Luxury retailer Nest to showcase luxury furniture and homewares at new showroom
Sheffield-based luxury furniture and lighting retailer, Nest, has opened the doors to its new dedicated design destination which sits at the heart of the city’s iconic Park Hill development.
Spanning an impressive 3,500 sq. ft, the new design showroom includes a basement and outdoor front and rear terrace with the interior having been designed by the internationally acclaimed interior designer Harriet Paterson.
The design incorporates a purpose-built staircase, sympathetic to the space with an industrial style, perforated folded steel softened with natural oak treads, supplied by Stoke-on-Trent’s Metal Staircase Company. For staff and customers, a sleek and compact open-plan kitchen area, supplied courtesy of fellow Sheffield Business, Concept Interiors Ltd, also features.
Other Sheffield suppliers and contractors who worked to deliver the project included electrician New Phase LED, IDAQ Networks, Steven Slack Joinery Services, and Croft Security.
The new site will be open to the public from Monday to Saturday 10am – 4pm and will house the company’s residential and commercial design support team, as well as Nest’s personal shopping service consultants.
Situated within Europe’s largest Grade II listed building, Nest’s CEO and Founder, Christian Hawley, says the industrial interior of the unit ‘perfectly encapsulates’ Sheffield’s history, while the ‘breath-taking’ views over the city centre provides the business with excellent display and photoshoot opportunities.
He said: “It was very important to us that we make the most of the original space and features, and complement it with the design of the interior, so we have invested a lot of time into getting everything just right. A considered approach that works in harmony with the existing architecture was something we felt passionate to achieve.”
“Now that work has completed, we are very much looking forward to opening our doors and to welcoming clients from across the country to our new design destination.”
While Nest continues to have a strong online customer base, Christian added that there was still an appetite for a physical showroom where people could see, feel and experience the premium finish of these luxury furniture and lighting items in person.
“Many of our products are investment pieces, and while people are happy to shop online, many also want the option of visiting a showroom where they can really get a feel for what they are buying. This is particularly true of interior designers, and those looking to get advice from our personal shopping service.”
“Our national customer base has grown exponentially over the last few years, and so it was important that we had a location that was fully accessible to our suppliers, commercial clients and residential customers alike.”
“Our catalogue offers design solutions for customers seeking pieces created to last. With an increasing preference observed in our clients for quality goods that age well over time, our new showroom offers a curated offering that fulfils this change, in how we are all approaching purchases, not only for the home but in many areas.”
Nest’s Managing Director, Toni Anne Dunleavy, further commented: “Good design is like a work of art that speaks to the heart and mind, while also serving a practical purpose. The future lies in being collectively conscious with our design choices; seeking pieces crafted to stand the test of time and grow with us through the years.”
The new design destination opened its doors to customers on April 3rd, 2023. A series of events are scheduled for the coming months to celebrate the opening, beginning with residents of Park Hill invited to attend an exclusive tour of the space later this month, in honour of Nest joining the community.
Shared insight into these opening events Jessica Alldridge, Marketing Manager for Nest, said: “The Nest team are passionate about celebrating the opening of our new design showroom with our International brand partners, suppliers and designers of the space, regional press and our Sheffield community, with a series of exciting events and workshops being held from April onwards.
“Gathering with our valued customer base and welcoming new customers through our doors will not only toast the opening of our new space, but it also aligns with our brand celebrating our milestone 20th year. Visitors can expect exclusive tours of the showroom, with limited edition designs and demonstrations from brands on display.”
Speaking about the visual inspiration behind the concept, aptly termed “Verdant Brutalism”, Harriet explains: “The Barbican Conservatory has always been an inspiring space for me. Similarly, Ricardo Bofill’s adaptation of the abandoned Spanish cement factory, La Fabrica, integrates organic elements with the dramatic lines of brutalist architecture, serving as the creative starting point for this project.
“Inspired by these spaces the showroom design strikes a balance between Park Hill’s modernist architecture and the natural world, creating an interesting blend of organic and industrial elements.”
Commenting on the completion of the project, she said: “”I’ve long been an admirer of Nest and so collaborating with Christian and Toni on this project has been a wonderfully creative and rewarding experience.
“And as someone who’s passionate about modernist architecture, the opportunity to integrate an interior scheme into Park Hill’s iconic architecture is a real privilege – having very recently moved to Sheffield, I’m very proud to be a part of the project and contribute to the city’s thriving creative landscape.”
Park Hill was built in 1961, providing 998 flats as a solution to slum clearance. The original architects Jack Lynn and Ivor Smith’s brutalist design created three different types of apartment – above, below and adjacent to the deck to suit the full range of home owners from single pensioners to families of six or more. It became known for its ‘streets in the sky’.
Park Hill was Grade II listed in 1998 – an acknowledgement of the architectural significance and is the largest listed structure in Europe – known worldwide for its brutalist architecture. A landmark on the Sheffield skyline it is situated immediately to the east of the mainline railway station and city centre.
The redevelopment of Park Hill is a joint venture between Urban Splash and Places for People. Phase 1 of the redevelopment won national recognition for the city by being nominated for the RIBA Stirling Prize in 2013. The team is working with designers, architects and public partners to bring life and pride back to this iconic project and make it a genuinely vibrant and sustainable community for the 21st century.
Park Hill has always been about the community, and the community is what makes it a place.
