One of the UK’s largest independent family-owned furniture retailers, Barker and Stonehouse, and its Battersea London store has been announced as a shortlist for the 2014 Retail Week Interiors Awards in the Non-Food Design of the Year category.
The category looks for the best examples of store design outside of the fashion and food sectors, recognising those that demonstrate innovation, vision and creativity as well as the ultimate shopping experience. The Northern-born brand and its Battersea store sits amongst seven other shortlisted companies that include the likes of West Elm, Superdrug, Halfords and Notcutts. The winner will be unveiled at an awards ceremony held on 6th November 2014 at the Hilton Hotel, Park Lane, London.
James Barker, MD at Barker and Stonehouse, says: “As a Northern-born brand, it’s a huge honour that our first ever London store has been nationally recognised and shortlisted for such a prestigious award. The restoration and re-design of our Battersea store was a big project and we had to take the history of the building into consideration, but it looks fantastic and we’ve had a great response. We’re very much looking forward to the awards ceremony in November.”
Barker and Stonehouse’s Battersea showroom is its first London store. Opening back in July 2013, the store is situated in one of the most striking historic buildings south of the Thames – the former Candle Factory on York Road, Battersea, built in 1830. The 25,000 square foot space is set over two floors.
Highlights include exposed brick walls, the original steel framework, large arched windows and some of its original industrial fittings. The store also features a Timothy Oulton furniture studio, a Farris candle shop as well as the brand’s ‘social fuel’ café. The resulting space blends architectural theatre with a style that appeals to its savvy London audience.
