Smart spaces and storage solutions in our new March issue

From the Editor…

I’m writing this month’s letter from the German city of Cologne, in the middle of winter, looking out at the Rhine as it runs through the city’s heart. It’s the same shade of sludge as the stormy sky it reflects. If this sounds rather bleak, don’t worry, I’m actually in a fairly buoyant frame of mind.

The city’s annual furniture fair may not have the pizzazz of Milan’s, the panache of Paris’s showcases or the edgy design talent of London, but it’s a vitally important event nonetheless. Here, the big manufacturers show how they have developed and tweaked the prototypes hurriedly pushed out for last year’s Milan fair in April. Nine months on, they have had time to take on feedback from buyers and customers; refining colours, finishes and shapes, which means the furniture on display here is often more practical, considered and better suited to how we really live our lives.

March 2020 cover house in London. Designed by Retrouvius and photographed by Michale Sinclair

ELLE Decoration

Above all, scale is a major consideration, with the proportions of sofas, chairs and tables altered to suit the kind of properties us northern Europeans inhabit, as opposed to the palatial area you would need to occupy to feasibly accommodate some companies’ vast designs. This held particular resonance for me, given that prior to coming to Germany we’d completed this issue dedicated to space, how to use it wisely, and well.

It’s an eternal conundrum, I know, but as the brilliant ED team compiled the features, house stories and advice you’ll find on these pages, I learnt a great deal: clutter is not the no-no we once thought (read Hannah Betts’s hilarious take on life post a run-in with Marie Kondo); clever architectural solutions can transform the smallest abode, and sexy storage comes in many guises.

‘I learnt a great deal: clutter is not the no-no we once thought’

While we’re on the subject of maximising every metre you have, it’s perhaps apt then that on top of all this we’ve managed to cram in more than ever into this month’s edition. As well as beautiful bathroom trends and a stunning Wes Anderson-esque hotel in Vietnam, there’s a brand new Style section filled with decorating ideas, interior design advice, stunning shoots and the knowledge you need to tackle any project you have planned in a very ELLE Decoration way. Enjoy!

Finally, you may also have noticed the magazine’s glossy front cover, a shiny refresh to take us forward into a new decade, reflecting our positive and passionate approach. As ever, with this or anything else relating to the magazine, do let me know your thoughts. I love to get your feedback…