Designer’s Diary: What to see, do and buy in August 2026

Designer’s Diary: What to see, do and buy in August 2026Make the most of a quieter month with these must-visits

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Not everyone is AWA (away for August) — but the drop in commuters makes pottering around the capital’s new addresses and pop-ups all the more enjoyable. Interestingly, as tastemakers jet off for some rest and relaxation, inspiration this month comes from new retail spaces. Go for the interiors and head home with a new jacket, dress or shoes...

The destination

RH in Burlington Gardens

American luxury furnishings behemoth RH has landed in Burlington Gardens, W1. The Gallery in Mayfair ambitiously reunites three historic properties into a single Palladian mansion designed in the 1700s. Inside, it’s chock-full of extravagance, with five levels connected by a scenic lift and a grand, dome-topped cantilevered staircase. It’s the sort of place you could while away an entire afternoon — RH’s extensive product range is displayed across various installations that reek of quiet luxury. When it all gets too much there are spots to refuel, with the Perch, designed by Anoushka Hempel, and the Dining Room. (Open 10am to 7pm daily; midday to 6pm on Sundays).

Snooping around

Réalisation ParRéalisation Par

London’s newest fashion boutiques feel more like achingly cool pied-à-terres than commercial spaces, making them ripe to mine for some decor inspiration. The Apartment, a new concept store from menswear brand LESTRANGE, has been designed by Tabitha Isobel. Replete with timber panelling, soft curtains by Nordic Knots and vintage furniture, it’s a slice of good-looking tranquility at 68 Berwick Street, W1. Everything is just as carefully considered at Réalisation Par’s new London flagship at 95 Mount Street, W1. Mastermind Sophie Baker Design has drawn on French and Italian modernist interiors to create a luxe space where an It-girl with impeccable taste would live. The influencers (and wannabes) are already booking for a turn in its tiger-print photo booth.

Popping up

Lorfords

Lorfords Contemporary is a go-to for interior designers in search of handcrafted sofas and armchairs, but its showroom is in the Cotswolds. Good news: until August 15 it is popping up at the Edward Bulmer Natural Paint townhouse on Pimlico Road, SW1, showcasing its collection alongside sister company Lorfords Antiques. Over in Shoreditch, the kitchen knife brand Allday Goods has joined forces with Deya brewing Company to open a pop-up pub, the Alldeya Arms. The four-day takeover of 72 Rivington Street (over the August bank holiday weekend) will showcase an exclusive selection of products, including a co-branded serrated knife, a bar knife and bespoke pale ale, while the space itself will be made over with antique furniture and vintage artworks.

New names to know

Instagram is making our homes too homogenous. For a pattern you haven’t seen a million times already, look up Meredith House, a new fabric and wallpaper studio founded by two sisters that’s inspired by their mother’s homes in France and named after their late father. The launch collection of 14 designs features painterly floral and classic stripes rooted in the block print tradition. Arcove, the brainchild of interior designer Isabella Worsley, is also worth bookmarking. Textiles, wallpapers and accessories such as mirrors and lampshades draw on timeless silhouettes, making for enduring additions to the home.

Escaping in style

Restaurant Isca at Borde HillRestaurant Isca

A slew of new staycation destinations are offering seriously good-looking places to lay down your head. Cottage Orné, nestled in the Cornish countryside near Looe, offers a cluster of cottages, a shepherd’s hut and a manor house which have been vibrantly decorated by Studio Alexandra. In the Cotswolds, it’s all about booking in at Alcoves, a pair of artist-designed cabins tucked away on a working dairy farm near Broadway. Clad in colourful corrugated steel, each has a two-person bath on the veranda and a communal sauna. And for a good name-drop, tell friends you’re off to the new restaurant designed by Nicola Harding. Restaurant Isca at Borde Hill, West Sussex, boasts a beautiful glasshouse and makes for a memorable day out.

Coveting

Late Afternoon's collection with Christened RedondaLate Afternoon

Ceramics meets lighting with indie homewares brand Late Afternoon Home’s debut collection of up-and-down lighters. Christened Redonda, the two shapes are unapologetically chunky and come in on-trend butter yellow and burgundy. Starting from £255, each one is handmade in Florence. Also just launched is MG&Co’s hardware for front doors; think knockers, pulls, letter box covers and door numbers made from solid, unlacquered brass. And for those mourning a summer of a sport, Petra Palumbo has designed a Delft tile dedicated to leisure pursuits. A tennis player mid-serve, a footballer about to strike and a golfer in swing are all charmingly captured in handpainted form on this most enduring of materials (from £27.50 each).