I became more ambitious for the display for Decorex 2009, inspired by the photo shoot. I wanted to create a stand which showed Japanese crafts fused with a western interior. I also wanted to show off fantastic and unique wallpapers. It was an absolute nightmare to hang a paulownia wallpaper on a wobbly stand wall and my handyman Danillo and myself worked until we were kicked out of the exhibition tent.
A couple of days after the photoshoot, Hugo Rawlins was introduced to me by Maxine. Things were happening very quickly. He is in interiors PR and runs Rawlins George whose client list includes Andrew Martin, Taylor Howes and Waterworks. Back then, he was just establishing his own business like myself. He is a hardworking and charming guy with an impressive media network. He worked for Biden from Autumn 2009 to Spring 2010 on an ad-hoc basis and generated a few editorials in Quintessentially, The Square, and Country and Town House.
Hugo introduced me to David Herbert of David Seyfried at Chelsea Harbour whom he was also representing. It is so competitive in the interior industry that the turnover of showrooms at the design centre is extremely high. However, Lord Herbert, the owner of David Seyfried, who is a hardworking generous gentleman occupies the same spot on the first floor in the centre dome since he opened its doors more than a quarter of a century ago. It was one of my ultimate goals to be at the design centre when I started my business. The world-famous address is the epitome of luxurious interiors. KLC, the design school I attended being a part of the design complex, I often visited the design centre for various assignments. It was so familiar to me but yet it felt like a fantasy to have the address on my business cards. I had to wait a few years until I could afford it.
