Shops / Member news
‘Labour of love’ design studio opens
“The idea came to me just six months ago when I was basically fed up of carting all my heavy workshop kit to and from another hired venue,” said Zoë Hewett, the award-winning interior designer who recently opened her own design studio on Gloucester Road.
Zoë, who worked in the theatre productions before launching her studio, Stylemongers Of Bristol, found it challenging to secure a permanent base for her work and educational undertakings.
After completing a successful funding round, her dream came true when she received the keys to 196 Gloucester Road.
The shop opened its doors in September. In a matter of seven weeks since receiving the keys to the shop, the veteran designer transformed the space with “a miniscule budget, grit and a lot of DIY” which she called a “labour of love”.
In a matter of seven weeks since receiving the keys to the shop, Hewett transformed the space with “a miniscule budget, grit and a lot of DIY”
The Stylemongers shop on Gloucester Road is an “all-under-one-roof” space for design services, educational workshops, client consulting and retail.
On the new venture, Zoë said: “I’m so delighted with the unit that came up just at the right time for me. It’s been a labour of love to transform it into a colourful space where I can work at my desk and hold client meetings with the benefit of high street visibility.”
“It’s been a labour of love to transform it into a colourful space where I can work at my desk and hold client meetings with the benefit of high street visibility,” said Zoë Hewett
With a stock that mirrors her enthusiasm for design, Zoë is keen to introduce a bit of style to the already vibrant neck of the woods of Gloucester Road. She said: “Being able to also host workshops in my own creative space will really add value to the experience, especially for people coming from corporates for wellbeing and engagement days, as it looks more like an art gallery than an office!
“I’ve been able to retail beautiful luxury fabric and wallpapers for a few years, but hardly anyone has been able to see that until now. There are also more accessible items to buy like cushions, natural candles, cards and my interior design kits.”
With a strong emphasis on sustainability, she has completed several demonstrations which includes a surface finish of a cupboard using coffee grounds and another one using repossessed CDs.
“Sustainably doesn’t necessarily mean we have to compromise on style or settle for bland options”
“One of my aims with the shop is to show that designing more sustainably doesn’t necessarily mean we have to compromise on style or settle for bland options. Creativity is the way to achieve that,” she concluded.
All photos: Zoë Hewett
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