Shop, Eat and Design at Absolute Abode’s New Concept Store Emporium

It is set in the South West London Surrey borders of Raynes Park and the space sees a little of the uber hip style of retail experience, pioneered by Australia and New Zealand, where cafe culture converges with shopping for beautiful things all under one pinterest worthy roof.

‘I have always wanted to create a space where people could come and shop and enjoy amazing coffee and fabulous food, in the style that we enjoy in Australia and NZ, where I am from,’ says Kirsty McMorron, Absolute Abode’s creative director, who moved here from Sydney in 2001.

McMorron’s background includes gaining her post graduate diploma with merit from The Inchbald School of Design, acting as an account director for legendary Ogilvy advertising agency and is now an Associate of the British Institute of Interior Design.

‘We source pieces that are unique,’ described McMorron of the selection process, ‘that have stories, and that are beautiful pieces. They have integrity, be that of design or of sourcing, or of the background story. We scour the design fairs of Europe and also venture to Australia, NZ and the Americas, to bring a curated collection to our customers and design clients.’

McMorron has spent most of September sourcing at Paris Design Week and the London Design Festival to ensure she has her finger of the pulse of the latest trends and products, including all the new seasons wallpaper and fabric designs which are launched in this month.

But not just for a little, light interiors retail experience, things can get serious at the Emporium, with various additional services available including bespoke furniture and interior commissions, sourcing of particular pieces and a chance to access Absolute Abode’s interior design practice, the part of the company which has seen them create high end, luxury and contemporary interiors, spatial planning and architectural and lighting solutions all over London and the world. Similarly all the services at Emporium are very much open to interior designers and architects.

‘We can certainly source items for our customers,’ asserts McMorron, ‘they can ask us to find a particular style of item, and we will put some suggestions together for them. We can also design and commission bespoke pieces for them, using our network of craftspeople and artisans. Our architectural interior design practice offers a full interior design service, working in conjunction with architects or architectural technologists, to provide a full scope of work, tender documentation, project management through to full home or room schemes – spatial planning, lighting design, bathroom and kitchen design, colours, fabrics, finishes, furniture, decorative items, the list goes on!’

Commission and sourcing lead times are suggested at around 8-12 weeks and McMorron and the team work closely with clients to achieve the vision they have for their home. ‘We help clients to challenge their preconceptions and delve into what they would really like to create in their home, – then we endeavour to bring that to reality,’ says McMorron. ‘We have actually gained many more clients since opening in June, so it is definitely going beyond the retail, the space, the coffee and the food! We have received many positive comments on the concept as a whole, it’s been fantastic.’

Visit Absolute Abode Design Emporium at 76-78 Coombe Lane, SW20 0AX

www.absoluteabode.com