Islington in North London is home to an abundance of design stores, from the big players – Twentytwentyone, Coexistence, Aria – to the smaller independants, to the wonderous antiques and ephemera shops that line the cobble-stoned Camden Passage.

The latest addition to Upper Street is Folklore, a collection of simple and functional, often recycled, homewares, furniture, art and lighting. The aesthetic of the interior is raw and natural but refined, with pale walls, white painted floors and reclaimed timber panels, all housed behind a simple, dark framed shopfront. There is a wonderful cohesion between interior and product, with the products displayed on hanging shelving made from reclaimed scaffolding planks which have been sanded back and left untreated. With the ethos that ‘better living is possible through design’, the product focus is clearly on well crafted and functional pieces.

Products are sourced globally, for ‘simplicity, craftsmanship, quality and durability’. Some products are unique to the store; of note, a dining table by Soren Rose Studio in Copenhagen, and textile designs by local artist David Shillinglaw. Others are recognisably current and sought after – Scrapwood Wallpaper by Dutch designer Piet Hein Eek and the PJ60 Desk Lamp by Orsjo. One of my favorites is the recently relaunched J110 by Danish design house Hay (see my previous Hay product review, here) and some beautiful, simple clever lighting pieces like the Pulp pendant, made, unbelievably, from old newspapers.

1 J110 chair (image by Hay) / 2 111 Navy chair / 3 Nicolle chair / 4 Dip chair

It is definitely worth a visit! Details, here