THE JOURNAL
LITTLE GEMS
Independent brands at the Design Centre shine by pairing incredible skill with the personal touch, turning individuality into the ultimate luxury. Emily Brooks finds out why their stories matter as much as their craft
starred hotels to superyachts and exclusive homes, and it’s well worth straying from favourite showrooms to find unexpected gems. You might find patterned lace made in Scotland on 100-year-old Nottingham lace looms (MYB Textiles, at August+Co); curling, steam- bent timber lighting and furniture (Tom Raffield); one of the last horsehair weavers in the UK (John Boyd, at Alton-Brooke); sculptural lighting made from salvaged car panels (B-TD, at The Specified); and a working artist’s studio (Quote & Curate).
I
t may be a cliché to call the Design Centre a ‘treasure trove’, but it’s true. Interior designers, architects and specifiers are always on the lookout for that perfect, unique element to make a project sing, from multi-
“Discovery happens here on a daily basis,” says
the Design Centre’s CEO Claire German. “Interior designers and architects recognise that clients want spaces with a difference, and we are their first port of call, providing all the ingredients they need to work wonders.” It’s no coincidence that most of the examples listed
above are found in Design Centre East, a precious enclave for independent brands. Joining them in September 2025 is Cobogó Gallery, taking up residence on the newly redeveloped Fifth Floor, showcasing modernist and contemporary Brazilian furniture. Its founder Eduardo Alves has worked with the families of mid-century masters such as Bernardo Figueiredo to recreate their iconic pieces.
While Cobogó Gallery trains its eye on Brazil, there
are plenty of other international gems. Jaipur Rugs has a catalogue of thousands of Indian-made rugs, including highly exclusive pieces: its latest collaboration with Chandigarh-based artist Gurjeet Singh is where art meets rug-making, featuring bright, bold pieces for the wall that explore the highly personal stories of the artisans who made them. Over at The Specified, founder Vange Markou
specialises in contemporary design, particularly from her native Australia. “The Specified has evolved organically into a place where you’re going to find something really different to everybody else. It’s rewarding to introduce people to something they don’t
OPPOSITE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Design Centre East showroom Tom Raffield’s distinctive Cornish-made steam-bent lighting, which was recently released in a palette of joyful colours; founded in 1911, Philippe Hurel has an impeccable French pedigree, and pieces such as the ‘Aton’ sideboard pictured are the starting point for custom and bespoke work; Chandigarh-based artist Gurjeet Singh gathered life stories from Jaipur Rugs’ artisan makers to create the Dreamers collection – and the result is where art meets craft meets storytelling ABOVE: B-TD’s ‘Crash Albus’ lights from The Specified look like rumpled paper or porcelain, but are in fact salvaged car panels, saved from the wrecker’s yard
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