Colour, texture, material and light all inform how a space is experienced. In hospitality and retail environments, these decisions also become an extension of brand identity, expressing values, heritage and personality through the built environment. Turning a creative vision into a finished surface often requires close collaboration, experimentation and testing long before materials arrive on site.
At Clayworks, our dedicated samples studio exists for precisely this reason. Handcrafted by our design team in Cornwall, our samples allow architects and designers to explore new possibilities for their projects. Whether matching a colour reference, responding to a physical material palette, or developing an entirely new finish, our sampling process bridges the worlds of architecture, art and craft.
The refurbishment of Penhaligon’s flagship boutique on London’s Regent Street is a compelling example of this process in action. Designed by Michaelis Boyd to mark Penhaligon’s 155-year legacy, the boutique celebrates British craftsmanship through richly layered materials, bespoke detailing and collaborations with some of the country’s finest makers.
Drawing on Penhaligon’s origins as a barber shop founded in 1870, the design reinterprets traditional apothecary interiors with bespoke joinery, while handcrafted commissions enrich the visitor experience throughout the store. Guests are welcomed by a striking bronze lion by sculptor Hamish Mackie, a hand-painted mural by Claire Basler forms the backdrop to the bath and body collection (and an incredible octagonal basin), and a bespoke chess set by designers Carl Fox and Sofia Karakatsanis elegantly challenges what a retail space should be.
Penhaligon’s have called the new iteration of the boutique “A contemporary sanctuary of scent. Home of British craft. A fragrant flagship, celebrating heritage and modernity.”
Forming the backdrop to all of this is Clayworks Tadelakt in ‘William’s Green’ – Penhaligon’s signature hue, named after founder William Henry Penhaligon. For Michaelis Boyd, Tadelakt was chosen for the depth and richness it brought to the space.
“Working with Clayworks to develop a bespoke William’s Green allowed us to create a finish that feels rooted in Penhaligon’s heritage of craftsmanship and materiality. The texture gives the walls and ceilings a warmth that makes the space feel intimate and familiar – more like a domestic sanctuary than a traditional retail environment.” – Alex Michaelis, Michaelis Boyd
Our design team worked closely with the architects and brand team to develop a bespoke pigment formulation in the iconic green tone, faithfully capturing the brand’s colour while retaining the depth, movement and luminosity that define authentic Tadelakt.
As Clayworks’ Samples Manager, Jack Evans, explains, colour matching natural finishes is as much about material understanding as it is about colour itself:
“When we were working with the colour matches for Penhaligon’s we had to look into ways that green pigments affect Tadelakt as a whole. Each green reacts differently in Tadelakt due to its naturally bright, warm white colour. Some greens cooled it down and others made it warmer. So developing William’s Green involved careful testing and refinement before we arrived at the final pigment formulation.“
Unlike conventional paints, natural clay or lime plasters cannot be matched reliably using digital colour-matching technology alone. Subtle variations within raw materials mean every bespoke colour is developed through experience, testing and an understanding of how individual pigments interact with different earth or mineral bases.
This material knowledge was equally important in Michaelis Boyd’s decision to work with Clayworks.
“We’ve worked with Clayworks for many years, across multiple projects and always value their understanding of raw materials and their high-quality finishes. Their craftsmanship and ability to develop the perfect bespoke shade made them the right partner for this project.” – Alex Michaelis, Michaelis Boyd
The project also carries significance for us. William Penhaligon was born in Madron, near Penzance, little more than 20 miles along the Cornish coast from the Clayworks workshop. Contributing contemporary Cornish craftsmanship to the reinvention of one of Britain’s most celebrated heritage brands feels like a fitting continuation of that shared story.
See the Penhaligon’s boutique case study here
Recommended Viewing: we enjoyed watching Penhaligon’s collaborative series of interviews with Bella Freud – A Matter of Fragrance with Bella Freud, which took place earlier this year in the boutique. Watch via Penhaligon’s Instagram.
Photography: Taran Wilkhu and Clayworks
