In a digitally led world, design brands still place a high value on bricks and mortar: physical spaces can tell a story, build trust and drive commercial success. Here are three showrooms that recently upgraded, investing for future growth
Jean Monro’s beautifully crafted, British-made fabrics and wallcoverings are coveted by designers searching for an authentic English country house look. The epitome of ‘slow design’, its fabrics are hand-block-printed alongside screen printing and modern printing methods.
Reflecting a resurgent interest in its signature chintzes and romantic archive florals, its parent company Turnell & Gigon has remodelled its showroom in the Centre Dome to create a dedicated space for Jean Monro’s fabrics and wallcoverings – overflowing with effervescent pattern and colour, and giving the collection far greater visibility and impact.
“It felt natural to create a dedicated space that showcases the brand. It is one of our most popular collections, so giving it greater prominence enhances the way clients can engage with it,” says design director Jo Tailby-Stoute.
Visit to see three new designs inspired by archival treasures: ‘La Glycine’, a floral motif reproduced from a 19th-century original; ‘Tivoli’, a painted tulip stripe; and ‘Chambord’, a hand-block printed damask.
Formerly a more gallery-like space, Bohemian crystal specialists Gladee Lighting’s newly renovated showroom now has the feel of a sleek superyacht on dry land. It’s no coincidence – Gladee’s sparkling lighting is a favourite of yacht designers, and the company worked with Parkway England (which makes exceptional joinery and furniture for marine and luxury residential projects) to realise the vision for the new space.
The palette is one of sophisticated neutrals and subtle texture. On top of a pale maple floor, a central island showcases glossy eucalyptus veneer with brass details, with bespoke plinths in the window featuring hand-textured metal resin, in rhythmic outlines that echo the flow of molten glass. An illuminated cabinet showcases accessories from fellow Bohemian crystal brand Moser.
To mark the redesign, Gladee Lighting is showing five incredible new pieces by celebrated glass designer Jiří Krišica. In the window are ‘Zephyra’, which has abstract, feather-shaped components embedded with crystal elements for a truly spectacular sparkle (the lighting element comes solely from spotlights placed above it); and ‘Aeris’, inspired by the movement of water, with each element like a wave about to break above the surface.
The overall scheme includes many pieces from fellow Design Centre showrooms: wallcovering by Phillip Jeffries, fabric from Dedar and Casal, a rug from Stark Carpet, cushions from Evitavonni and a bar-cart from McKinnon and Harris.
Pierre Frey acquired British brand Thorp of London in 2022: experts in hand-screen printing (based out of its Norfolk printing workshops), everything is made to order, with considerable customisation options, so that every finished fabric is one of a kind. In 2025 it launched its first jacquard collection to complement the printed offering.
The Pierre Frey showroom’s dedicated space recently had a significant upgrade, transformed into a cosy area that feels like a creative studio, complete with moodboards, sample boxes, whimsical birds in Thorp of London fabrics and shelves to show all the brand’s collections and designs.
The latest jacquards, in pretty pastel pink and blue, are showcased on the furniture, with ‘Distressed Damask’ on the sofa, ‘Ikat Blocks’ on the armchair and ‘Shadow Stripe’ on the ottoman.
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