Bert & May’s origin story begins in 2013 at a canal-side warehouse in east London, on an arty postindustrial strip that took some getting to. The handcrafted tile specialist proceeded to do something rarely heard of in the trade: it blew up. Its raw, graphic aesthetic became a stamp of good taste everywhere, and the showroom decamped to higher-profile locations.

This week it returns to the Vyner Street warehouse to launch a new venture called The Mix, an adeptly staged multi-concession department store for home-reno junkies, curated by compatible British brands like Farrow & Ball, Pluck hardware, Popham Design and the long-running white goods master Thomas Crapper. Still deeply embedded in its Victorian setting, with Crittall-style windows and exposed brickwork, the warehouse is now positioned as a sort-of year-round design fair with a programme of expert-led cocktail evenings and creative supper clubs in staged environments.

Founder Lee Thornley hopes the new destination will reinvigorate the street, once popular with gallerists and designers looking for starter-studios but experiencing a period of decline. ‘It’s something totally new for the industry and a real nod to the creative energy of Vyner Street,’ he says. ‘The space has such a great vibe — it instantly sparks ideas.’

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