From Specification to Presence

WORDS
Sharon Glover

THE PAPER
Conversation

11th August 2026

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It is difficult to think of a space more technically demanding than a bathroom. Rarely generous in proportion, every millimetre works hard; a misaligned spout or poorly positioned showerhead cannot be disguised. Yet once complete, clients rarely notice the mechanics behind it, only how the space makes them feel.

Years ago, while specifying bathroom fittings in Australia, I walked into a new showroom I still remember clearly. It wasn't just the products or the service. It was the experience. The first thing I noticed was the scent. Curved neutral walls guided me towards the brassware, each piece displayed individually, given space rather than crowded together. Vases of eucalyptus replaced the usual stacks of trade counter leaflets and samples. It felt like a boutique.

That showroom was ABI Interiors, then a new name on the Gold Coast. Their second London store opened in June this year. I contacted co-founder Luli Farrell to find out whether it would feel the same, and whether any of it had ever been deliberate.

Photography by Ben Anders, Designed by Conran and Partners

CR: The Burleigh Heads store made an immediate impression. Was that sensory experience deliberate from the start, or did it evolve?

LF: For us, design has never been just about the visual. It's about creating a space you can feel. Nearly a decade ago, when we launched on the Gold Coast, that philosophy was already at the forefront, and our open, light-filled spaces struck a chord far beyond the region.

CR: Can a tap convey a feeling? How do you think about the emotional dimension of your products?

LF: We believe it can, because the objects we interact with most frequently are often the ones that shape our experience of a space most profoundly. A tap, in its essence, is functional. Yet it sits at the centre of daily rituals. The weight of a handle, the precision of its movement, the softness or sharpness of reflected light, these are subtle gestures, but together they create a tactile language. Our approach is to design products that feel instinctive in use, where nothing feels forced or overworked, and everything resolves with clarity.

CR: As designers, we don't follow trends, but we need to keep up to date with them. How does ABI Interiors approach that balance between staying current and designing for longevity?

LF: We pay attention to what's happening across design and architecture, but we don't design in reaction to it. Instead, we distil what feels enduring. Our approach is grounded in restraint. Minimalism, for us, isn't an aesthetic but a methodology, one that allows products to sit comfortably within evolving interiors rather than define them by a moment in time. There's also an internal lens we continually return to: would we choose to live with this?

CR: The new Clerkenwell store feels like a significant moment for the brand. What do you hope a designer feels when they walk through the door for the first time?

LF: The Clerkenwell flagship marks an important evolution for ABI Interiors, but its intention is quietly simple: to feel thoughtful, intuitive, and genuinely welcoming. We wanted to create a space that designers can use as their own, somewhere they feel comfortable bringing clients, sitting down, and truly at home. We hope designers leave not only with a deeper understanding of our product, but with a feeling that informs how they shape spaces of their own.