When designer Matilda Goad’s scalloped raffia lampshade appeared on everyone’s Instagram feed in 2017, it was an instant hit. “I started with no business plan or industry knowledge. I just felt there was a gap in the market for that lampshade.”
She subsequently became known for her modern take on classic country living – shiny brass candlesticks, resin-framed mirrors and lacquered ice buckets. But three years ago, her company, MG&Co, took a turn. Goad launched hardware – the hooks, backplates and door handles that are among the things you touch most in a home, but are often the last things you think about. Now, she has opened her first bricks-and-mortar shop, off Pimlico Road in Belgravia.
“It’s a highly regarded design area,” Goad tells Broadsheet. “We sit among the paint shops and furniture stores and it all feels very symbiotic. People like to come and touch hardware – to feel the weight of the brass.”
The shop’s fit-out mixes retro elements with modern touches. The vintage chrome display units were sourced in France, and there’s a magnetic wall where you can mix and match hardware to find the right combination for your interiors.
Goad says she has always gone with her gut when sourcing products and often takes chances on the affordable but charming hardware she sells. “I will very happily spend hours on the internet scrolling for something I want, so when I couldn’t find a particular door handle while I was doing up my bedroom, I realised there might be a market for it.”
Her customers have proved her right, and her Essentials collection offers a range of hooks, cafe curtain rods and blind ties, as well as wall lights and ceiling roses, all available in three timeless finishes – aged brass, brushed nickel, and blackened bronze.
Goad graduated from Camberwell College of Arts, going on to work as a stylist at Russian Vogue and an assistant to photographer Venetia Scott. Her mother, Emma Goad, was ’60s fashion star Ossie Clarke’s assistant before becoming a clothing designer herself. But she says there has always been an entrepreneurial spirit to her creativity.
“[Since childhood], hobbies have turned into things I could sell. I used to do car boot sales and sell homemade jewellery at school. I’ve always had that yearning to make money – and maybe, also, to be liked.”
Her next plan is to host in-store workshops on DIY and furniture care. “I’m a massive supporter of the circular economy – there’s so much you can do if you know skills such as polishing or fixing a new handle. I want to share that. I love this idea of creating a world and inviting my customer in.”
MG&Co Shop
194 Ebury Road, SW1V 8UP
Hours:
Mon to Fri 9.30am–6pm
Sat 10am–5pm
