Returning to the elegant surroundings of Berkeley Square, PAD London 2025 once again brings together an exceptional selection of international galleries, design studios, and artists for a week that celebrates the very best in collectable art and design. Known for its carefully curated presentation and intimate atmosphere, PAD continues to offer a space where disciplines overlap, where fine art meets functional design, and where craftsmanship is elevated to the level of sculpture.

This year’s edition builds on PAD’s enduring reputation for refinement and discovery, with exhibitors presenting works that blur the boundaries between eras and aesthetics. From mid-century icons and contemporary design pioneers to emerging talents redefining the language of materiality, the fair remains a vital destination for collectors, curators, and design enthusiasts alike.

As always, the fair’s allure lies not only in its calibre of exhibitors but also in its ability to spark dialogue between object and observer, past and present, and art and design. Below, I’ve selected a number of standout galleries and pieces that capture the spirit of this year’s fair and demonstrate the continuing evolution of collectable design in London and beyond.

Friedman Benda

Among the standout presentations at this year’s edition, Friedman Benda distinguished itself with a display that felt both intimate and profoundly considered. Beautifully curated and thoughtfully composed, the gallery’s space diverged from previous years, adopting a more contemplative tone that allowed each work to breathe and command attention. The juxtaposition of colour, texture, and material created a sensory rhythm within the stand, guiding visitors through a sequence of tactile experiences that perfectly encapsulated the gallery’s ability to merge aesthetic beauty with conceptual depth.

Representing a roster of prominent established and emerging designers, alongside historically significant estates, Friedman Benda continues to play a defining role in shaping the global dialogue around design. Spanning five continents and five generations, the gallery’s vision seeks to expand the narrative of contemporary design, foregrounding voices and perspectives that have often been overlooked. Since its founding in 2007, Friedman Benda has been instrumental in advancing the discourse between design, craft, architecture, art, and technology; a commitment that was powerfully articulated in its presentation this year. With spaces in New York and Los Angeles, the gallery remains a vital bridge between disciplines. At PAD London 2025, its curatorial precision reaffirmed its status as one of the most influential names in contemporary design.

Æquo

Having followed Æquo across several major design fairs, including Design Miami last year, it was a pleasure to see the gallery return to PAD London 2025 with a presentation that once again demonstrated their mastery of materiality, restraint, and presence. Every element within the space was meticulously curated, from the tactile finishes to the harmonious dialogue between form and surface. The result was a setting that immediately drew attention, yet never felt overpowering; each piece stood as a statement in its own right, while together they created a cohesive, contemplative environment that perfectly embodied Æquo’s design philosophy.

Founded by Tarini Jindal Handa and Florence Louisy, Æquo has become one of the most exciting names in contemporary collectable design, redefining how India’s rich craft heritage engages with global creativity. The gallery’s mission: to connect designers and artisans in equal measure, was palpable in this year’s presentation, where traditional craftsmanship met innovative design thinking to produce objects of timeless resonance. Deriving its name from the Latin word for “equal”, Æquo celebrates the balance between designer and technique, concept and craft, and individual and collective vision. At PAD London 2025, this equilibrium was beautifully expressed through works that felt both deeply personal and universally poetic; antiques of the future, crafted with intention, sensitivity, and soul.

Galerie Meubles et Lumières

Galerie Meubles et Lumières brought a captivating sense of richness and sophistication to this year’s show, transforming their stand into a strikingly evocative living and office environment. The gallery’s curation was both immersive and architectural; a thoughtfully designed space centred around a generous seating area that invited viewers to linger, while sculptural pieces and bold lighting punctuated the setting with moments of visual drama. It was an installation that not only celebrated the grandeur of 1970s French design but also demonstrated the gallery’s mastery in contextualising historical works for a contemporary audience.

This year’s presentation featured two exceptional ensembles, each paying homage to the ingenuity and craftsmanship of the period. The first, a one-of-a-kind custom sofa by Maurice Marty from 1972, exemplified the designer’s expressive approach to form and texture. The second, a reimagined businessman’s office showcasing rare works by Xavier Féal, offered a glimpse into a world of sculptural furniture where function and artistry coexist. With its distinctive “Président” desk, bespoke sofa, lounge chairs, and carefully selected lighting, the space exuded a sense of refinement and creative daring. Together, these compositions reaffirmed Galerie Meubles et Lumières’ reputation as a leading voice in celebrating the elegance and inventiveness of mid-century and 1970s French design, and made their stand one of the most memorable of the fair.

BOOROOM Gallery

BOOROOM Gallery captivated visitors at the fair with a presentation that beautifully blurred the boundaries between sculpture and functional furniture design. The gallery’s stand exuded quiet sophistication, its minimalist aesthetic allowing each piece to speak through form, texture, and spatial dialogue. Showcasing a curated selection of ultra-modern works, the display explored the poetic tension between art and utility, each creation simultaneously a sculptural statement and a functional object. The result was a space that felt immersive and reflective, inviting visitors to reconsider the relationship between design, craftsmanship, and emotion.

Founded in 2014 by Irina Budtseva-Vinitskaya and later joined by her husband, Maxim Vinitsky, BOOROOM Gallery has built a reputation for championing collectable design and art that transcends boundaries of era and geography. With a focus spanning the 20th and 21st centuries, the gallery fosters a dialogue between historical significance and contemporary innovation. Its founders’ philosophy, a pursuit of balance between emotion and materiality, idea and execution, was evident throughout their PAD presentation, which gave form to their belief in the universality of artistic language. By supporting both established and emerging designers, BOOROOM Gallery continues to cultivate a vision of the home as a space of discovery and inspiration —a sentiment perfectly captured in their thoughtful, forward-looking installation at this year’s fair.

Laffanour Galerie Downtown

Laffanour Galerie Downtown presented one of the most inviting and beautifully composed spaces at PAD, designed to feel like a refined living environment rather than a traditional exhibition stand. The gallery masterfully balanced contemporary and traditional detailing, incorporating elements such as warm wood panelling and elegant architectural lines to create a setting that was both impressive and welcoming. Within this carefully orchestrated space, the gallery showcased a selection of timeless pieces that seamlessly bridged eras, demonstrating how their collection fits effortlessly between styles, from mid-century modernism to contemporary design.

Founded in the early 1980s by François Laffanour, the gallery has long been celebrated for its dedication to architect-designed furniture. Over decades of research, exhibitions, and acquisitions, Laffanour Galerie Downtown has played a crucial role in re-establishing the importance of 20th-century furniture conceived by architects, including Jean Prouvé, Charlotte Perriand, Le Corbusier, Serge Mouille, and Isamu Noguchi. Working from the Galerie Steph Simon archives, the gallery continues to bring these design icons into dialogue with contemporary makers, reaffirming their relevance in today’s interiors. With its sensitive curation and sophisticated presentation, Laffanour Galerie Downtown once again demonstrated why it remains one of the most influential voices in the world of collectable design.

Charles Burnand Gallery

Having had the privilege of experiencing Charles Burnand Gallery’s work across numerous showcases, I am always struck by their remarkable ability to combine abstraction, material exploration, and expressive design into truly unforgettable pieces. At PAD, the gallery once again delivered a presentation that balanced sculptural boldness with an intimate sense of craftsmanship. Each object felt like a conversation between form and material, where textures, finishes, and shapes played off one another to create something both surprising and deeply refined. The result was a space that felt alive with experimentation; an embodiment of the gallery’s ongoing adventure in materiality and its commitment to elevating functional design into an art form.

Founded by Simon Stewart, Charles Burnand Gallery has become one of London’s most dynamic destinations for collectable design, representing both established and emerging talents from around the world. From its base in Fitzrovia’s Design District, the gallery curates a programme of thematic and solo exhibitions that celebrate fine craftsmanship, sustainable practices, and the artistic potential of materials. Regularly exhibiting at leading international fairs, including Design Miami, Salon Art + Design, Collect Art Fair, and PAD London, the gallery continues to define itself through a distinctive curatorial vision that values creativity and innovation equally. This year’s presentation reaffirmed why Charles Burnand remains a standout name on the global design stage: expressive, imaginative, and consistently extraordinary.

Dumonteil Design

Dumonteil Design immediately caught my eye with a presentation that radiated character, charm, and a joyful sense of storytelling. The stand celebrated the natural world through imaginative references to animals and organic forms, with each piece offering a sculptural blend of artistry and playfulness. Among the highlights was the lemon table, a particular favourite, which served as a vibrant centrepiece for the space, perfectly embodying the gallery’s ability to fuse fine craftsmanship with a sense of whimsy and delight. The overall curation felt fresh and uplifting, a reminder that great design can be as expressive and emotive as it is functional.

Founded in 1982, Galerie Dumonteil has long been a respected name in both contemporary art and collectable design, bridging these disciplines through its twin entities: Dumonteil Contemporary and Dumonteil Design. With spaces in Paris and Shanghai, the gallery plays an influential role on the international stage, collaborating with artists, foundations, and museums to support ambitious creative projects. At PAD London 2025, Dumonteil Design demonstrated its distinctive approach, championing pieces that feel alive with personality, rich in craftsmanship, and deeply connected to the natural world. It was a presentation that not only stood out visually but also captured the enduring spirit of curiosity and creativity that defines the gallery’s vision.

Nilufar Gallery

Nilufar Gallery once again impressed visitors with its unmistakable blend of vintage icons and contemporary collectable design. Guided by the discerning eye of founder Nina Yashar, Nilufar has long been admired for creating spaces that feel both historically rich and forward-looking, and this year’s presentation was no exception. Across two distinctive booths, the gallery orchestrated a conversation between eras, materials, and design philosophies, with a particular emphasis on its exceptional lighting designs, which illuminated the stands with sculptural elegance and atmospheric warmth.

At Booth B16, Nilufar presented a compelling narrative of design evolution, juxtaposing timeless masterpieces with bold new works by contemporary talents such as Flavie Audi, Filippo Carandini, and Bethan Laura Wood, alongside icons including Walter & Moretti and Guy Lefevre. Meanwhile, Booth C14 showcased Vikram Goyal’s debut collection, a sophisticated exploration of cultural heritage, materiality, and modern craftsmanship that perfectly captured Nilufar’s global curatorial reach. Through these thoughtful juxtapositions, the gallery reaffirmed its role as a leader in defining how collectable design can bridge the past and the present, crafting immersive environments that continue to inspire and astonish in equal measure.

PAD London reaffirmed its position as one of the most essential events on the international art and design calendar, a fair that consistently brings together the best of both worlds. Its curated approach allows collectors, curators, and enthusiasts to engage with objects that exist at the intersection of fine art, design, and craft, demonstrating how these disciplines can inform and elevate one another. From historic icons to contemporary experiments, PAD provides a space where the dialogue between past, present, and future is made tangible, and where design is appreciated with the same reverence and critical eye as art.

What continues to make PAD so compelling is its ability to bridge the gap between industries, fostering connections between designers, artists, and audiences who might otherwise operate in separate spheres. The fair’s intimacy, attention to curation, and focus on materiality and storytelling ensure that every stand feels purposeful, while each object resonates within a larger narrative. This year, as always, PAD London offered both inspiration and discovery — a celebration of creativity that confirms why it remains a staple for collectors, galleries, and connoisseurs alike, and an event that shapes the conversation at the forefront of contemporary design and art.