Clerkenwell Design Week 2026: The British Brands & Design Trends Actually Worth Knowing

This year’s Clerkenwell Design Week felt different. Less ‘look at me’ showroom perfection and far more thoughtful, liveable design. And honestly? As someone designing busy family homes across Surrey and London, that shift feels incredibly refreshing.

I wasn’t necessarily searching for the biggest launches or the flashiest installations this year. What interests me far more are the details that quietly transform how a home feels to live in. The products that solve problems beautifully whilst still making a space feel layered, calm and personal.

One of my standout discoveries was the Altesse smart toilet from Trone Paris, spotted at Westone Bathrooms. Now yes, I appreciate becoming emotionally attached to a toilet may sound slightly concerning… but hear me out.

Bathrooms are increasingly becoming spaces clients want to feel emotionally connected to the rest of the home. Less clinical ‘sanitary room’, more calm boutique hotel meets relaxed family living.

What immediately caught my attention was how beautifully integrated the whole trone system felt. The hygiene wand, the pan, even the flush plate were all colour matched and considered as part of one complete design language. The ceramic flush plate in particular felt incredibly smart because it solves such a common issue within high-end bathroom schemes. Essentially, you spend thousands creating these calm, layered, tactile spaces… and then suddenly you’re left with a plastic or shiny metal flush plate interrupting the entire wall. Trone’s ceramic Kaoline flush plate removes that problem completely whilst still working alongside Geberit frames, which from a specification perspective makes life much easier too.

The Pieces I Couldn’t Stop Thinking About

Studio Haran

What I loved most about Studio Haran was the balance between architectural form and craftsmanship. Their lighting felt sculptural without trying too hard, quietly confident pieces that instantly elevate a room without overpowering it.

There’s a softness to the materials and silhouettes that feels incredibly relevant right now as homes move away from cold perfection and towards warmth, tactility and personality.

Fraser Coffee Table - Barnby & Day

The Fraser coffee table completely stole my heart. The lines, the detailing, the styling of it… it instantly felt like one of those future heirloom pieces clients will keep for decades rather than replace in five years’ time.

This is exactly the kind of investment piece we love sourcing at Emma Merry Styling timeless, beautifully made and capable of anchoring an entire room effortlessly.

OINK Studio

Another UK-made brand that continues to have my heart is OINK Studio. Their twisted woodgrain mirror design brings movement, warmth and personality into spaces that could otherwise feel overly polished.

I immediately imagined it softening the corner of a bathroom or dressing room beautifully. Those are often the details that make a home feel layered and collected rather than simply ‘finished’.

And that’s really what Clerkenwell confirmed for me this year.

Clients aren’t searching for perfect homes anymore. They’re searching for homes with soul.

Why This Matters

At Emma Merry Styling, we spend a huge amount of time sourcing artisan makers and British suppliers because these pieces genuinely change how a home feels to live in.

The difference between a room looking expensive and a room feeling personal often comes down to sourcing. The materials. The craftsmanship. The story behind the maker.

And honestly, that’s the part of design I’ll never stop loving.

Thinking About Renovating Your Home in Surrey?

If you’re planning a full house renovation, the most valuable thing you can do is pause before construction begins and think carefully about the design strategy.

A well-planned renovation should feel effortless once complete as though the house was always meant to work that way.

Emma Merry Styling is an interior design studio based in Surrey specialising in full house renovations, kitchen design and interior architecture. We work with families across Surrey, Kent and London to create homes that are both beautiful and practical for everyday life.

If you already have architectural plans or are about to commission them our Pre-Build Consultancy sessions help ensure your renovation works brilliantly before the builders arrive.

Because the most successful homes are not simply built well.

They are designed well first.

Emma Merry Styling is an interior design studio based in Surrey specialising in full house renovations, kitchen design and interior architecture, We would love to hear all about your plans reach out here.