As the founder of contemporary structure store Béton Brut, Sophie Pearce has recently had to triumph over what she phrases “some design chromophobia.” A collaboration with the trend designer Paul Smith has persuaded Pearce to evolve her signature monochrome palette and undertaking into one thing a little a lot more chromatically chaotic.
This autumn, the Paul Smith London flagship store at 9 Albemarle Road in Mayfair has turn into the new place for Béton Brut to showcase its assortment of vintage furniture and homewares. “While the cardinal rule remains—I will only buy what I could have in my authentic or imagined home—I can also now resource far more stunning items with a ‘Paul Smith hat’ on, or at the very least vogue my possess response to Paul Smith eclecticism,” suggests Sophie, who commenced Béton Brut in 2013 and has since acquired a popularity for sourcing scarce and distinctly sculptural household furniture and lights from Europe and Japan.
Found in the devoted furnishings and artwork place on the lower floor ground, Béton Brut will current unusual and special pieces courting from the 18th to the 20th century, with the edit refreshed regularly. The preliminary collection will include desks, lights, sofas, screens, chairs, sculptures, and extra, all hand-picked with the one of a kind Mayfair store room in thoughts.
“Béton Brut has pretty a hyperlink with the style planet, as we frequently hire our collection for style shoots,” points out Sophie. “It was through a single of all those connections that Paul Smith approached us.” The residency, which is set to be a extended-term arrangement, follows the latest launch of Paul Smith’s possess homewares selection and dwelling fragrance start.
The short was to revive the furnishings giving at Albemarle Street. “For us it was the likelihood to present Béton Brut to a new audience—and a resourceful obstacle: how to curate a selection that feels equally Béton Brut and Paul Smith that will shock and delight.”
The locale, 9 Albemarle Avenue, is a Regency developing with a personalized cast iron facade designed in 2013 by 6a Architects that, according to Sophie, “reflects the philosophy of what is inside of: complete resistance to homogeneity and a commitment to eclecticism and craft.”
On the lessen flooring, artificial lights has encouraged Sophie “to decide a scheme that has ambiance while still experience brilliant and poppy.” She explains: “Inspired by a new Paul Smith collection, we have decided on varying shades of chartreuse and lemon sorbet for the partitions, with pops of rust and brick purple in the items.”
From this backdrop, the region has been cleverly zoned. Viewed as “vignettes” have been made from an pro edit of desks, lighting, sofas, screens, chairs, and sculptures. “I’ve also had enjoyable incorporating artwork and objects from Paul Smith’s comprehensive selection,” suggests Sophie. “It feels much more of a dialogue than a takeover.”
For a lot more designers in residence, see:
