At its essence, Livingetc's series of Design, Directed dinners are about what happens when you get the right people in the right room. Our favorite creatives, sharing ideas about the future of design, informally piecing together where decor is going next. Interior designers next to muralists, textile makers next to brand leads, with no press releases, no panels, and no pitches — just passionate people hanging out and chatting about what matters (and what doesn’t), in a setting that feels more like an intimate supper club than an industry event. Where connections are forged over beautifully plated food.
Our latest event, in partnership with Farrow & Ball, was held at Gold in Notting Hill, and the evening was a masterclass in atmosphere. The long table was layered in soft, desert-scape hues and stunning sculptural arrangements from local florist Calluna… the kind of florals that make you stop mid-conversation just to take them in. We gifted charming matchboxes made of bespoke Compton Marbling and these were the touch that completed the place setting.
The Power of Connection
The magic of Design, Directed lies in its guest list, a hand-picked mix of designers, editors, and creatives who shape the way we live. These are the people whose work defines what ‘good taste’ looks like today, and whose ideas spark the trends that everyone else follows. This time, the table featured:
Pip Rich, Tiffany Duggan, Margot Tsim, Suzy Hoodless, Joa Studholme, Lonika Chande, Charlotte Cosby, Natasha Lyon, Dhilnawaz Khan, Jason Orme, Georgia Farey, Pandora Taylor, Ellen Merchant, Kate Guiness, James Waterworth, Sarah Spiteri, Skye McAlpine, Andrew Griffiths, Queenie Ingrams, and Jo Le Gleud.
“This whole series started as a way of manifesting our tagline, bringing life to design — creating friendships outside of showrooms and staged settings,” said Sarah Spiteri, Global Brand Director and Group Editor in Chief of Livingetc. “We’ve now run five globally, and each one feels more curated and considered than the last. We call it a social network, and we often look to past guests to suggest future invitees. We’re building a community, not just an event.”
A Celebration of Color
Though there was no formal announcement, the evening was quietly in celebration of Farrow & Ball’s newest colors — a palette that whispers rather than shouts, each shade rich with depth and history, inspired by fairly ordinary treasures that are beautiful in their familiarity.
“The partnership felt so natural; it all started with a magazine feature we were running, where some of our favorite designers shared their thoughts on the latest hues,” said Pip Rich, Livingetc’s Executive Editor. “It was a conversation that was already happening, and this dinner just continued it.”
And when designers gather, color will always be on the table. Thanks to the aesthetic cohesion of the tablescape, talk naturally turned to shades like Dibber, an earthy green with the depth of well-worn garden tools, and Duster, a golden hue aged to perfection. There was much admiration (and sample pot wars) for Marmelo, a deep, buttery orange that, as Joa Studholme explained to the group, feels as familiar as morning toast.
The Night That Didn’t Want to End
The sign of a great event is, of course, that no one wants to leave. At Gold, that was exactly the case. Plates had been cleared, but no one was moving; conversations were still flowing, ideas were still being exchanged, and collaborations were quietly being formed over final sips of coffee.
Because that’s exactly what Design, Directed is about. It’s not just another industry dinner or panel discussion but something much more. Design Directed is a salon-style gathering where the most interesting people in design come together to talk, challenge each other and, best of all, have fun. And who would want that to end?
