wonderful this kit really is! If you want to install your new lighting in a problematic area – do not fear – this is all made possible by the conduit elbow. These joints allow your electrician to fix the poles up, down, across and around corners. This means your can achieve whichever look you are after with ease.

We all know the British weather can be temperamental, so we have ensured the conduits are completely safe. This all comes down to the olive. No, not the pitted kind, but a small ring inside the joiners which is crushed on fixture to ensure a watertight seal to protect the precious wiring.

TIP: If you require additional couples and joiners our helpful sales team are happy to advise.

4) FLICKING THE SWITCH

Once you and your electrician have followed the above steps, you are ready to illuminate your home: Jim Lawrence style. If you still have any questions don’t hesitate to call up our knowledgeable customer service team on 01473 826685 and they will happily walk you through the process.

We would love to see any pictures of your completed conduits! Tag your images on Instagram or Twitter with #JimLawrenceMade or email to press@jim-lawrence.co.uk.so we won’t miss out.

Why not take a look at our full range of exterior lighting and door furniture to add the finishing touches to your outdoor design.

We are often asked how we would recommend our customers care for their Jim Lawrence products so we thought it might be helpful to touch upon a few of our finishes and provide some hints and tips to keep your products looking at their best.

Antiqued Brass

Barbican Pendant in Antiqued Brass

This is our most popular finish and deservedly so. We create this beautiful look by treating our solid brass with an antiquing solution. This solution simply speeds up the natural tarnishing process and means that you are able to take home a truly aged brass product from day one.

TIP: If you are wishing to slow down the natural tarnishing process then we recommend regular polishing with a good quality brush and a soft cloth. One thing we do have to warn our customers about is that chemical polishes may strip away the original antiquing solution too so take care.

Beeswax

Stoke Latch in Beeswax

This finish is truly unique, and if you are looking for a traditional wrought iron look then this is the one for you. The beeswax technique is something that has been used by craftsmen since Tudor times. Each piece is heated in our workshop until the steel darkens and then dipped into hot natural beeswax.

TIP: This finish is one that does require some light maintenance to retain the unique traditional look and feel. To avoid any unsightly corrosion occurring we advise that you apply a fresh coat of pure natural beeswax with a lint free soft cloth every 3 – 6 months.

We must mention that this finish is not suitable for outdoors or bathroom use.

Heritage Copper

Exeter Pendant in Heritage Copper

Copper is a huge trend in interiors and we were excited to launch our beautiful Heritage Copper finish last year to reflect this. Each copper piece is hand finished with an antiquing solution to give this modern finish our staple Jim Lawrence traditional touch.

TIP: Much like the Antiqued Brass finish, our Heritage Copper products use natural, un-lacquered copper. This means that it will continue to age and tarnish over time within your home. If you would like to decelerate this aging process then a handy tip is to use a good quality metal cleaning solution on those tarnished areas. Rub this in briskly with a soft cloth and then buff the copper to restore its original beauty.

We know it is a tough decision deciding on which finish to go for, which is why you can request a free metal swatch of any finish. Alternatively, our sales team not only see all the finishes on a daily basis but also are extremely knowledgeable on which ones work best in certain environments. So, please do not hesitate to give them a call on 01473 828176 for any advice.

“The front door is the touch point between your interior and the rest of the world.”

‘Interior design’ has become an iconic phrase and thanks to social media platforms such as Pinterest we now have access to beautiful inspiration and imagery at our fingertips. The idea of interior design itself has become so iconic that you can now even go to university to study in the field. Lately it has got everyone in the Jim Lawrence office thinking… what about exterior design? This is not a phrase that we hear so often but isn’t it just as important? We feel that the exterior of your home should be a teasing taster of the beauty that is within. So, we have handpicked some of our classic and period exterior product range  to help you create a lasting first impression…

Our Heart Door Knocker has become one of our most popular products and we are thrilled that our customers love it as much as we do. It is hand cast in solid brass and then treated in antiquing solution to give it our signature Antiqued Brass finish. It can tackle anything our unpredictable British weather throws at it and will provide a unique look to your front door for many years.

We listen to our customer’s feedback over the years and this is one of the amazing products to come out of that. The fabulous Yale Lock Surround. This adds a touch of class to that run of the mill Yale Lock and allows for combing a modern locking system with a traditional finish.

This rather clever little cover sits on top of your existing doorbell allowing for an easy changeover. It sits neatly against the wall is available in a range of finishes to match the rest of your exterior. We just love the simplicity yet beauty of this product.

We love seeing how effortlessly these little touches create a big difference. Why not take a look at our full range of exterior lighting and door furniture to complete your exterior design.

What exactly is our Antiqued Brass finish? Is it Lacquered? These are questions that many of our customers ask, so we thought we would stop you wondering any further and discuss the beauty of this amazing material.

If we look back over the years of craftsmanship of brass furnishings then you will see that brassware never used be lacquered. The Victorians kept it highly polished and you would often see the beautifully gleaming door knockers and letter plates on approach to their front doors. If you never polished your un-lacquered brassware then eventually it would tarnish naturally.

So, what is different about our brassware? Well we love that beautiful aged look so much and we want brass to be exactly how our forebears produced it and that is without lacquer! So, we take our solid brass and treat it with an antiquing solution which simply speeds up the natural tarnishing process. This means that your brass lights and door handles not only arrive with a subtle tarnished look but will also age along with you, your family and home.

Bromley Handle in Antiqued Brass

Why would you choose lacquered brass? Well this has come about to suit our modern lifestyle as it believed that it requires zero upkeep. However, don’t be fooled as even the highest quality lacquer and brass can start to tarnish over time – especially if it is an item of heavy use such as a door handle. In fact, having brassware that is not lacquered is easier to maintain as there truly is zero upkeep, you simply let it age and it will reward you with a beautiful natural tarnished look. This means that it truly is the best metal for external use as it is completely non-corrosive. Therefore, our external brass lights such as the beautiful Ship’s Light and our brand-new Bulkhead Light will stand the test of time no matter what the British weather throws at it.

Heart Door Knocker in Antiqued Brass

Whether you are looking to create a beautiful first impression with our Brass Heart Door Knocker or bring sophistication into the home with the stunning Brass Ava Pendant – our Antiqued Brass finish will not disappoint.

We would love to see our Antiqued Brass is your home. Please send any images to press@jim-lawrence.co.uk.

We know that when it comes to choosing the perfect lighting for your home, you want to get things just right. So we want to make life a little easier by helping you decide which wall light back plate is best suited for your needs.

Cottage Wall Light

I am often asked by people ‘what is the difference between Old Gold and Antiqued Brass?’ The true answer is that there is quite a significant difference but it all depends on the item you are interested in. I thought I would take the time to share my knowledge of both the finishes to help you decide which one is best suited for you.

Old Gold

After the success of my last post discussing Old Gold and Antiqued Brass I thought I would keep with the same theme and talk about Beeswax and Matt Black finishes. It is one of the most common questions we hear ‘what is the difference between Matt Black and Beeswax?’ Well, all shall be revealed…

Matt Black is our most hard wearing and uniform finish. It involves the process of the product being blasted to smooth out any imperfections and the paint is then baked on to create a heard wearing finish. The advantages of Matt Black are that it is suitable for outdoor use and can withstand all weathers. It is a striking and bold finish and is perfect for creating a simple yet effective look.