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Padium Cardiff is the second destination for Padium, a premium padel club brand redefining the standard for sport and leisure in the UK. ORCA Studios were appointed to design the new club, transforming a disused Argos warehouse within the Cardiff Bay Retail park into a 35,000 sq ft leisure destination — one that sets a new benchmark for what a padel destination can be.

ORCA Studios

The project began with a question that shaped everything that followed. As Matt Constantinou, Founder and Director of ORCA Studios, explains: "Padel is inherently social — you can't play it alone. So, the question was never just how we design the courts; it was how we design everything around them to foster a genuine sense of community."

ORCA Studios

From the moment of arrival. A dramatic entrance feature — a bespoke hanging chain installation — sets the tone immediately, establishing the club as something beyond the ordinary. Members are then drawn through an immersive entrance tunnel, designed to build anticipation and evoke the adrenaline of competition before they play. These are not only decorative gestures, but they are also deliberate transitions, shifting the mindset of the visitor from the everyday into something more charged.

ORCA Studios

The aesthetic throughout is industrial refined — raw in its bones, considered in its execution. Textured wall finishes add depth and tactility, while curved detailing softens the warehouse volume, lending warmth to what might otherwise feel hard-edged. Soft furnishings with a considered and bold colour palette offer a richness to the space. Warm LED lighting unifies the club, creating an atmosphere that feels inviting throughout the day and into the night.

ORCA Studios

Across the ground floor, eight indoor courts sit alongside a pro shop, co-working space, recovery area, and members lounge bar — a programme designed not for a single type of visit, but for all of them. Whether a member arrives to play, to work, to eat, to meet, or simply to be part of the environment, the space accommodates them without compromise.

ORCA Studios

The mezzanine takes the experience further. Premium changing facilities and a recovery suite featuring ice baths serve the performance-focused member, while the panoramic sauna — positioned to look directly over the courts below — is perhaps the most quietly extraordinary space in the building. It is a room that rewards those who use it with a view of the sport in full flight; rest and play occupying the same sightline.

ORCA Studios

Throughout, ORCA embedded moments of discovery — easter eggs within the detail that reward the curious and give the space a layered quality that deepens with familiarity. The ambition was a destination that members return to not just for the padel, but for the experience of being there.

ORCA Studios

The result is a club where sport is the starting point, not the whole story — and where design is the thread that holds it all together.

About ORCA Studios

We are a commercial interior design practice nestled within the beating heart of London. Creating unique, functional and creative spaces that are tailored to our clients individual needs.Drawing from a rich decade-long experience across the UK and Europe, we proudly present ORCA Studios. Our mission is to craft unique and vibrant spaces. With a team dedicated to innovation, we're excited for this new chapter and the transformative designs ahead.

If you’d like to feature your news or stories on SBID.org, get in touch to find out more. 

If you’d like to become SBID Accredited, click here for more information.

Letchworth Garden City-based interior design studio Design Command has completed the refurbishment of David’s Café, a much-loved independent café and shop at the heart of the local community. The redesigned space brings together the café and retail offer, creating a cohesive and welcoming environment where visitors can settle in with a coffee, browse books and gifts and enjoy a slower pace.

Design Command
Design Command

A long-standing part of the community for over 60 years, David’s Café combines a bookshop, music store, gift shop and café, making it a unique destination where books, good coffee, great design and live music come together. As a fellow Letchworth-based business, Design Command worked closely with the client to reimagine the interior, enhancing both functionality and overall customer experience.

Design Command

The new layout carefully integrates seating with product displays, allowing the café and retail elements to work seamlessly together. This approach maximises the use of space while maintaining a clear and comfortable environment for customers, whether they are visiting to unwind or explore the shop’s offering.

Design Command
Design Command

The design draws inspiration from classic mid-century interiors, layered with warm textures and subtle pops of colour. Herringbone flooring, soft upholstery and relaxed, residential-style materials create a space that feels inviting from the moment you walk in. The overall concept was to design a space made for slowing down - somewhere customers can feel at ease spending time.

Design Command

Soft, layered lighting has been used to enhance the relaxed atmosphere, creating a gentle transition between retail and seating areas while highlighting key materials throughout the space.

Design Command
Design Command

Clare McDonald, Founder of Design Command, commented: “We were delighted to work on the refurbishment of David’s Café, such a well-loved and established part of the Letchworth community. Being based locally ourselves made the project even more meaningful and our aim was to create a space that feels warm, inviting and easy to spend time in, while ensuring the café and retail elements work seamlessly together.”

Design Command

Founded in 2013, Design Command is a Letchworth Garden City-based studio recognised for its thoughtful and creative approach to hospitality and commercial interiors. Working with clients across the UK, the studio delivers spaces that are both functional and engaging, with a strong emphasis on user experience and brand identity.

About Design Command

Design Command is a London and Hertfordshire based Interior Architecture Studio founded in 2013 by Clare McDonald. Since its inception, the studio has grown steadily, working across restaurants, hotels, student accommodation, residential and workplace environments throughout the UK and Europe. Our experience includes more than sixty restaurant projects and a wide range of hotel and living environments for independent operators and international hospitality groups, including Accor, Hyatt and IHG. Alongside this, we have delivered contemporary dining concepts, luxury student living for Collegiate AC and projects for developers such as Mount Anvil and Landmark Space, always with thoughtful planning and expressive materiality.

If you’d like to feature your news or stories on SBID.org, get in touch to find out more. 

If you’d like to become SBID Accredited, click here for more information.

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a sophisticated salon design by 2025 SBID Awards Finalists, Atrio Design.

Atrio Design proudly presents Beauty Made, a high-end beauty salon located in the heart of Calthorpe Estate, Edgbaston, Birmingham. Designed and built in just two months, the salon blends sophisticated elegance with contemporary luxury, creating a serene and exclusive atmosphere. The interior features bespoke finishes, premium materials, and custom lighting, ensuring a seamless client experience. Every detail reflects the refined aesthetic of Edgbaston Village while offering a modern, functional space for beauty professionals. Beauty Made is a testament to Atrio Design’s expertise in delivering high-end, tailored interiors with precision, creativity, and uncompromising quality.

Category: Retail Design

Design Practice: Atrio Design

Project Title: Beauty Made

Project Location: Birmingham, United Kingdom

Design Practice Location: Birmingham, United Kingdom

Atrio Design
Atrio Design

What was the client's brief?

Atrio Design was commissioned to design and build Beauty Made, an exclusive high-end beauty salon in the prestigious Calthorpe Estate, Edgbaston, Birmingham. The vision was to create a super unique salon that seamlessly integrates with the sophisticated charm of Edgbaston Village while offering a luxurious and immersive experience for clients.

The challenge was to deliver a high-end fit-out within an ambitious 2-month time-frame, ensuring every detail aligned with the salon’s premium aesthetic and functional requirements. Atrio Design took a turnkey approach, managing everything from conceptual design to execution, incorporating bespoke finishes, high-quality materials, and meticulous craftsmanship.

The result is a harmonious blend of elegance and innovation, with tailor-made interiors, curated textures, and a seamless flow that enhances the client experience. Every design element was chosen to reflect sophistication, comfort, and exclusivity, positioning Beauty Made as a standout destination in Birmingham’s beauty industry.

Atrio Design

What inspired the design of the project?

The design was inspired by natural textures, timeless detailing, and the philosophy that beauty is best expressed through simplicity and balance.

Atrio Design

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

Achieving the right equilibrium between luxury and calm minimalism, ensuring the space felt elegant yet understated.

Atrio Design

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

Delivering a finished space that reflected our vision in every detail — from the atmosphere to the craftsmanship.

Atrio Design

Why did you enter the SBID Awards?

To showcase our work on a global stage and align Atrio Design with the most respected names in the industry.

What has being an Award Finalist meant to you and your business?

It has validated our design philosophy, enhanced our reputation, and opened new opportunities for growth.

Andrii Yeksarov, Founder & Creative Director of Atrio Design

Questions answered by Andrii Yeksarov, Founder & Creative Director of Atrio Design.

We hope you feel inspired by this week's design!

If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring a characterful hallway design, click here to read it.

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features an impressive retail design by 2025 SBID Awards Finalist, IRD Design Studio.

IRD Design was commissioned by RAK properties to refurbish the Julphar Mall Avenues. The were monotonous finishes carried from outside to inside The task was to ensure a solution which would require the least downtime. The team preserved and enhanced by cladding original railings in timber, concealing steel trusses with lighting. Weber pour-on flooring was applied over existing tiles, minimizing waste. Lift walls were refreshed with 3M vinyl. False columns were removed, ceilings raised, and lighting reimagined to create vibrant, energy-efficient spaces. The project demonstrates how thoughtful restoration can transform aging infrastructure into a modern, sustainable destination for today’s consumers.

Category: Retail Design

Design Practice: IRD Design Studio

Project Title: Refurbishment of Julphar Avenue Mall & Towers

Project Location: Ras Al-Khaimah, United Arab Emirates

Design Practice Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Photographer: Aasiya Jagadeesh

What was the client's brief?

The project intent was to create a showstopping space that creates the best first impression with the right ambience and lighting!

Photographer: Aasiya Jagadeesh

What inspired the design of the project?

This is not a typical upgrade. Julphar Avenue Mall was brought back to life through design. When RAK Properties set out to refresh this under performing space, their vision was clear: elevate outlet visibility, create a cool and clean interior, and reimagine the customer journey. IRD answered with an experiential design strategy rooted in Ras Al Khaimah’s dual identity, with the sea on one side and mountain ranges on the other. The outcome? IRD delivered a complete reimagination, turning the mall into a destination that reflects the natural beauty of Ras Al Khaimah while strengthening its commercial and cultural appeal. Through design intervention alone, it demonstrates retail design’s power to revive not just spaces, but entire communities.

Photographer: Aasiya Jagadeesh

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

The biggest challenge was not having as-built drawings, so an intensive site survey was required. This also meant that to do any structural changes or understanding loading patterns, a specialist structural survey had to be undertaken. The rest were taken as the unknown, some design changes were made as demolition took place including discovery a new skylight under a false ceiling.

Photographer: Aasiya Jagadeesh

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

Our team’s highlight was to build an actual model of building and constantly adapt this model to show the stake-holders the impact of design changes. Click here for Julphar's BIMx Presentation.

Photographer: Aasiya Jagadeesh

Why did you enter the SBID Awards?

SBID is a well known Awards platform which has credibility in the design world. We wanted to showcase our ability to transform spaces. Our philosophy of re-use, re-purpose and rejuvenate as the basis of sustainable living is on full display in this project.

Photographer: Aasiya Jagadeesh

What has being an Award Finalist meant to you and your business?

Although the business is 20 years and has an international presence, this award will help us receive acclaim, recognition and publicity for the good work we do. We understand design as core to wellbeing in human society rather than a make-over. This recognition confirms that we are on the correct path.

Questions answered by Indu Varanasi, Design Director of IRD Design Studio.

We hope you feel inspired by this week's design!

If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring a minimalist residential design, click here to read it.

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a warm and tactile retail design by 2025 SBID Awards Finalist, Solid Design Studio.

Solid Design Studio was assigned to redesign the Curtain Library retail space with a focus on creating an immersive, interactive customer experience. The project transforms a previously linear layout into a fluid, multifunctional environment using curved elements and flexible zoning. A custom curved curtain track serves as both a functional and visual centerpiece, dividing the space while maintaining openness. Key features include interactive material displays, seasonal showcases, and dedicated zones for informal and formal consultations. The design reflects the brand’s identity while enhancing customer engagement, offering a warm, tactile, and visually compelling retail destination.

Category: Retail Design

Design Practice: Solid Design Studio

Project Title: Curtain Library Concept Store

Project Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Design Practice Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Photographer: TWJPTO
Photographer: TWJPTO

What was the client's brief?

The main brief in redesigning the Curtain Library retail space was to reimagine its layout, transitioning from a straightforward linear walkway to a more fluid and dynamic design. Our central concept was to create an environment that encourages interaction and exploration, where curved elements symbolize movement and flexibility, inviting customers to engage with the space in a more dynamic way. At the heart of the design, the curved curtain display track serves as a centrepiece, subtly dividing the floor into distinct zones while maintaining an open and airy atmosphere. This approach not only improves circulation and enhances the overall customer journey but also emphasizes adaptability, allowing the space to function seamlessly for casual conversations, immersive browsing, or even private events to reflecting our commitment to both customer satisfaction and innovative design.

Photographer: TWJPTO

What inspired the design of the project?

The Curtain Library redefines retail through a fluid layout inspired by movement and exploration. Curves form the foundation of the design, introducing flexibility and a sense of flow that guides customers through the space. The central curtain track anchors the concept, balancing visual impact with adaptability for both display and private consultation. Drawing from the tactile qualities of fabric, layered textures and curated seasonal showcases enrich the experience, while distinct zones foster meaningful interaction. The result is a retail environment that seamlessly blends form and function, elevating both brand identity and customer engagement.

Photographer: TWJPTO
Photographer: TWJPTO

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

The toughest hurdle was aligning communication between all parties, from translating drawings into real customer experiences, to ensuring the final design was both eye-catching and true to the concept. On top of that, working within a renowned mall in Bangsar meant adhering to strict timelines and overnight work. Completing the entire scope within just one month was a challenge, but it pushed our team to be precise, adaptive, and highly collaborative throughout the process.

Photographer: TWJPTO

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

The real highlight for our team was the collaboration behind the project. Despite the tight one-month timeline and overnight work, every member from designers to contractors all came together with a shared vision. Seeing that teamwork translates into a space where customers could truly engage and connect was incredibly rewarding. It reminded us that great design isn’t just about the outcome, but the people who bring it to life.

Photographer: TWJPTO

Why did you enter the SBID Awards?

The SBID Awards is one of the most reputable competitions in the industry, and entering felt like the right platform to showcase our work on an international stage. For us, it’s not just about gaining recognition, but also celebrating our team’s creativity and dedication. Being part of the awards is already a form of validation, and it allows us to share our design journey and honour the effort that went into bringing this project to life.

Photographer: TWJPTO

What has being an Award Finalist meant to you and your business?

Being an Award Finalist has been both an honour and a source of motivation for our team. It’s a proud moment that validates the creativity and dedication we poured into the project, while also giving our studio recognition on a larger stage. For us, it’s not only about business growth, but also about the encouragement to keep challenging ourselves and creating designs that truly make a difference.

Photographer: TWJPTO
Wilson Tan, Managing Director of Solid Design Studio

Questions answered by Wilson Tan, Managing Director of Solid Design Studio.

We hope you feel inspired by this week's design!

If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring a modern and industrial kitchen design, click here to read it.

The SBID UK Interior Design Icons were selected to recognise leading design practices throughout the UK who have consistently displayed exceptional standards within our esteemed industry network.

This week’s instalment of the SBID Icon Insights series features Jestico + Whiles. Jestico + Whiles is an architecture and interior design practice with a proud heritage, driven by curiosity and focused on how design can transform people’s lives.

Jestico + Whiles

Who leads design and creative direction at your company?

Our studio of specialist interior designers, architects and FF&E specialists, drawn from all backgrounds and from across the world, is led by James Dilley, Jennifer de Vere Hopkins and Joanna Grotowska-Hall, who have been working closely together for a long time. We are inspired by each other’s differing approach to design – and life in general – and united in a passion for design that ‘goes beyond’.

Every member of our team contributes to the creative direction of our work, and we encourage contributions at every level, informed by the open spirit of the studio and its staff.

Jestico + Whiles

Can you share a project that best represents your design style?

We don’t have a recognisable design style, because our approach is always in response to the specific context of each project. While the outcomes may be disparate and diverse, our common process means there are recognisable red threads running through them all. This has helped us to attract a wide range of projects and clients, and to respond to each with freshness and authenticity.

Jestico + Whiles

How does your team collaborate on major projects?

Collaboration is not only enjoyable, but it produces the best results and challenges us to learn in real time. We are open and encouraging to every member of the team, both internal and external, to make meaningful contributions based on their experiences and background. Internally, we have practice-wide design reviews to unlock the widest range of perspectives.

Jestico + Whiles

What steps do you take to stay at the forefront of the design industry?

We understand that in this fast-moving environment we must never stop learning, and we enjoy that process. While the main influence on our work is our own work, we are constantly visiting buildings of all types, across the world. While our background is in hospitality, we are increasingly seeing our expertise and approach being sought for work on buildings of all types, including mixed-use projects – an exciting evolution.

Jestico + Whiles

What trends do you see shaping the future of interior design?

We think it’s essential to balance the analogue and digital worlds. Sophisticated digitally produced imagery is now an expected part of the presentation process. However, a watercolour, a pencil sketch or a handmade model remain intimate and personal ways of communicating our ideas.

We are excited by the opportunities of AI, which has a place both in sparking inspiration and expressing ideas. However, we know it will never replace human input in design which is grounded in empathy.

Jestico + Whiles

How do technology and innovation influence your work?

As early pioneers of environmentally conscious design, sustainability is intrinsic to everything we do – creating great design while caring for each other and the world around us is a core value of ours. We operate an ISO14001 environmental management system to monitor our environmental impact, and have published a Carbon Reduction Plan since 2022, reviewed annually to reduce our carbon emissions. Our B Corp certification, achieved in 2024, underlines our continued commitment to high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability.

Our in-house sustainability team, plusZero, comprises architects and interior designers from various sectors within the practice, including three Passivhaus Designers. Our projects include those with LEED, BREEAM, NABERS, WELL and other recognised sustainability certifications.

We are driven by a commitment to beautiful design that emphasises wellbeing, sense of place and emotional and physical connection. We endeavour to prioritise material selection with high recycled content, low VOCs, and FSC-certified timber, working with the highest quality furniture suppliers and manufacturers to specify locally sourced and quality crafted products.

Jestico + Whiles

What advice would you give to emerging designers?

The world of design is too vast to comprehend, and it is rare that anyone might see their future path with any clarity. Embrace your own journey of uncertainty and accept that there is not, most likely, a firm destination – and this is only positive. Use your early years to immerse yourself in a range of opportunities. That means, above all, to get as much exposure as possible to inspiring people as possible; seek out your mentors and keep in touch with them, as frequent sense checks are invaluable. It will be the unexpected, disruptive, challenging or curio project, or person, that may be uncomfortable but will push you into a new orbit. Don’t dismiss a prospect without careful consideration.

About Jestico + Whiles

Jestico + Whiles is an architecture and interior design practice with a proud heritage, driven by curiosity and focused on how design can transform people’s lives. We have a global reputation for excellence, working around the world from Zanzibar to Luzern. Delivering projects at every scale, from a four-seat café to a 2,500-cabin cruise ship, we work with clients ranging from independents to global operators. Working across sectors and typologies, we’re increasingly applying our experience in hospitality design to the fields of retail, workplace and residential, as well as innovative blended-use schemes. We actively pursue unusual projects, from a Victorian textile factory and a Swiss Belle Epoque palace to the grade-I listed country house of Sir John Soane. We are proud to have won five international design awards in 2024 alone, including Hotel Designs’ Brit List Awards, and the Restaurant & Bar Design Awards.

If you’d like to feature your news or stories on SBID.org, get in touch to find out more. 

If you’d like to become SBID Accredited, click here for more information.

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a contemporary boutique design by 2025 SBID Awards Finalist, LADO.

Portugal Jewels commissioned a sensitive architectural intervention to transform the former Barbearia Campos, located within a historic 18th-century Pombaline building in Lisbon’s Largo do Chiado, into a contemporary boutique celebrating Portuguese jewellery and traditional filigree craftsmanship. The design preserved key original elements of the barbershop, blending heritage with modern details. A focused, purposeful renovation introduced Klein blue cabinetry and blue accents that harmonize with the space’s aged character, creating an intimate retail environment that honors cultural legacy while reflecting the brand’s refined, contemporary identity.

Category: Retail Design

Design Practice: LADO

Project Title: Portugal Jewels

Project Location: Lisbon, Portugal

Design Practice Location: Lisbon, Portugal

Photographer: Francisco Nogueira

What was the client's brief?

With the barbershop long closed, the brief was to transform it into a boutique dedicated to Portuguese jewellery and goldsmithery, with a special emphasis on traditional filigree craftsmanship.

Photographer: Francisco Nogueira

What inspired the design of the project?

The project draws inspiration from the work of Brazilian artist Marcius Galan, while also using Yves Klein signature blue colour.

Photographer: Francisco Nogueira

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

The design of a custom design counter, half an old piece of furniture, half contemporary metal. Very much customised to accommodate all things needed for sales, packaging, etc.

Photographer: Francisco Nogueira

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

We are particularly enthusiastic about the effect of reflection of the new part of the shop reflected on the old mirrors in the opposite wall.

Photographer: Francisco Nogueira

Why did you enter the SBID Awards?

We believe it is an award with high reputation.

João Regal and Hilária Neto

What has being an Award Finalist meant to you and your business?

It is both a pleasure and an honour.

Questions answered by João Regal, Co-Founder of LADO.

We hope you feel inspired by this week's design!

If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring an immersive hospitality design, click here to read it.

A symbol of refined Parisian elegance, the historic address at 11 rue Royale reopened its doors on 18 November 2025. Marking the 90th anniversary of its first establishment on this iconic thoroughfare, Lalique unveils a renewed setting where crystal, light and emotion combine to create a unique experience: a reimagined art of living.

Lalique
Lalique

In 1935, René Lalique left Place Vendôme to settle at 11 rue Royale, in the heart of Paris. Ninety years later, the Maison returns to the footsteps of its founder and reinvents this historic address. More than a boutique: a place of life, art and light where the Lalique art of living is expressed more than ever before.

Lalique
Lalique

Behind the heritage façade, visitors discover an intimate, inspiring home, imagined as the apartment of a cosmopolitan artist couple. The light-filled spaces reveal a subtle dialogue between authenticity and modernity, between heritage and creation.

Lalique
Lalique

'Our Lalique setting on rue Royale symbolises a return to our roots, but also a projection into the future. We wanted the poetry of René Lalique to resonate here in a contemporary language: one of light, material and emotion.' - Marc Larminaux, Artistic and Creative Director at Lalique

The new 115 m² space expresses the Maison's artisanal virtuosity and contemporary creativity. From the entrance, a flight of sixty crystal swallows, emblematic of the Maison, welcomes visitors in an airy movement symbolising freedom and renewal.

Lalique
Lalique

Luminous arches adorned with the Laurel motif evoke victory and eternity, while the floral dahlia flooring pays tribute to nature, René Lalique's eternal muse.

The materials Burgundy walnut, Jadore quartzite, brass, terrazzo celebrate tactile nobility and the richness of natural elements. The Vosges blue that dresses the library echoes the forests surrounding the Wingen-sur-Moder manufacture in Alsace, the beating heart of the Maison.

Lalique
Lalique

A journey into the world of Lalique

The boutique invites guests on a sensory journey through the seven pillars of the Maison: decorative objects, interior design, tableware, jewellery, art, fragrances and hospitality.

Each space offers a distinctive thematic experience:
- The Boudoir, dedicated to jewellery, highlights the Cabochon ring, a timeless icon.
- The Winter Garden, bathed in natural light, showcases the Orgue and Perles creations alongside the mythical Cactus Table.
- The Vanity, reinterpreted in a luminous setting, celebrates perfumes and their exceptional flacons.
- The Library, crowned with graceful arches, presents iconic, heritage and contemporary collections.
- The Cabinet of Curiosities, with its backlit brass display cases, reveals a selection of unique objects, from exceptional pieces to the perfect gift.
- The Lalique Interior Design Studio Atelier unveils the secrets of crystal through sketches, samples and bespoke projects.
- The Bar, at the crossroads of Art Nouveau and Art Deco, embodies the Lalique art of living and pays tribute to the Maison's gastronomic universe, now counting three restaurants awarded two Michelin stars.

Lalique

A place of emotion and light

More than a reopening, 11 rue Royale is a declaration of intent. A tribute to the genius of René Lalique and the audacity of his successors, who continue to sculpt emotion and shape dreams. A space where crystal becomes language, material and light, and where every reflection tells a story.

About Lalique Limited

Founded over a century ago, in 1888, Lalique has endured as the ultimate symbol of French luxury. Today, the vision of the brand is to prolong the creative genius of founder René Lalique by issuing superb perfume bottles in crystal, reviving exciting and emotional jewellery designs, pushing the limits of the factory by creating decorative objects with its signature satin contrasts, carrying out major architectural projects, crafting a unique Lalique world dedicated to the home, working with renowned artists to produce limited editions in crystal and to recreate its cultural heritage. Lalique continues to thrive as a truly timeless lifestyle brand.

If you’d like to feature your news or stories on SBID.org, get in touch to find out more. 

If you’d like to become SBID Accredited, click here for more information.

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features an elegant showroom design by 2025 SBID Awards Finalist, Grandiosa Design.

At Grandiosa, everything begins and ends with inspiration. It is a place that invites you to experience our passion and vision firsthand. Here, you imagine, dream, and get inspired. In our showroom, we want you to feel the warmth of meeting, the creativity, and the touch of grandeur we bring to every space with our signature. Our promise is simple: to turn your ideas into the magic of reality. We listen, understand, and create with exceptional care and dedication; all you need to do is allow us to earn your trust. “The beauty of existence waiting to be discovered.”

Category: Retail Design

Design Practice: Grandiosa Design

Project Title: Grandiosa Showroom

Project Location: Zagreb, Croatia

Design Practice Location: Zagreb, Croatia

Grandiosa Design
Grandiosa Design

What was the client's brief?

The client envisioned a space that transcends function—an elegant fusion of showroom and studio, where creativity breathes through every detail. At its heart lies a dedicated stage for design: a showroom that not only displays concepts, materials, and brand identity, but also narrates a story of beauty, accessibility, and vision.

Alongside this, the client required a haven for its team—a place where ideas take shape, where meeting rooms foster dialogue, and working spaces nurture imagination and daily flow. Natural light was to be the guiding thread, a silent architectural element weaving through the interiors, illuminating pathways and creating effortless movement between the showroom and the studio. It becomes both atmosphere and structure, transforming the space into an experience. Flexibility, too, was vital: the design should adapt gracefully, shifting from cultural gatherings to intimate client conversations, from collaborative sessions to moments of reflection. This narrative forms the foundation of the accompanying diagram, a visual symphony of the client’s aspirations, harmoniously interwoven into the spatial composition.

Grandiosa Design

What inspired the design of the project?

The design of this interior seeks to weave a symphony of elegance, French chic, and warmth—an elevated expression of style that whispers of timelessness. In the historic heart of Zagreb, along the storied Gundulićeva Street, nearly 200 square meters are transformed into a living canvas, a celebration where design and art entwine. Every detail is composed with devotion, shaping a space where sophistication and beauty meet in perfect harmony, leaving an impression that lingers beyond time. Elegance here is not loud, but whispered—achieved through the careful choreography of materials and finishes, each chosen with intention. The aesthetic unfolds as a seamless composition, carrying the quiet allure of understated luxury.

At its core lies French chic, the heartbeat of the design, infusing every corner with the effortless charm of Paris. Warmth embraces the space like a gentle thread, ensuring it feels not only refined, but also deeply inviting—an interior where comfort and grace coexist, where utility meets the intimacy of home. Each room becomes a chapter, a narrative inspired by the timeless poetry of Parisian interiors. Together, they form a collection of stories—spaces that are both inspirational and aspirational, reflecting an unwavering devotion to beauty, craft, and design of the highest order.

Grandiosa Design
Grandiosa Design

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

One of the greatest challenges that our interior design studio faced during this project, was related to the execution part of the project: Finding the perfect contractors that would deliver meticulously the designed project.

When a contractor fails to execute with the same level of precision and excellence that the project was conceived with, the integrity of the entire vision is compromised. The struggle then becomes twofold: preserving the purity of the design intent while navigating the practical shortcomings of its delivery. Finding the right team—one that possesses not only technical expertise but also a shared respect for craftsmanship and detail—is often a long and demanding journey. Yet it is precisely this alignment between vision and execution that transforms a design from concept to timeless reality.

Grandiosa Design

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

The interior design team’s highlight of the project was strongly related to these two subjects:

Seamless Concept-to-Reality Execution
The ability to translate an abstract vision into a tangible space where every detail—from materials to lighting—aligns with the client’s aspirations.

Timeless Elegance & Identity
Crafting a design that not only embodies sophistication and beauty but also reflects the brand’s or client’s unique personality, creating a signature identity.

Grandiosa Design
Grandiosa Design

Why did you enter the SBID Awards?

We specifically decided to be part of SBID Awards, because first and foremost we strongly believe in your transparency, fairness, and exemplary operations.

Following this, we were assured that this step would give us international recognition, strengthen our brand, inspire our team, attract new clients, and open doors to greater opportunities within the global design industry.

What has being an Award Finalist meant to you and your business?

As one of the most prestigious interior design awards globally, we are aware that SBID recognition would serve us as a hallmark of design excellence and professional accomplishment, specifically on:
- Credibility & Prestige
- Global Visibility
- Marketing Tools
- Networking
- Inclusive Participation

In essence, for us SBID recognition isn’t just an accolade—it’s a strategic asset. It elevates our creative reputation, amplifies outreach, unlocks professional networks, and solidifies our position as a leader of design excellence.

Marina Srdjak, Creative Director at Grandiosa Design

Questions answered by Marina Srdjak, Creative Director of Grandiosa Design.

We hope you feel inspired by this week's design!

If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring a contemporary and luxury residential design, click here to read it.

Marmo were delighted to be commissioned once again by their long-standing shopfitting partner to deliver the decorative finishes for one of Aesop’s newest retail stores, located at Westfield Stratford City, London. This follows their previous collaboration on Aesop’s Islington store, reinforcing a strong, ongoing relationship with the globally respected skincare brand and their design team.

The design specification for the Westfield Stratford store called for application of coarse-finish Microcement, selected for both aesthetic quality and high-performance properties. The finish was applied across nearly every surface—walls, ceilings, flooring, a central structural column, and complex bespoke joinery, including custom sink units and precision-cut display fixtures.

Following a thorough sampling and approval process with the architect and main contractor, two contrasting yet complementary tones were selected: a warm custom terracotta red and a soft earth-toned beige. Both shades align with Aesop’s signature organic colour palette, ensuring harmony with the brand’s global retail identity.

True to Aesop’s design philosophy—“to work with what already exists... to weave ourselves into the fabric of place and add something of merit rather than impose a discordant presence”—the most visually striking element is the structural column. This architectural feature, wrapped in the custom terracotta Microcement, anchors the space both vertically and aesthetically, providing a strong visual connection between floor and ceiling.

Marmo Surface Finishes
Marmo Surface Finishes

Microcement was the ideal material for this project, offering not only a refined, natural aesthetic but also exceptional durability, full waterproofing, and resistance to oils and fragrances—crucial in a high-traffic retail environment. Its versatility and seamless application across multiple substrates ensured a clean and coherent finish across even the most intricate surfaces, including units with delicate integrated cut-outs.

This latest commission builds upon our previous work with Aesop, including the coarse Microcement wall finishes in Islington, matched to Farrow & Ball’s “Dimity No. 2008,” and the 2024 Salone del Mobile installation in Milan, for which we completed 16 large-format wall panels in Microcement. We are proud to contribute to the evolution of Aesop’s unique retail spaces through innovative use of decorative Microcement finishes.

As specialist Microcement contractors based in London and Surrey, we have built a strong reputation for delivering high-end decorative surface finishes across both residential and commercial sectors. This latest collaboration with Aesop adds to our growing portfolio of Microcement and polished plaster installations, delivered both nationwide and internationally. Our expertise extends far beyond retail environments—Microcement is a highly versatile, seamless, and waterproof finish that is ideally suited for a wide range of applications including bathrooms, wet rooms, showers, spa areas, and swimming pools, as well as bespoke elements such as furniture and joinery. Whether working on a luxury private residence in Surrey, a hospitality space in central London, or a flagship retail concept abroad, we bring the same level of craftsmanship, precision, and design sensitivity to every project.

About Marmo Surface Finishes

Marmo Surface Finishes are a renowned polished plaster company specialising in Venetian Polished Plaster interior applications and Decorative surface finishes, predominantly operating throughout London and Surrey as well as the U.K's major cities. Our experience spans all sectors such as hi-end residential and commercial projects including retail environments, restaurants, bars and office interior spaces. We work alongside some of London's and the U.K's major construction companies as well as award winning interior designers and architects creating stunning Venetian Polished Plaster interiors that we are extremely proud of. Our work speaks for itself.

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