8 Holland Street

The gallery and shop in London and Bath is an eclectic mix of art, furniture and homewares. Founder Tobias Vernon tells us more…

What is your background?

I read art history at Cambridge and, while studying, did some set design and design-led projects. When I left university I worked for an interior decorator. I then went freelance and for several years worked on houses for a client who loved contemporary art and furniture. I also started sourcing antiques for them and juxtaposed the two. I create interiors that are not overly planned or contrived.

When did you open 8 Holland Street and why?

After several years of interior design I had this dream to open a gallery-cumdesign store so I could collect and sell beautiful pieces I spotted while sourcing for clients. I loved the idea of having a store in London or Bath, so I started in London and found a small space on a street just off High Street Kensington. We opened in March 2018. It has two floors, lots of light, is bright white and has wooden floors. On our first day, we launched with all sorts of styles and it was fantastic. Everyone compared us to Kettle’s Yard in Cambridge.

When did you open in Bath?

The London store was a roaring success so we opened the Bath store last June. I thought it was perfect for our crazy

mix of things and we found this shop in Margaret’s Buildings that used to be the high-end wine and grocery merchants Cater, Stoffell & Fortt Ltd in the 1850s. It is a double-height shop with old floorboards and original Victorian mahogany shop counters, high vitrines and gilded glass lettering.

What do you sell?

We particularly like 20th-century European furniture as well as textiles, ceramics and 1960s-70s studio pottery. When I opened the stores I started collecting art at shows and getting to know contemporary artists. We work with many makers and craftspeople. I love everything but at the moment I adore a beautiful old English Delft plate. We also have a wonderful pair of 1950s Venini glass wall lights.

Can you give us an idea of prices?

For £12 we have tumblers with coloured rims made from recycled Mexican Pepsi bottles, to £100 for a Murano tumbler with candy stripes. Then there are artworks for £250 to collectable works by Tony O’Malley or Elisabeth Frink for £2,000-£5,000. There are bamboo bookcases for £150 to a black ebonised Paolo Buffa armchair at £6,500. 8hollandstreet.com