I ventured out to the Midcentury Modern fair at Dulwich last weekend on a very foggy day. Maybe it was the weather but I suddenly felt it all seemed a little dull, too much brown everywhere.

I have decided it was probably just the proximity of so much classic midcentury design all crammed in together, I think the individual pieces are beautiful still but need to be mixed in a modern setting, put against the dark brick walls and wood floors of the interior of Dulwich College and without the strong sunlight coming in it was all a little too much. The advantage of this is to see a huge range in a one stop shop of the midcentury design classics.

There was not much kids design on display with the exception of Molly Meg who had a cheery stall there, its a shame that the kids version has ended.

Quite a few visitors were carrying small goods away with them, notable stalls included in the new goods section upstairs were Thorsten Van Elten with small finds from his Theo website and Donna Wilson’s cushions, By Nord with a simple Christmas tree and their photo printed cushions, new name to me Eleonor Pritchard with her stunning wool blanket range and Mini Moderns with a great selection of their wallpapers and crockery.

The main hall at Midcentury Modern in Dulwich College

The main hall at Midcentury Modern in Dulwich College

Molly Meg stand at Midcentury Modern Nov 2011

Molly Meg stand with lots of cute vintage kids chairs and Lucky Boy Sunday goods at Midcentury Modern Nov 2011

Molly Meg had sone great vintage toys including dolls from Japan at Midcentury Modern

Molly Meg had sone great vintage toys including dolls from Japan at Midcentury Modern

Beautiful wool blankets by Eleonor Pritchard at Midcentury Modern Nov 2012

Beautiful wool blankets by Eleonor Pritchard at Midcentury Modern Nov 2011

Great presents from Theo at Midcentury Modern

Great presents from Theo at Midcentury Modern

Mini Moderns had some good offers at the Midcentury Modern fair in Dulwich

Mini Moderns had some good offers at the Midcentury Modern fair in Dulwich

Wallpaper and cushions by Siecle

Wallpaper and cushions by Siecle

It's good to look down on the exhibitors and get a different perspective on the furniture

It's good to look down on the exhibitors and get a different perspective on the furniture

All photos by Smudgetikka – all rights reserved

All posts copyright to Smudgetikka – permission must be asked for reproduction Nov 2009 – 2012

Since the closure of his named store  in 2008  Thorsten van Elten had kept an online presence with Theo, a website for the quirky and collectable in a small way, he has now expanded the selection and is giving the site a lot more attention, even cooking us all a Black Forest Gateau to his grandmother’s recipe for his recent open day!

The store was known amongst design afficianado’s as the place to find the latest and coolest items hot from the design fairs.

New items for this winter such as the crinkled glasses and jug by Rob Brandt mix with old favourites such as the pigeon light by Ed Carpenter and woolly sheep by Hanns-Peter Krafft and there is a multitude of smaller gift items to choose from including a great selection of Donna Wilson goodies (more on Donna later this week). Children’s tablewear, tin and wood toys and even the most sophisticated times table you have ever seen also play a part in his selections.

By the way Theo is his middle name, so he’s keeping his name in there still, and the store has a very nifty canvas shopper free while stocks last for orders over £50 too.

Thorsten van Elten and his Black Forest Gateau, very delicious it was too.

Thorsten van Elten and his Black Forest Gateau, very delicious it was too.

New graphic cushions and simple toys from Theo for winter 2011

New graphic cushions and simple toys from Theo for winter 2011

Eat the Vegetables plate range from Theo for winter 2011

Eat the Vegetables plate range from Theo for winter 2011

Wonderful sit on woolly sheep selection by Hanns-Peter Krafft at Theo online store

Wonderful sit on woolly sheep selection by Hanns-Peter Krafft at Theo online store

Cushion selection from Marianne Diemer at Theo online store

Cushion selection from Marianne Diemer at Theo online store

The amazing KoeKoeK feather clock by Chris Koens, the white feather is a second hand so is continually in motion

The amazing KoeKoeK feather clock by Chris Koens, the white feather is a second hand so is continually in motion

Sweet little woodland creatures by Erzgebirge from Germany at Theo online store

Sweet little woodland creatures by Erzgebirge from Germany at Theo online store

By Graziela 1970's patterns on children's tablewear and posters at Theo online store for winter 2011

By Graziela 1970's patterns on children's tablewear and posters at Theo online store for winter 2011

New version in glass of the white porcelain classic crinkle cup by Rob Brandt at Theo online store for winter 2011

New version in glass of the white porcelain classic crinkle cup by Rob Brandt at Theo online store for winter 2011

Quite possibly the smartest times table poster ever! A lesson in typography too at Theo online store for winter 2011

Quite possibly the smartest times table poster ever! A lesson in typography too at Theo online store for winter 2011

All photos by Smudgetikka – all rights reserved

All posts copyright to Smudgetikka – permission must be asked for reproduction Nov 2009-2011