If you need a little inspiration for the New Year, this story is for you. Pentreath & Hall is a favorite, but tiny little shop at 17 Rugby Street in the Bloomsbury section of London. Ben Pentreath, interior designer and architect, is the founder and co-owner. The other co-owner is the artist and "maker" (her word, which I quite like) Bridie Hall. The shop debuted in 2008 and gradually opened some amazing doors for both Ben and Bridie. I'll try to tell the story in pictures.
Here is the little shop that could:
And here are some interior photos of the shop, in various iterations through the years:
As Ben is getting all the press these days, lets start with Bridie. And here she is:
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| Bridie Hall |
Bridie arrived in London from New Zealand back in 2000, and for about 10 years worked as a decorative painter. A chance meeting led to her collaboration with Ben on the fledgling shop--she would manage it. Their aesthetic sensibilities meshed and soon Bridie was using her talent to create objects exclusive to the shop (she now maintains a studio above the shop). Early on, the two decided to only sell what they loved, and the results are charming. In 2010 she took the plunge and started her own company Birdie Hall Ltd. In addition to the shop, she now sells her creations at Selfridges, Liberty of London, Harvey Nichols, and a whole host of shops around the world. Here are some of her products:
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Bridie Hall Home, Brush Pots
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| Roman Emperor Intaglio Case |
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| Confetti Lamps |
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Pediment Mirror
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| Shell Decoupage Tray |
And this is Ben Pentreath:
Ben studied art history at the University of Edinburgh before attending the Prince of Wales' Institute of Architecture. In 2004 he setup his own firm. The growth was slow but steady. Several commissions from the Prince of Wales helped, but interestingly, it was the shop that really got him noticed. He started writing a blog for the shop, and eventually this led to two books. The appreciation for all things classical along with an infusion of a little British cheek has charmed the design world. It also helps that he, along with his work, is refreshingly unpretentious.
Ben's own London flat was widely published:
And here is a London pied-a-tier (Drayton Gardens) he designed:
A sneak peak at an arts and crafts house Ben worked on in Hampstead (full pictures will be published by House & Garden UK in 2018):
Oh and let's not forget the apartment in Kensington Palace for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge -- remember those photos? That was Ben's work.
If you find yourself in London, don't forget to stop by the little shop. Maybe you'll be inspired too.
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