Shops / Shop of the Week
Shop of the Week: Lowlands, Colston Street
It is a warm afternoon when I meet Erica Dubuisson outside Lowlands, her shop on Colston Street.
The storefront is hard to miss: an eclectic display of mid-century vintage lighting and furniture draws passers-by to a stop.
What began as a pop-up in Erica’s living room over eight years ago has since grown into a well-loved destination for art and design enthusiasts.
What began as a living room pop-up has since grown into a destination for art and design enthusiasts
The name, Erica explains, comes from her travels through the Netherlands, Denmark and Belgium, where she would hunt for remarkable pieces to bring back home.
“It is as much of a joy to go and find pieces as it is to sell them,” she says.
On one trip in Denmark, she remembers pulling off the motorway simply to get food and stumbling across a ceramics shop “by pure luck”.
Her unofficial rule when sourcing stock is simple: “I’d have to have it in my own house.”
The counter cabinet contains Danish socks and handwoven bookmarks, among other pieces
In an age of mass consumption and cheap manufacturing, Erica sees a growing appetite for durability and thoughtful design.
“People (still) recognise the idea of investing in good design and good quality products,” she says, pointing to a 1940s Anglepoise lamp as an example.
Despite its age, it has been made with such care and superior materials that it still functions perfectly today. All rewiring is carried out in-store, giving new life to lighting that is often over 80 years old.
“People like the idea of not wasting products,” she adds.
For Erica, these objects are not simply sold but cared for across time. “I feel like I’m fostering them for a while and passing them on to somebody else,” she says, framing ownership as something temporary rather than final.
Her passion for lighting is particularly pronounced. “Good lighting can completely transform an atmosphere within any establishment,” she explains, describing its ability to shape comfort and mood in homes, pubs and even hospitals.
While Lowlands specialises in lighting and furniture, it also supplies Japanese ceramics, including sought after ramen bowls, minimalist stationary and Danish pottery, among other knick knacks.
Her main philosophy is that everything must be well made and built to last a lifetime.
Shelves are laden with Japanese ceramics, Anglepoise lamps, candles and more
I am curious about her perspective on the relationship between aesthetics and functionality.
“Everything here is functional, people have commented on that,” she answers, also maintaining that pieces of art are functional.
Lowlands features pieces from influential mid-century designers such as Charles & Ray Eames, Poul Henningsen and Herbert Terry.
While these re-editions make iconic designs more accessible, Erica notes they can sometimes be produced with lower-quality materials.
The shop features a backroom containing larger pieces of furniture, such as desk chairs and kitchen tables
Looking ahead, Erica plans to continue travelling in search of distinctive pieces, sharing her finds with like-minded customers and artists.
All photos: Stella Phipps
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