Bath has become a bit of a mecca for interesting interiors shops. With our wonderful Georgian houses and reputation for style, it is no wonder beautiful interiors brands are attracted to the city. Here are my favourite shops.
Atelier Ellis
New Zealand-born Cassandra Ellis founded her independent paint brand, Atelier Ellis, in 2018. Atelier Ellis make beautiful, breathable, natural colour paints. The intensely pigmented, en terré colours are designed to create spaces that are welcoming, calming and cocooning. Virtually VOC free and fully breathable, each colour is crafted using up to ten pigments to create the perfectly complex, unique and nuanced shade. Cassandra does not conceive a colour by referencing a hue but is more focused on the feelings she is trying to evoke.
Cassandra has opened a shop and studio on Walcot Street where she has transformed a four-story townhouse into a beautiful setting where customers can see how the brand’s handmade paints will look in their own home. Samples are available on A4 hand painted colour cards in all 101 of her colours and they offer in-store and at home colour advice.
https://www.atelierellis.co.uk
DeVol Kitchens
deVOL was founded in 1989 by two design graduates, Philip deVries and Paul O’Leary – the name deVOL is an amalgamation of their initials! Paul and Phil started by renovating antique furniture and making bespoke pieces for clients, but deVOL became well-known for its freestanding kitchen furniture.
The company now make a selection of kitchens and accessories, including lights, tiles handles, alongside a unique collection of other home accessories.
A new showroom is now open on George Street. They have renovated a classic corner shop and have made each room into an atmospheric kitchen where you can come and immerse yourself in deVOL. The building is listed so deVOL have focused on their Classic English, Heirloom and Shaker ranges to ensure that the displays feel authentic and in keeping with their surroundings. There are a small team of kitchen designers in the showroom to offer a personal and creative service.
8 Holland Street
Eight Holland Street is a gallery and design studio with bespoke services in art sourcing, curation, furniture sourcing, and interior design.
In the spring of 2023, Eight Holland Street opened their second gallery in Margaret’s Buildings in Bath, where they showcase a dynamic series of exhibitions alongside an extensive collection of modern and contemporary artworks, vintage luxury furniture, ceramics, rare textiles, and design. They regularly host exhibitions, talks, and special events.
In Bath they also have their Townhouse, a unique space for overnight stays. Here you’ll find expertly curated furniture, original artwork and textiles with contemporary design elements. There’s art from Alexander Calder, Elisabeth Frink and Zach Zono, and design features from Mario Bellini, Josef Frank and Vivai del Sud.
Divine Savages
Wallpaper and fabric designers Divine Savages are husbands Jamie Watkins and Tom Kennedy. They take inspiration from history, culture, fashion and the natural world to create a melting pot of ideas, which they then use to design exquisitely crafted wallpapers and fabrics, glamorous home accessories, fabulous gifts and limited-edition art prints.
I’ve used their bold colourful wallpapers in some of my projects and I was so excited when they moved to my home town of Bath, where they are renovating a Victorian villa and opening a new showroom in Margaret’s Buildings.
The team are changing a white space into a glorious riot of pattern and colour with a beautiful antique haberdasher’s cabinet as a shop counter and a gorgeous hand-painted sign.
I recently used Divine Savages Kyoto Blossom in a ground floor Georgian cloakroom. Inspired by the Japanese gardens of Holland Park and featuring delicate illustrations of cherry blossoms, lotus flowers, exotic birds and koi carp, this wallpaper is perfect for a small room.
www.divinesavages.com
Hidden Gallery
Founded with a vision to bring original artworks by world-renowned artists into the lives of people from all walks of life, Hidden Gallery was founded In 2016. There are now four galleries including this one in Bath.
Whether you’re a seasoned collector or a first-time buyer, the team at Hidden will help you find your perfect piece and advise you on investing in art. Hidden not only offers a curated selection of original artworks but also offer framing services, specializing in framing rare and collectible pieces using conservation standard materials and 99.9% anti-UV glass.
The gallery, also on Margaret’s Buildings, is a welcoming space and displays a full range of the artiststhey stock, including Barbara Hepworth, Bridget Riley, David Hockney, Damien Hirst, David Shrigley, Henri Matisse and Marc Chagall.
www.hiddengallery.co.uk
Read my next blog post for the rest of my top ten shops in Bath.
