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the shop will be ready to open later this autumn. As well as displaying a permanent selection of our most popular lighting and home furnishing designs, we want this shop to be an exciting interiors destination on Walcot Street. We are planning to run a series of seasonal interiors events and workshops, collaborating with local makers and designers.
As you begin expanding outside of Suffolk, what are you doing to keep the sense of family in the business?
As we grow and develop, ultimately at our heart we are still very much an independent retailer. The passion for Great British design runs through every piece we make, and that pride in our designs is really what draws us all together.
ONE TO WATCH
Cassie Rowland
Cassie Rowland, creative director at Jim Lawrence, gives the inside scoop on their brand new premises on Walcot Street So, Cassie, could you start by telling us about Jim Lawrence?
Jim Lawrence Lighting & Home is a family owned independent lighting and home furnishings business that started life on a farm kitchen table over 25 years ago. The company is still owned and run by Jim and his wife Sheena, and they are now joined by over 150 employees at their Suffolk workshop. Their extensive range of over 9,000 period-style handcrafted products includes fabrics, home furnishings, lighting, lampshades, switches, sockets, curtains and curtain poles, and window and door furniture.
What made you decide it was time to expand outside Suffolk, where you began?
We have been showcasing our designs in a pop-up shop at events for about five years, and found our customers really valued seeing our product range in person, not just online. It seemed a natural step to expand this offering into a more permanent space where
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customers can be inspired by our designs and period-look styling.
And why did you choose Bath? I have long hankered to come back to the West Country (I lost my heart to the West many years ago), so when Jim and Sheena mooted the idea of opening a West Country base for the brand, I jumped at the chance to develop it. With its stunning Georgian architecture and reputation for outstanding independent retailers, I knew that Bath would be a fantastic fit for us.
How did you come to pick Walcot Street, in particular?
I have fond memories delving for interiors treasures in Walcot Reclamation many years ago, and have always been drawn to this beautiful and creative street. Walcot’s long standing reputation as the artisan quarter is as strong now as ever. It’s just such a go-to location for interiors expertise, and I’m really excited we
will be part of that. From carpets and paints to mirrors and kitchens, upholsters and framers to interior designers and weavers, there really isn’t anywhere quite like Walcot for interior inspiration.
Tell us about the new space – it looks exciting!
The shop front had us from the start. The iconic bow fronted widows lead into a jewel of a Georgian shop, complete with two beautiful original fireplaces – it’s a perfect backdrop for our period lighting designs. Our company style sits somewhere between vintage elegance and modern country styling, so we were absolutely thrilled to find the older part of the shop leads through into a bright, more spacious warehouseinspired area too.
And what are your plans for the new shop? We’re working hard renovating the building at the moment, and
Go on, then: in three words, how would you describe Jim Lawrence designs? Elegant, timeless, authentic.
Any trends we should be on the lookout for?
The trend for warm metallic accents in lighting continues to be strong in interiors in AW19. Inspired by this, we are thrilled to be launching three of our most popular pendants in a new Heritage Copper finish later in the year. The patina of the aged copper gives a real depth and character to the lighting designs. Velvets are huge at the moment too, and it’s easy to see why – they have such instant luxe appeal. This autumn sees the launch of a new Burnt Orange Velvet at Jim Lawrence. Joining our naturally inspired Hunstanton Velvet collection, it will be available as a cut length, a cushion, and in a variety of lampshade styles and shapes.
Anything else coming up we should know about?
I’m in the process of putting the shop team together, so if you’re passionate about interiors and interested in being part of our new store here in Bath, I’d love to hear from you. Just contact us through the website. For more, www.jim-lawrence.co.uk