The importance of experiencing design ‘up close’ cannot be underestimated, especially in a world where shopping online has become the norm. Melbourne is home to a growing collection of immersive design showrooms that support face-to-face interaction with brands and retailers, some of which have just opened in the past year. In this feature, we take you to four new showrooms across Melbourne to further explore in person.

Mobilia

Richmond

Family-owned Australian furniture retailer Mobilia have a new Melbourne post on a bustling street in Richmond. Local interior design studio GOLDEN collaborated on the showroom, and conveyed the company’s personality and ethos through a series of arresting design features. Notably, the space represents Mobilia’s ongoing commitment to the culture of design in Australia; they are, after all, one of Australia’s longest-standing design retailers.

The showroom houses a cross-section of the world’s most sought-after European furniture and design, including brands such as Cassina, Moroso and Kettal. High ceilings and grand volumes create gallery-like spaces for each brand to shine. The Cassina space is a highlight; here, curvaceous rendered walls cocoon coveted pieces like the Soriana sofa and Constantin side table. A striking circular oculus directs golden light from above.

Explore the Mobilia Melbourne showroom at 510 Church Street, Richmond.

Armadillo

Fitzroy

Australian rug company Armadillo collaborated with multidisciplinary Studio Goss to design their contemporary Melbourne home following the brand’s first showroom in Surry Hills, Sydney, in 2019. This time, Armadillo took over a red-brick heritage warehouse in Fitzroy – a site chosen for its industrial past and thriving art and design community.

Stepping inside the light-filled warehouse is instantly calming, an atmosphere that Armadillo co-founder Jodie Fried was adamant about creating. “We wanted to conjure a refined aesthetic that also made for a compelling contrast against the raw materials of the original facade,” Jodie says. As a result, Studio Goss have captured the brand’s identity through a similar material palette to their Sydney showroom, layering zellige tiles, concrete and oak with matte black accents, creating a gallery-like space to spotlight the handcrafted rugs. “During the design process, we tried to keep as much of the heritage fabric visible as possible, but at the same time create a more contemporary layer that represents where Fitzroy is now,” Studio Goss founder David Goss says.

Explore the Armadillo Melbourne showroom at 102 Charles Street, Fitzroy.

The Front Room

Richmond

Hub Furniture and The Hub General Store founder Jacqueline Foti-Lowe has opened a new intimate gallery space, creative studio and design store in Richmond, calling it ‘The Front Room’. The showroom concept was developed over three years, allowing a considered and personalised story to evolve. For its first year, design and art lovers can anticipate an inspiring program of exhibitions and events, bringing together creatives and brands from around Australia and the world – with the opportunity to acquire one-off and limited-edition works. 

The space is unlike anything Melbourne – or Australia – has seen before. Narrow and intimate, it is set up for curious minds to wander – taking in the various displays of art, objects, and vintage finds. The walls are covered in hand-applied Japanese washi wallpaper, while the floors are made of grounding raw concrete and stone, creating a calming atmosphere to house all kinds of beautiful things.

Explore The Front Room at 459 Church Street, Richmond.