We were delighted to be brought in by Lucy Mayers of Sibyl Colefax and John Fowler to help bring her vision for The Bar at Decorex 2025 to life. The result was something really special – a space that felt warm, layered and full of autumnal charm, right in the heart of Olympia London.
At the centre of it all stood our Gatsby Tree, a 4-metre-tall gold leafy tree that added structure and a natural focal point to Lucy’s design. It brought a sense of balance to the space, its gold leaves catching the soft light and echoing the deep, rich tones that ran throughout the bar.
We asked Lucy a few questions to get a deeper insight into her creative process:
What was your initial vision when you were asked to design The Bar at Decorex?
‘I wanted to create a tented autumnal garden, a riff on something quintessentially British.’
Were there any particular textures, colours, or patterns that inspired your palette?
‘I was very drawn to deep purples, browns and golds with bursts of orange. I drew a lot from decaying leaves. I used silk, velvet and linen fabrics for a richness of texture and all of the fabrics were from the Colefax & Fowler Group.’
The Olympia venue has a high, light-filled space – what were some of the challenges or opportunities that came with designing in such an environment? We thought the tented ceiling above the bar was a particularly unique touch.
‘There are strict parameters around what can be done in that space, you cannot block the sightlines of the surrounding stands and so tenting it was a challenge, it also used a huge amount of fabric (which needs to be fire rated). I felt however that the ceiling was essential to bring in the vast scale of the venue, and to change the light within the bar to something a little more intimate.’
The Gold Gatsby Tree from Twilight Trees made such a striking focal point – what drew you to that piece in particular?
‘I wanted the injection of glamour that the gold brought, and also needed the scale of the largest tree that was available.’
How important is sustainability or reusability in your design practice, especially for temporary installations like this?
‘Very. Almost every element was hired or if bespoke-made has been re-used. The bar itself was bought by Olympia and the banquettes and cushions taken by the company that built them to use in other exhibitions they supply to. Both the carpet that wrapped the bar and the tent are for sale, if the tent doesn’t sell we will remake it in a project.’
How did visitors respond to the space? Any favourite moments or feedback?
‘Everyone was very kind and complimentary. My favourite bit was unfurling the tent, a rather nailbiting moment, but all came good.’
If you were to redesign the Decorex Bar next year, what might you do differently?
‘I would have to do the whole thing differently I suppose, you can’t make the same design twice as that would be boring for the people who go. I’d also probably also earmark more of the budget for manpower during the teardown.’
Decorex is an event we’ve always admired for its creativity and craftsmanship, so being part of it felt particularly meaningful. Working alongside Lucy and her team was a joy, thoughtful, inspired, and full of energy.
The Gatsby Tree was the perfect fit for this project: sculptural yet organic, elegant but easy to love. It sat proudly in the space, tying everything together with its golden autumnal tones.
A Golden Moment.
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Image Credit: BOZ GAGOVSKI
