Highlights of Chelsea Flower Show 2019
What a week. From showcasing our signature pendant lighting designs in Raymond Blanc's Jardin Blanc restaurant and winning a five-star award for our Force of Nature Garden Stand to our brand new Tressa Planter being a finalist for the RHS Product of the Year Award 2019 and of course, meeting so many of our new and existing customers face to face. We're still on cloud nine (albeit a little sleep deprived and dazed). Here's the Tom Raffield team's Chelsea Flower Show 2019 highlights.
The finishing touches
Before show week even began our skilled team of expert makers spent weeks on site at Chelsea Flower Show constructing the architecture of our steam bent stand.
Our Force of Nature Garden Stand was built from recycled materials with the steam bent oak re-purposed from our 2018 Chelsea Flower Show Pavilion. Furthermore, elements of the design shall be re-homed or adapted into further projects after the event, including donating the plants to the RHS Campaign for School Gardening programme that support schools to develop and actively use a school garden.
This year our Main Avenue stand featured a special planting scheme designed and implemented by Sheila Jack - the winner of a collaborative graduate competition hosted with London College of Garden Design and in affiliation with the multi-award-winning designer, Tom Massey – responsible for designing the Lemon Tree Trust 2018 Show Garden.
“Working with our friend Tom Massey and providing a once in a lifetime opportunity for the graduates of London College of Garden Design has been an incredibly rewarding process. We feel very proud to have supported the next generation of garden designers and feel strongly about inspiring people to appreciate, enjoy and protect nature in our changing world.”
-Tom Raffield, Founder.
Press Day
The Tom Raffield team were delighted to welcome many famous faces to the Force of Nature Garden on Press Day.
Admirers of our steam bent designs included Joe Sugg, Chris Evans, Kirstie Allsopp and Bill Bailey. We even caught a glimpse of Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge on the way to water her 'Back to Nature' Garden - in collaboration with RHS landscape architects Andree Davies and Adam White.
We were also overjoyed to have been awarded a five-star trade stand award for our Force of Nature Garden stand - a high accolade from the RHS judges.
Jardin Blanc x Tom Raffield
This show week we were proud to install an array of our iconic Urchin and Skipper Lighting Pendants to illuminate Raymond Blanc's Jardin Blanc dining space. Over 25 pendants cascaded from the impressive, new 114 square metre pergola structure and sparked conversation amongst the throngs of happy diners.
Being the main feature of the luxurious dining area, our contemporary wooden lighting pendants were chosen due to their striking, curvaceous designs and nature-inspired aesthetic.
Furthermore, intended to harmonise with the synergy of the Jardin Blanc planting schemes and sculptural furnishings, several of our Green Range Morvah Hanging Planters created a unique and spectacular entrance for guests in the reception area of the restaurant.
Our Friends at Chelsea Flower Show
Chelsea Flower Show always presents a fantastic opportunity to partner and collaborate with some of our favourite brands, and this year was no exception. We were proud to provide some of our signature steam bent designs to Blue Forest Ltd - an award winning company that specialises in the design and construction of luxury tree houses and unique sustainable buildings.
Our Amble Hanging Seat, Arame Pendant, Quill 550 Pendant, Morvah Ceiling Hanging Planter and Noctis Floor and Wall Lights all featured inside the bespoke 'beehive' themed tree house.
We were also proud to introduce our customers and clients to some delicious beverages provided by Ridgeview (creators of World Class Sparkling Wine, crafted with passion and dedication on the South Downs of England) alongside Monterey Gin (a Cornish-based gin distillery located on the Helford River close to our Tom Raffield workshops).
Posted: 31.05.19
Updated: 15.04.21