SHANNON, Bath:

One of the shops in Bath that gives me most pleasure is Shannon in Walcot Street, which I pass whenever I walk into the City centre. Anyone who loves colour will be seduced by this Scandinavian Aladdin’s Cave. It is filled with Marrimekko mouth-watering fabrics and many imaginative Scandinavian modern design classics- furniture, lighting, china, glass, bags and a fund of other home accessories and gifts.

It is a delight to talk to the owner, Sue Shannon, as she gives you a warm welcome, has a great sense of design and clearly loves and appreciates what she sells. Having established the shop in 1999, she says she specializes in Scandinavian design because the quality is so exceptional. Her website is well worth a visit: www.shannon-uk.com

I have singled out the Marrimekko fabrics as I have loved them since I first saw them many years ago in a shop called Finnish Designs in the London Haymarket, as described in a previous blog in January 2008. As you might well guess, I am drawn to them because, apart from the absolutely wonderful colours and patterns, so many of them are based on trees and flowers- and always seem to get their characters totally right. So here are some images of the shop and my favourite contents: