Meet the Showroom: Corston

What brought Corston to Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour? 

We have the pleasure of working with many trade customers, including interior designers, architects and developers. The Design Centre acts as a hub for all of them, including all aspects of design, making it the perfect destination for us. Customers can view our hardware, lighting, switches and sockets with samples to hand and our team available to answer those all-important questions.

What should we expect from the showroom?

Our showrooms capture the true essence of Corston and our products: a feeling of quiet, cohesion and calm. You’ll find our hardware, lighting, switches and sockets on display and in situ throughout. Homeowners and designers alike can book dedicated design consultations with our team, and we will also be hosting regular lunch and learn sessions with trade professionals.

Why should customers visit in person as opposed to looking/buying online? 

There is nothing like being able to appreciate the finish in different lights and the weight of a solid brass handle in person. When it comes to feeling and touching the products, we encourage it.

We advise customers to bring different surface and fabric samples when they visit our showrooms, as building moodboards is the start of piecing together the details of each room. The Corston team are on hand to support and educate, ensuring that each decision is considered.

What’s Corston’s design philosophy? 

Our design philosophy is rooted in the idea that creating harmony and flow brings cohesion and calmness to a space. Each Corston product is available in our signature finishes and is designed and engineered by our team in Wiltshire, which means we have total control over the feel of each piece. We don’t follow trends, we create timeless products.

Is there a ‘hero’ product that you feel encapsulates your brand? 

Choosing a hero product is hard, but I would have to say it’s our toggle switches – Corston’s take on a dolly switch. We test our toggles with a million cycles, so, time after time, you can experience that satisfying click. Having just purchased my first home, I was most excited to update the switches. This simple change has transformed the whole property; it’s the little details that make a big impact.

Are there broad trends in your sector of the design industry that you’re embracing?

We have noticed a big shift towards layered lighting. Smaller pockets of lights can really contribute to the feel of a room throughout the day. Portability and adaptability are absolutely a part of this, which is why we have moved into rechargeable lighting, which we are launching in September 2026.

What can we expect from the latest launches?

We are growing the Richmond and Cotswold lighting families, with articulated task lamps, rechargeable lighting and our first patterned lampshades. The rechargeable lighting will take away the worry about where the closest socket is, since the light can now follow you around. The patterned shades allow you to add more character to a room – a pop of colour can go a long way.

What craftsmanship or innovation goes into your products? 

Designed and engineered in our Wiltshire office, almost all our products start off as solid brass. At Corston’s headquarters we’re able to experience the product design journey from ideation and creation to the physical product being launched. This is definitely something unique to Corston and a part of our story that I love sharing with customers in the showroom.

Is there anything else you’d like the Design Centre’s community to know about your brand?

During Focus/26 on Design, we are hosting Livingetc In Session in our showroom. Editor Pip Rich will be in conversation with Connor Fox, our lead lighting designer, and interior designer Charu Gandhi. They’ll be talking about why lighting deserves to be one of the first decisions in a project, and how materials like fine porcelain, hand-blown glass and fabric shades can shape the mood of a room as much as the light itself. (More information here)