how we started
I have always had a passion for interior design. As a child, I used to measure up and draw out my bedroom and then change all the furniture around. My career in interiors started when I went for a sales position at Plumbase at the age of 18. It wasn't a great opportunity for spectacular bathroom design, but I enjoyed working in the trade.
I then went on to run a showroom for 5 years in local builder’s merchant Solo Building Supplies. It was here that I met Shane as he was the manager of the merchant. The showroom was very sparse and badly designed when I arrived, but I made the most of every nook and cranny in the space. It was a very successful showroom and that's where I really learnt to use my design skills. I was left to my own devices which meant I dealt with most areas of the business that were relevant to the showroom and plumbing trade counter, including the admin and finance side. This put me in good stead for running my own business which I knew I always wanted to do.
Five years later the opportunity arose to buy a bathroom and tile showroom which had gone into liquidation. Although the showroom was 20 odd miles away from what I knew, both my husband, Shane, and I were ready to take the leap. It was a massive space with lots of potential. We made a good crack at it for a year but found out we were expecting our first child and knew that it just wasn't practical to continue with a brand-new business that was an hour or more from home when I was going to be side-lined for a while, not to mention the extortionate rent and rates. So, we started to look for a unit close to our home in Newlyn and we found this one, just a mile down the road, which had potential for a well-designed smaller showroom.
When we acquired our ex-engineering unit in Newlyn in January 2016, I was already 5 months pregnant. It was a very pivotal moment for us, we were about to be first time parents, had both given up good jobs to go it alone and we now had to start again! We knew we had to do all of the work ourselves because we couldn’t afford to pay anyone. This is where our idea of using sterling board as the wall coverings came from. It’s a finished surface so didn’t require plastering or painting, its structural so you can fix anything into it, and it has a warm feel to it (and actually find it quite interesting).
I had previously drawn out and planned the whole area of the showroom (whilst we were still in Penryn) to check a showroom would work in the space and that’s exactly how it got installed. With the help of family and friends we managed to open about 3 weeks after our son, Archie, arrived on April 21st. He was 10 days late which, at the time, was a blessing in disguise because we needed to finish tiling before he came along, we more or less managed it! I was tiling up to the day before I had him which is probably why he never sits still now.
I decided to embrace the overall feel of ‘industrial-chic’ and even hung pallets on the ceiling with exposed bulbs hanging through them. We get many comments about the pallets and it’s something for our clients to remember when they leave.
I then went on to run a showroom for 5 years in local builder’s merchant Solo Building Supplies. It was here that I met Shane as he was the manager of the merchant. The showroom was very sparse and badly designed when I arrived, but I made the most of every nook and cranny in the space. It was a very successful showroom and that's where I really learnt to use my design skills. I was left to my own devices which meant I dealt with most areas of the business that were relevant to the showroom and plumbing trade counter, including the admin and finance side. This put me in good stead for running my own business which I knew I always wanted to do.
Five years later the opportunity arose to buy a bathroom and tile showroom which had gone into liquidation. Although the showroom was 20 odd miles away from what I knew, both my husband, Shane, and I were ready to take the leap. It was a massive space with lots of potential. We made a good crack at it for a year but found out we were expecting our first child and knew that it just wasn't practical to continue with a brand-new business that was an hour or more from home when I was going to be side-lined for a while, not to mention the extortionate rent and rates. So, we started to look for a unit close to our home in Newlyn and we found this one, just a mile down the road, which had potential for a well-designed smaller showroom.
When we acquired our ex-engineering unit in Newlyn in January 2016, I was already 5 months pregnant. It was a very pivotal moment for us, we were about to be first time parents, had both given up good jobs to go it alone and we now had to start again! We knew we had to do all of the work ourselves because we couldn’t afford to pay anyone. This is where our idea of using sterling board as the wall coverings came from. It’s a finished surface so didn’t require plastering or painting, its structural so you can fix anything into it, and it has a warm feel to it (and actually find it quite interesting).
I had previously drawn out and planned the whole area of the showroom (whilst we were still in Penryn) to check a showroom would work in the space and that’s exactly how it got installed. With the help of family and friends we managed to open about 3 weeks after our son, Archie, arrived on April 21st. He was 10 days late which, at the time, was a blessing in disguise because we needed to finish tiling before he came along, we more or less managed it! I was tiling up to the day before I had him which is probably why he never sits still now.
I decided to embrace the overall feel of ‘industrial-chic’ and even hung pallets on the ceiling with exposed bulbs hanging through them. We get many comments about the pallets and it’s something for our clients to remember when they leave.
how it's going
Fast forward to the current day and we have evolved somewhat. We have increased the showroom by 50% and expanded our collection with a lifestyle shop which now occupies the back of the showroom. Shane is back in the merchant sector and is occasionally called upon for changing up displays and of course general moral support. And I have two fabulous colleagues, Clare and Emma, who bring their own stamp of enthusiasm and creativity to our business.
Our showroom may not be the 300m2 we left behind in Penryn, but it is the showroom WE created and is a fair reflection of my own design style. I couldn’t be prouder. It can be a lonely journey running your own business, but I genuinely get so much joy from spending my days in this space and talking to all the wonderful people that come through our doors. I absolutely love designing bathrooms, putting colours, textures and shapes together and presenting them to prospective clients.
We can only hope the showroom reflects our journey and that you enjoy your visit as much as we do.
Megan Dack
Our showroom may not be the 300m2 we left behind in Penryn, but it is the showroom WE created and is a fair reflection of my own design style. I couldn’t be prouder. It can be a lonely journey running your own business, but I genuinely get so much joy from spending my days in this space and talking to all the wonderful people that come through our doors. I absolutely love designing bathrooms, putting colours, textures and shapes together and presenting them to prospective clients.
We can only hope the showroom reflects our journey and that you enjoy your visit as much as we do.
Megan Dack
galleryNot sure where to start? Take a look at our gallery to get inspired. We have styles to suit everyones taste.
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recent projectsTake a look through our recent projects for inspiration, and to see the superb standard we offer.
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say hello
For all questions and enquiries, and to discuss your bathroom project, please don't hesitate to get in touch with our friendly, knowledgable team.