It’s been more than ten years since we opened our gorgeous Cork Showrooms in Douglas. We’ve celebrated with a revamp. The historic building at St Patrick’s Mills deserved a bit of love.
St Patricks Mills has always been a perfect fit for Finline. Built in 1883, the great mill once employed 300 people working 80 power looms and 3,000 spindles. It was at the heart of Cork’s textile industry. The textile heritage is very much in keeping with our mission and the fact that all our furniture is manufactured in Ireland. Just up the road in Emo, County Laois.
Finding new uses for old buildings is very close to our hearts. When we looked at a redesigning our showroom, respecting the original architecture was key. We kept all the good things – the original ceilings, the elegant arched windows and doors, the supporting pillars and (where possible) the original tongue-in-groove cladding. Everything’s repainted in a gentle white (Milk Teeth from Irish paint brand Colourtrend) and the 450 sq metre space is flooded with natural light that sets off our sofas to the best advantage.
We’ve taken a lot of care with the redesign our showroom is the place where you experience the furniture before you buy. It had to be comfortable and welcoming, as well as bright and airy. Removing an internal wall opened out the space to create a dedicated showcase of the best of Finline’s sofas, armchairs and dining chairs.
We’ve extended the showroom slightly to add a new cinema room. It’s a more enclosed space that gives the sense of being in a cinema room at home with a big screen and a lovely large chaise sofa to curl up on. We’ve also created a sleep zone, a cosy space with a lower ceiling, to show off our headboards, sofa beds, and bedroom furniture.
We’ve also included a display area for our sustainable “Revive” scheme. This section has sofas bought back from its previous owners, stripped down, and rehabilitated in contemporary fabrics. As good as new! It’s a way of buying a sofa for considerable less than a new one, while supporting the circular economy.
Over the past ten years, St Patricks Mills has become an interiors and home décor destination. We’re proud to share it with brands like Cork Floors, Interiosity, Fleetwood Paints, Pod Furniture and Rugs.ie. We’re looking forward to welcoming many of our customers – new and old – to our revitalised Douglas showroom. It’s wheelchair accessible too.
