As the days get shorter and the evenings get darker, we start to look for inspiring and stylish ways to illuminate our spaces, all with the hope of creating the warmest of welcomes and the cosiest of homes. That’s why, every autumn, Heal’s is proud to host our very own Festival of Light, a dazzling showcase of the world’s finest lighting brands and designers.
From classic products to contemporary styles, it’s brimming with bright and beautiful ideas online and in-store, and provides a chance for customers to get inspired for the season ahead. But, since time began, lighting hasn’t only been used to banish shadows. In fact, it’s steeped in a culture of joy and celebration.
Candles flickering on a birthday cake to mark another lap around the sun. Fireworks exploding in the sky to toast an exciting new year. Bulbs strung on a house to signal Christmas is coming. Here, to coincide with our Festival of Light, we round-up the cultures across the globe that use light to celebrate the moments that matter.
Diwali, India
Known as ‘the festival of lights’, Diwali is celebrated by millions of Hindus, Sikhs and Jains around the world for five days every October and November, and welcomes new beginnings as well as the triumph of good over evil and light over dark.
Interestingly, the word Diwali comes from dipavali, meaning ‘row of lights’, which is why decorative lights and earthenware oil lamps (diyas) in houses and on streets have become synonymous with festivities. They are said to invite the presence of Lakshmi – the goddess of wealth – while creating a backdrop for feasting amongst friends and family.
The Fallas, Spain
Taking its name from fax in Latin – translating to ‘torch’ – the annual festival of the Fallas certainly turns up the temperature. It’s celebrated each February in Valencia, a port city on the south-eastern coast of Spain, to welcome the coming of spring.
Not dissimilar to Guy Fawkes, large monuments (fallas) are crafted by local artists to burn at the end of the festival, and usually provide commentary on current social issues. Its origins date back to age-old carpenters who used to burn the pieces of wood that were used to prop up their lamps to signal a new season.
Over time, they gradually started to add other unwanted belongings, until the structures became the huge effigies they are today. Everything is paired with marching bands, outdoor meals and firework displays for an explosive tradition.
Lantern Festival, China
The Lantern Festival – or Yuan Xiao – is celebrated in China (and other Asian countries) on the 15th day of the first month in the lunar calendar (15 February). As well as rounding out Chinese New Year and honouring the dead, it’s a time for reconciliation, peace and forgiveness, while traditions include festooning streets and houses with colourful lanterns pasted with riddles (those who crack them receive a gift).
To add to the spectacle, many towns and cities across China also put on displays of lights, as well as parades, dances and fireworks. Sweet rice dumplings – which represent families coming together – are also enjoyed.
St. Martin’s Day, Netherlands
A twist on traditional Halloween, St. Martin’s Day is celebrated on 11 November as a children’s holiday in the Netherlands, while its namesake is famed as a friend of children and a patron of the poor.
Nowadays, Dutch children take to the streets at dusk with lighted paper lanterns, then go from door-to-door singing songs and receiving sweets. Helpfully, they know which houses are participating, as lanterns are displayed on streets or in windows.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Image credit: llxcarrental
Dubai, also known as the "City of Lights", is famous for its extravagant and grand festivals of light, which are held throughout the year. One of the most popular festivals is the annual Dubai Festival of Lights, held at Al Seef - a beautiful waterfront destination that features traditional Emirati architecture and charm.
The festival showcases stunning light installations, projections, and interactive displays, all designed to celebrate the rich history and culture of Dubai. In addition, visitors can also enjoy other festivals such as the famous Dubai Shopping Festival, which features elaborate light shows and decorations throughout the city, and the Diwali Dhamaka festival, which offers beautiful light displays and traditional Indian cuisine. Dubai's dazzling array of festivals of lights is the reason why it's considered a shining beacon in the Middle East.
Fête des Lumières, France
The Fête des Lumières in Lyon, France, is one of the oldest light festivals in the world. Dating back to 1643, when the city escaped the plague that was sweeping the rest of the world, its inhabitants lit candles to give thanks to the Virgin Mary.
Ever since, the festival has evolved into a large extravaganza every 8 December, featuring light installations and projections on some of the city’s most iconic buildings. Tradition also dictates that every home decorates its windowsills with candles to create a spectacular effect throughout the streets.
Click here to get inspired by our own Festival of Light.
[ INSPIRATION ]
At Heal's
Running from 16th to 24th September, London Design Festival is finally upon us, annually celebrating our city as the design capital of the world.
To mark the occasion, we’re paying homage to three iconic chairs to have shaped tastes and spaces since their introduction to homes over the last 50 years, as well as hosting a special exhibition in collaboration with Kingston University.
We, for one, can’t wait.
Timeless chairs
The chairs are the Togo by Michel Ducaroy for Ligne Roset, which marks its 50th anniversary this year, the iconic Egg chair by Arne Jacobsen for Fritz Hansen, which turns 65, and the Forum armchair by Robin Day and relaunched by Case this year, which celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2024.
Instantly recognisable by its distinctive shape, the Togo has remained a cult classic, characterised by modular pieces with crumpled pleats. Ducaroy expertly designed the settee with five different densities of foam while upholstering them in durable Alcantara fabric with a suede-like texture that exudes luxury.
When Arne Jacobsen designed the SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen in the 1950s, he also created the Egg, now a symbol of cutting-edge Danish design. The design was the first to use a strong foam inner-shell underneath the upholstery and remains as futuristic-looking today as it was back when it was first conceived.
Originally designed by Robin Day in 1964, the Forum is an icon of Mid-Century design, now revitalised through modern production and materials. Case has worked in close partnership with the Robin and Lucienne Day Foundation to sympathetically reinstate the chair featuring a hardwood frame with beautiful finger joint detail supported by chrome plated legs mounted to the outside of the frame. Day purposefully exposed these elements to showcase the beauty of its form.
Shop all three chairs in-store or online to invest in true icons. Better still, Heal’s is offering £150 for every £1,000 spent on these collections. It’s simple: the more you spend, the more you’ll receive on a pre-loaded gift card, which you can choose to use as you wish.
Kingston University
Heal’s has collaborated with third-year students from Kingston University’s Furniture and Product Design Course. The design process and story behind 10 pieces from Kingston University’s show at New Designers will be exhibited at London Design Festival at Heal’s newly extended flagship store on Tottenham Court Road.
Excitingly, three designs have been shortlisted to potentially be put into production: Apperture by Sumayyah Zahir puts a spin on the traditional sideboard with storage open rather than concealed; nesting side tables Cut From One by Josephine Ryan Gill produce no offcuts during their manufacture; and Crush Shelving from Jack Allfrey is comprised of crushed form steel uprights and box plywood shelves.
Vote for your favourite designer and visit Heal’s on Tottenham Court Road to shop the chairs and enjoy the exhibition.
For more than 200 years, Heal’s on Tottenham Court Road has been home to exquisite design – the jewel in the crown of London’s iconic furniture street.
Now, after much anticipation, we’ve extended our flagship store to bring you even more of everything you’ve come to know and love of Heal’s across furniture, lighting, accessories, textiles and so much more.
By extending back into the Mid-Century building that wraps around the corner from Tottenham Court Road on Torrington Place – complete with extended façade and a new entrance – we’ve created significantly more space on the ground floor and in the basement to house our expanded but still tightly edited collections.
The impact at street level is showstopping, to say the least, reinvigorating this historic stretch of central London.
Across both curated designers and Heal’s creations, the reimagined showroom remains committed to superior craftsmanship and enduring products – which, in turn, make for investment pieces and future heirlooms that can be passed down from generation to generation.
Complementing renowned designers – from Knoll to Ligne Roset and Vitra – are newcomers such as Gubi, and Carpe Diem Beds, amongst others; while there’s now a whole area dedicated to helping you sleep better that houses our premium range of Heal’s beds, bedroom furniture and mattresses, as well as luxury offerings from chosen brands.
Whether organic or natural, there’s a style for every kind of sleeper, all combining our expert heritage with modern technology. Specialists are even on-hand to help shoppers make the right choice. It's a fitting tribute to our historical beginnings as the first retailer to introduce French-style feather-filled mattresses back in 1810.
Lastly, there’s a new space exclusively for trade customers to help them design beautiful schemes for their clients, whether residential or commercial. Zoned via floor-to-ceiling glass screens, expert consultants offer support at every step of the creative process, all within the privacy and comfort of the cordoned-off space.
Our Interior Planning Service can also be found nearby, bringing together all the finishing touches to shape your space, whether you're renovating your home or refreshing a room.
A demonstration of our commitment to bricks-and-mortar retail, with so much to experience and inspire, the new Heal’s is the long-awaited renaissance of the historic store that remains much-loved around the world.
The flags are aplenty (there are now a total of 18) for maximum kerb appeal and we can’t wait to welcome you to our new home.
Visit our flagship store on Tottenham Court Road to discover an extended collection of curated designers and Heal’s creations.
Words: Cross Nelson
Sir Ambrose Heal is a name that is very much associated with London, especially since Heal and Son has been at the same address on Tottenham Court Road since 1818. However, when he was not in London Heal could be found in the Buckinghamshire countryside at his home, Baylins Farm.
A world apart from the bustle of Tottenham Court Road, Baylins Farm is a 15th-century farmhouse that was converted by Heal into an Arts and Crafts style haven in 1919. It is tempting to imagine what the private space of a furniture designer might look like, and what sort of objects he might surround himself with, and thankfully, the house has been almost perfectly preserved to give us a look into the private collection of Ambrose Heal.
Today, the house is still lived in by Heal’s grandson, Oliver Heal, but it is not open to the public, so these photos provide a window into the collection of furniture and art that makes Baylins Farm such a remarkable home.
View of the front of Baylins Farm, with the inlaid brick ‘H’ for HealHeal bought Baylins Farm in 1919 with his wife, Edith, and together the couple made the renovation of the house a collaborative project. To mark their ownership of the home in a truly medieval way, their initials 'A' and 'E' can be found cast on the front rainwater hoppers on the exterior, and an 'H' was inlaid into the bricks next to them, as seen in the photo above.
Not only was the project a collaboration between the two of them, but also a collaboration with other contemporary craftsmen and artists all working in the Arts and Crafts style. Heal was a follower of the Arts and Crafts movement, which was rooted in the return to the handicrafts of the medieval age as a reaction against the advanced industrialisation replacing human made art with machine made art.
Considering how influential the Arts and Crafts philosophy was to the design of Heal’s furniture, it is no surprise that he wanted to live in a space which exemplified that very philosophy. By renovating a medieval farm house into his home, he was quite literally reviving the medieval period to exist in the 20th century.
Baylins Farm dates from 1450, with an addition of a first floor in 1563, and when the house was renovated, the architects were able to preserve the original timber frames. One of the most Arts and Crafts features of the home are the 1563 timber beams on the parlour ceiling, which were painted with multi-colored, gilded designs by the artist MacDonald Gill in 1920.
Hand painted ceilings were a traditional medieval practice, yet this was a very avant-garde choice on Heal’s behalf since painted ceilings were by no means a 20th-century fashion. Fortunately, the ceiling still remains in the same manner today, timeless over a century later.
View of the parlour with the 1920 painted ceiling by MacDonald GillJust below the ceiling is another one of Heal’s creative embellishments to the room, a fireplace decorated with painted tiles showing the signs of the zodiac and the four winds surrounding the sun.
These tiles were painted by Minnie McLeish, who designed textiles for Heal and Son, and so they represent yet another important collaboration between Heal and contemporary artists of the time.
The collaboration on these tiles goes even further since Heal actually corresponded with the Directors of the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew and Kew Observatory, and the Astronomer Royal at Greenwich, to ensure they were executed accurately. It is this acute attention to detail that made Heal and his designs so successful.
Detail of the astrological fireplace tiles designed by Minnie McLeishNext to the parlour is the dining room, furnished with a dining table and chairs, both designed by Heal himself. What is especially remarkable about Heal using his own furniture in the home, is that models of these pieces were also sold at Heal and Son on Tottenham Court Road.
His mission was to create well designed furniture that was available to everyone, and the fact that he furnished his own home with this furniture guarantees how much he believed in his products.
Another important layer to the history of this dining set is that Heal showed both of these products at the Arts and Craft Exhibition, the table in 1912 and the chairs in 1916. By displaying these pieces at a design trade show like the Arts and Crafts Exhibition demonstrates that Heal not only saw his furniture as commercial products, but also as thoughtfully designed pieces of art.
The chestnut dining table and chairs designed by Ambrose HealStanding just across from the dining table is another exceptional piece of Arts and Crafts furniture that was a collaborative project between Heal and the furniture maker Sidney Barnsley.
Barnsley was one of the leading furniture makers of the Cotswold School, a group of craftsmen who produced handmade furniture using traditional vernacular techniques and local woods of the Cotswold district. Their similar Arts and Crafts approach to furniture design lent itself well to a collaboration, and in 1923, Heal commissioned Barnsley to make him a sideboard for the dining room at Baylins Farm.
The commission was an interesting one, because rather than Barnsley designing the sideboard on his own, a series of letters between the two craftsmen reveals that they sent drawings back and forth until they arrived at a final design together.
In the end, Barnsley sent the sideboard to Baylins Farm, and so the project was completed without the two craftsmen ever meeting. Like the dining set and the timber beams, the sideboard is also still used by the family to this day, exactly a century later.
Oak sideboard designed collaboratively by Ambrose Heal and Sidney BarnsleyWhile there are numerous other pieces of furniture to discuss, the final piece that will be mentioned is one of the most mysterious objects in Heal’s collection. In the living room, underneath the painted ceiling sits an equally colourful, painted wooden chest. While there is no documentation by Heal of how he obtained this chest, a clue to where it comes from is painted on the lid.
On top of the chest is painted, 'Paris' and '1900', indicating that it came from the 1900 Paris Exposition Universelle. Heal and Son had their own booth at the Paris Exposition, and so it is most likely that Heal brought this chest back with him from Paris after the exposition closed. Labels inside the chest written in Swedish reveal that it was made by Gustaf Flinta, a furniture maker from Hedemora, Sweden, who displayed this piece in the Swedish Pavilion at the exposition.
It is unclear how or why Heal selected this chest to bring back to England, or if he even met Gustaf Flinta, but it is known that he was an admirer of Swedish design. Only a year earlier, Heal received one of the first commissions of his career to design furniture for the Standard Hotel in Norrköping, Sweden, and this sparked his lifelong admiration for Swedish design.
Even at Baylins Farm the chest is not the only Swedish object, and there is a cylindrical Swedish tile stove that Heal had imported from Uppsala in what was originally the children’s playroom. So, it may be assumed that he wanted this chest as both a souvenir of the Paris Exposition and a symbol of his love for Swedish decorative arts.
Regardless of the reason, the chest and the Swedish stove add an international layer to his collection, expressing the idea that he wanted to synthesise both domestic and foreign objects that were all united by their Arts and Crafts qualities.
Lid of the Swedish painted chest by Gustaf Flinta
From the ceiling, to the dining room, to the chest, these are just some examples of the many important works that decorate Baylins Farm. Each object seems in dialogue with the other, creating a feeling of thoughtful interior design, but more importantly, thoughtful collecting.
The entire house feels distinctively Heal, in that it is an extension of the principles of Heal’s business model to blend modernity with tradition, united by the timelessness of high quality craftsmanship.
It is a rarity that such a well preserved Arts and Crafts interior still exists today, and the fact that Heal’s own family still lives in the home over a century later shows that he was not only designing for his generation, but for the future.
Swedish tiled stove by E.G. Aspland imported from Uppsala, Sweden (image: Jo Baldwin)
*For further reading on Ambrose Heal and the history of Heal and Son, please refer to Oliver Heal’s book, Sir Ambrose Heal and the Heal Cabinet Factory 1897-1939. For further reading on Heal’s designs for the Standard Hotel in Sweden, please refer to Oliver Heal’s article in the 2004 Furniture History Society Journal, ‘Ambrose Heal in Sweden, 1899.’ All images are taken by the author or Oliver Heal except where noted.
There’s no denying that this year has been a turbulent time for all. Covid-19 has changed the ways in which we live, work and shop, and unfortunately continues to do so. But as we learn to adapt to this new way of life, we recognise that we all have a part to play in helping to keep our communities safe.
As much as we consider our stores essentials, and recognise how much you love visiting them, it is with a heavy heart that we had to announce the temporary closure of our showrooms on Thursday 5th November in accordance with government guidelines.
While our physical locations may be closed for a short while, there are lots of ways you can stay in touch and shop with us! Here, we explain how our virtual services work.
Virtual consultations
You can now experience our stores from the safety of your home. During your virtual consultation, a member of our design team will tour you around the showroom via video chat. They can zoom in closer on any details you’d like to inspect or give their tailored recommendations for what you need.
Our experts will pay thorough attention to detail to ensure you receive the personalised shopping experience you deserve. All from the comfort and warmth of your own home.
What's not to love? Book yours now.
Via Heals.com
Our website is the place to go to see all our lighting, furniture and accessories in one place. When shopping online, you can personalise your experience in many ways. For example, use our upholstery tool to design your own sofa or armchair.
Similarly, you can create your own table design by combining different legs and tabletops to suit your home. The only part of the shopping process that involves contact is the delivery. To keep them as safe as possible, we’ve made sure all our deliveries are socially distanced. We’ve also worked hard with our furniture delivery partners to create new working practises that make two-man deliveries safe for both their teams and of course, for you.
Via the Heal's online chat
Our in-store advisors are here to help throughout the working day via online chat. Our anonymous messaging service can be found in the bottom right-hand corner when you’re using your desktop. Every member of the team can communicate with you via chat, photos and live video. Want to see a product in more detail without booking an appointment? Online chat is a good choice.
Via our Telesales team
Whether you’re looking for more information about an item or need advice, our Telesales team is ready to help. This is a great choice if you’d rather speak to someone on the phone as they’re there to help throughout the working day. Plus, you don’t need to schedule an appointment. Get in touch with our Telesales team here.
Via our Christmas Virtual Interior Planning Service
While our showrooms may be temporarily closed, that doesn’t mean your Christmas preparations should be put on hold. Our interior designers Roger and Helen are on hand to offer a tailored virtual Christmas consultation that’s based entirely on your individual home.
Our experts will help to alleviate your seasonal stresses with personalised tips on customised colour palettes, festive decorations and interior themes. All via the virtual medium.
Like what you hear? Discover more here.
Current orders
If you want to place an order or have already done so, rest assured that all of our suppliers, our warehouse and our delivery teams are working as normal to get your beautiful pieces to you safely and on time. Additionally, if you are self-isolating or feeling the effects of Covid-19, we can make special arrangements for delivery. Just advice us of your situation in advance.
Our promise to you
Here at Heal’s, we have been trading from our store on London’s Tottenham Court Road for over 200 years. Through thick and thin, we’ve kept our doors open to provide a personalised shopping experience for you - our loyal customers.
Prior to March, the last time we’d closed the store for any extended period of time was during the Second World War. And that was only because we switched our factories to make parachutes for the war effort. Regardless of what the next few months holds, we’ll be here to help with your interior and design needs thanks to our virtual ways to shop.
We can't wait to safely welcome you back to our physical locations soon. Until then, our experts are working tirelessly to ensure you receive the same personalised service from the comfort and warmth of your own home.
Explore virtual ways to shop here.
Plan the perfect Christmas from the comfort of your own home with our new virtual service. Whether you're searching for bespoke decorations or looking to bring festive charm to the dining table, we're here to help.
Whatever your needs may be, our interior designers Roger and Helen are here to finesse your Christmas planning. And in this article, we show you exactly how Heal's can help you to create a magical Christmas.
How a virtual consultation works
Now you can explore our showroom from the comfort and safety of your home. During your virtual design consultation, one of our interior designers will tour you around the showroom via video chat.
They will show you various Christmas dining table settings, inspiring your own vision with a variety of colours, themes and decorations. They can also show you beautifully decorated Christmas trees, zooming in closer on any details you love.
Throughout the consultation, our experts will answer any questions you may have and give interior design advice that's tailored to your home.
Personalised advice
Our interior designers offer a tailored Christmas consultation that's based entirely on your individual home. They will help to alleviate your seasonal stresses with personalised tips on customised colour palettes, festive decorations and interior themes.
Have a specific need? Don't panic. They'll cater for that! And what's more, they will ensure you discover everything you need to have the most wonderful Christmas.
Booking a virtual consultation
It's never been easier to start Christmas planning. Simply click here to book your personalised virtual consultation. Once on the site, click 'Virtual Consultations' then 'Interior Planning Service' to book a slot. Our team will try their upmost to find a time that suits you best.
Heal's makes Christmas easy
This Christmas, your festive plans may look a little different to previous years. That doesn't mean the fun has to stop though. However you're spending the season, let us bring a little charm and joy to proceedings.
From delightful decorations and magical lighting to the finest stocking fillings and festive food and drink, we will cater for your every need. And if you're stuck on what to gift a loved one, our Christmas Gift Guide offers present inspiration for everyone in your life.
Like what you hear? Book your virtual Christmas design consultation now.
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