23 Jun 2015
Vanessa Arbuthnott is well known for her contemporary country style and her designs enjoy a distinctive look and very individual handwriting. Vanessa's thirteen collections are produced in the UK and printed on eco-friendly, 100% linen and organic cotton.
Her fabrics and wallcoverings represent an eclectic fusion of themes and inspirations, a celebration of her love of the simpler things in life, the countryside and her rural roots. So where better for her to open her first Retail Shop and Showroom than in the very hub of her home county Gloucestershire, in Cirencester, a bustling market town that enjoys an eclectic mix of home and lifestyle businesses and independent retailers.
Situated at 12 Ashcroft Road, close to the centre of Cirencester, and within walking distance of Waitrose and the Market Place, the building has undergone an extensive rebuild and refurbishment. Its eye-catching façade features contemporary Scandinavian-style boarding painted in a distinctive shade of blue, whilst its huge windows give lots of natural light to Vanessa's shop and showroom - both from inside the shop and from the pavement.
Vanessa says: "I hope I have created a welcoming and uplifting atmosphere to bring out the inner designer in you all, and that with the help of my knowledgeable and enthusiastic staff we can help to facilitate the often daunting task of decorating your homes. The shop will have floor-to-ceiling 'walls' of fabric arranged by colour, complemented by wallpapers, accessories and furniture. In the showroom there is a relaxed seating area where you are encouraged to stay and enjoy a cup of coffee whilst browsing through my pattern books."
Vanessa is passionate about upcycling offcuts, remnants and odds-and-ends into beautiful products. Sold exclusively through her shop, they include wash bags, notebooks, lampshades, handbags and more…all made from her highly covetable fabrics.
The Shop is planning lots of consultancy days and customer events, including opportunities to meet Vanessa and understand her design ethos. The free Design Consultancy can be booked in advance, and samples are also given free-of-charge. Clients can order made-to-measure items with confidence, having discussed their requirements and measurements with the highly trained and passionate team. The Showroom will display all Vanessa's curtains and blinds, bedheads, sofas and chairs, which can be tried out in a delightfully unpressurised environment!
Vanessa is thrilled by the prospect of opening her long-awaited flagship: “A retail presence seemed the natural next step for the business so I could meet the enthusiastic demands of my clients. I feel so lucky to have found the perfect premises in the very heart of Cirencester, one of the most beautiful towns in Gloucestershire, and with just the right friendly, local atmosphere. It has been a real family affair to get the Shop and Showroom just how I envisaged it, (there is an advantage to being married to an architect!) and I am so proud of the end result. I am looking forward enormously to serving the local community in Cirencester and beyond, and to meeting my customers in person on a regular basis!”
Opening Hours: Monday – Friday 9.30am-5.00pm and Saturday 10.00am-5.00pm.
For further press information please contact Angela Fawcett PR: