Neil Braidwood travels to Material Source, an innovative shop window of interior products designed to inspire.
Everyone needs inspiration. Even if you are just slapping magnolia on a stairwell wall, one of these days, a client will ask your opinion on what colour to paint their room. It’s a good idea to be prepared for that as it could earn you more money. And if the customer likes what you’ve done, then they will tell their friends.
Material Source is like an interiors magazine – but in three dimensions. The showroom, based in central Glasgow, opened in October 2023 (the company’s first, in Manchester, opened in November 2021) and is open to anyone involved in helping to create a perfect interior. That includes architects, interior designers, students and tradespeople of all types – including painters and decorators.
There is an ever-changing range of products and materials on display, from floor coverings and taps to wall coverings and paint samples. The products are supplied by Material Source’s 75-plus partners – one
of which is Crown Paints.
The expert colour studio team at Crown Trade worked with Material Source co-founder and creative director, Darren Clanford, to bring the Glasgow space to life using a comprehensive colour scheme through product specification featuring Crown Trade Clean Extreme Clean Air and Clean Extreme Scrubbable Matt products.
Vibrant colours including a striking brick red, bold green and deep navy were paired with a neutral stone shade to promote a warm and welcoming environment, while also upholding the vibrancy and social nature of the professional hub.
Crown’s flagship Clean Extreme Clean Air was chosen for its sustainable properties. The BREAAM- and LEED-compliant paint removes 45 per cent of the formaldehyde present from the air, helping to ensure the building was fit for purpose from the very start of the project.
Meanwhile, the highly durable Clean Extreme Scrubbable Matt was used in high-traffic areas, helping to extend the building’s maintenance cycle and ensure the perfect finish stands the test of time.
As well as providing the paint for the interior, Crown Paints has a strong presence in one area of the studio space, showcasing just part of its extensive range and offering oversized painted sample cards and brochures.
As well as showcasing familiar interior names such as Crown Paints, the studio also has a ‘Makers in Residence’ programme focusing on new products from smaller, independent manufacturers. I was particularly impressed with a decorative surface design created by a Glasgow-based company called Mirrl. Working with another maker, Half Year Studio, the two had created an experimental light fitting.
In addition, there is an exhibition on bio and by-product-based materials and products, This Is No Longer Speculative. On display was a house brick made from 100 per cent demolition waste, which would otherwise have been used for hardcore to build a motorway. Instead, it will build houses. Inspirational indeed.
When I visited, there were a couple of people working in the ‘Hub’ shared space for architecture and design professionals. Staff are on hand to assist and you can help yourself to a coffee and sit and read a book from the design library. It’s totally free and the perfect oasis to gather your thoughts if you have a big project on.
Meeting rooms are available to hire and there are regular events, from seminars to workshops, talks and socials, put on by the Material Source team and partners. Crown Paints recently hosted members of the Scottish Association of Painting Craft Teachers (SAPCT). Maureen Turner, President of the association, said: “On 24 May, the SAPCT annual craft and advanced craft apprentice competitions took place at Forth Valley College, with lecturers and decorating apprentices attending from colleges across Scotland.
“While the apprentices were competing, the lecturers attended a continuing professional development (CPD) event on colour theory hosted by Crown Trade’s Marie Hosie, Architectural and Design Consultant, and James Sockell, Specification and Contractor Sales Manager.
“When we initially entered Material Source Studio, we were warmly welcomed by Marie and James and we were hugely impressed with what was on offer. The standard of finish within the studio was first class. The facility is mainly utilised to showcase the latest products to industry-leading commercial interior designers, but it is open to all. The CPD event was very informative and many of the lecturers based in the Central Belt had said they would be keen to utilise the facility in the future to support their learners and keep up to date with current trends.
“The SAPCT has for many years been a source of collaboration between colleges, manufacturers and trade bodies. We aim to provide our membership with up-to-date information on what is happening within the sector by delivering a comprehensive range of CPD seminars, free of charge, both face to face and online. Attendance at Material Source and its events helps support the needs of individual lecturers by keeping them abreast of the latest developments regarding products, equipment, materials and methodology, and feeding this information back to our apprentices and learners.
“It was an inspirational experience providing our association members with a greater awareness of the latest products and materials in interior design and the built environment. As President of the SAPCT, I am also eager to attend future CPD events in this fantastic facility.”
See materialsource.co.uk. Be sure to visit the What’s On page for all details of upcoming events.