Interiors on the Move

Young, educated and with sizeable bonuses at their disposal, these are people who will no longer content themselves with dusty furniture relics inherited from their parents, or anything that comes from Habitat. Instead they are looking for, demanding even, stylish furniture displayed in slick showrooms. And London’s latest art and interiors shops are giving it to them.

Gone are the intimidating dark showrooms of the past. In their place have stepped bright, relaxed and trendy furniture stores that stock everything from antiquities to contemporary design, all under one roof.

Chelsea is among the top residential and shopping locations in the capital, it is also at the heart of this major new retail trend. Contemporary and traditional showrooms sit side by side on the Kings Road, the area’s main shopping street, and it is here that you will find two brand new additions that are setting the pace for others to follow.

Newest on the scene is Talisman. Set up by Mr. Ken Bolan in 1981, the company was originally based in the English countryside where it had a hugely popular following. But, after 25 years there, Ken saw a niche in the London market to create a destination store for the growing breed of design savvy young collectors.

“The design conscious customer is increasingly interested in the pedigree of a piece, its distinctive nature and its place in design history,” says Ken. “While some of my clients are collectors attracted to a very specific style, an increasing number of people are creatively mixing styles and periods.”

Housed in a stunning 16,000 square foot Art Deco building on the New King’s Road, Talisman offers an eclectic collection of furniture, accessories, lighting and garden statuary. Mixing old and new, fun and serious, Talisman’s collection is innovatively presented over three spacious floors.

“I love mixing up styles and periods and creating challenging yet beautiful environments,” says Ken, his approach perfectly illustrated by Talisman’s interior.

Upon entering the building you are faced with a magical courtyard that is completely open to the elements. The surrounding floor space is home to Talisman’s large collection of mid-to-late 20th Century American pieces, all sourced by Ken on buying trips to Los Angeles, New York, Chicago and Miami. Distinctive designs by Tommi Parzinger, Karl Springer and Michael Higgins can be found next to anything from a Paco Rabanne screen to an ornate Baroque fountain.

Other genres include 17th and 18th century furniture from Europe, romantic Swedish painted furniture – which Talisman is famous for – and bold pieces from 1940s French designers, plus classical and garden statues.

The first floor acts as a gallery space with a largely contemporary feel. “We are leaving this area clean and simple because we plan on hosting exhibitions for young international artists here,” explains Ken. “It will be used for events, launches and fashion shoots, as can almost any other space in the building.”

Accessibility is key to Talisman’s philosophy and prices range from £100 for a lamp, to £2,600 for a pair of chairs and up to £500,000 for a serious piece of art. The selection of different genres and prices means Talisman appeals to both the young buyer as well as more seasoned collectors. And if none of the items in the shop appeal to your taste, Ken will happily create bespoke one-off pieces for clients too.