The Conran Shop Paris Showcases: Matthew Hilton Home
To welcome 2018 in style, The Conran Shop Paris has seen a striking new addition arrive in-store. Coinciding with this year’s Maison & Objet fair, designer Matthew Hilton has created an eye-catching installation that showcases some of his eponymous brand’s finest pieces, all crafted to exacting standards by De La Espada’s Portugal-based artisans.
We caught up with Matthew to talk trade fairs, design processes and Parisian vintage shops.
Tell us a little bit about the Matthew Hilton Home installation…
We worked with De La Espada to bring an edit of my furniture together into a single space, designed to feel like a home - it creates what we are calling a "Matthew Hilton Home." It is a fairly simple concept but one that is quite effective, as it creates a sort of universe of our furniture design.
Which pieces can we look forward to seeing in the Paris store installation?
An array of designs! The Tapas Chair, Mary's Side Table, Hepburn Bed, Light Extending Table, Armstrong Coffee Table, Armstrong Armchair, Orson Desk and Welles Table.
Tapas Chairs by Matthew Hilton for De La Espada | Image courtesy of Yuki Sugiura ©
Your designs are distinctly down-to-earth and elegantly designed. Where do you look to for inspiration?
Thank you for that comment, achieving both elegancy and pragmatic functional design is not easy – though it is exactly what I try to achieve. Inspiration comes from everywhere and doesn’t just pop into my head - I work at it, I look absolutely everywhere and all the time, I take photos, I sketch, I see exhibitions… I am pretty obsessed.
What do you enjoy most about working alongside De La Espada?
De La Espada make furniture really beautifully, so when we design something it turns out as the best it can possibly be. Working with a company is always a collaboration; I always work with and around what that company do best and they are a big part of the mix - they put things in too, they contribute to the work in more ways than mere production of the furniture. Each company has an ethos, a personality and an approach. De La Espada make things beautifully.
Manta Chairs accompany the Welles Table | Image courtesy of Yuki Sugiura ©
The Hepburn Bed | Image courtesy of Yuki Sugiura ©
What are your favourite things to do in Paris and which events are you planning to visit during Maison & Objet 2018?
I love the streets of St Germain, off Rue Bonaparte, and all the vintage interior shops - I also love the Mémorial des Martyrs on the island behind the Notre-Dame. I nearly always go to the Centre Pompidou, and this year I’m planning a trip to the market at Clignancourt.
After I’ve been to Maison & Objet, honestly, I go with the flow. I bump into people and hear about things, then go if I feel like seeing something. I go to so many trade fairs, but I am more interested in the city I visit, or the art.
I’ll also be visiting some vintage watch shops - I have a recent and growing obsession with watches!
You can find Matthew’s vintage watch shop recommendations below:
Antoine de Macedo: 28 Rue Madame
Euro Art Et Collection: 5 Rue de la Grange Batelière
Charly La Passion des Montres, 10 Rue Godot de Mauroy
The Light Extending Table joined by Fin Chairs | Image courtesy of Yuki Sugiura ©
The Orson Desk at work | Image courtesy of Yuki Sugiura ©
Matthew Hilton’s Home installation launches in our Paris store on Thursday 18th January 2018, celebrated with a free event to celebrate The Conran Shop’s partnership with De La Espada, Santa & Cole and Atelier Swarovski. This event is free to attend; check our Facebook page for details.
Visitors to Rue du Bac can find the Matthew Hilton Home installation in our Paris store throughout February. Hilton’s furniture collection by De La Espada is available online and in-store in our London and Paris locations.
