Spotlight: Sophie Harrold of Simply Bathrooms & Interiors

Shared Values, Shared Vision

Family-run Simply Bathrooms & Interiors creates extraordinary bathrooms and home interiors, combining innovative design with premium craftsmanship. Our partnership is one born through a shared passion for thoughtful, personalised design. We caught up with the design company’s director and chief designer, Sophie Harrold, to find out a little more about what makes them tick and why Spark & Bell lights are a key feature in many of their glorious bathrooms and interiors around the south east.

 “From the first time I saw a Spark & Bell light I knew it was something special,” says Sophie as she recounts the beginning of our relationship. “Since then, Emer’s designs have been a key feature in many of our bathrooms. I just love the aesthetic. They are beautifully balanced somewhere between classic retro styling and geometric modern sensibilities. Emer’s design style just really resonated right from the off and they bring something different to our designs.”

All Spark & Bell lights are designed by Emer in our Brighton studio with a clear intent, to bring beautifully designed lighting that stands the test of time, not just in design but also in materials and craftsmanship. 

Sophie continues, “We always like to champion British companies, alongside approaching each bathroom as a uniquely personal space. It's how we’ve separated ourselves and something our customers seem to acknowledge and appreciate us for. 

“Bathrooms should be a space designed to function beautifully for every client but they should also reflect their personality. That’s why we don’t really have an ‘aesthetic’ as such, each design project is a reflection of individual need and taste that comes through us taking the time to understand the client." 

“Finding unique items is a key part of that philosophy. While there are many really great products out there made by large-scale manufacturers, the ubiquity makes them intrinsically less appealing. Britain is home to fantastic makers that create truly unique pieces – that’s just what we’ve found in Spark & Bell’s lights.”

Championing British Made Brands

That shared appreciation for unique, thoughtfully made products is what makes our partnership such a natural fit. Simply Bathrooms seeks out independent makers who create pieces with character, and we take the same approach behind the scenes- working with local craftspeople and sourcing materials as close to our workshop as possible. 

Over 80% of our materials are sourced within the UK and we have a collective of local artisans in Brighton to create many of our most popular designs, including all our ceramics and hand hardwood pieces. We also collect plastic waste from our local community and recycle it in-house to make our 'Jewel' and 'Marbled' finishes.

Each light is handmade and customisable to order in our workshop, something Sophie believes sits at the heart of the partnership:  “Working with Emer is far more than just choosing a piece from a catalogue. Not only are Spark & Bell pieces made by hand and made to last a lifetime, they are done so in a way that’s conscious about the planet and the local community. Being able to tell a story of how a light was created is something that really appeals and lets our clients feel they are investing in something made with care and love. The hand-made nature also means we can customise each piece and this is something I use to create beautiful details."

"For example, in a recent bathroom, I’ve chosen an exquisite globe pendant light and changed the flex colour to a rich, dark green that matches the paint scheme. It is thinking about details like these that makes Simply Bathrooms stand out and which Spark & Bell lighting help us to live out.”

We’re always excited when Sophie reaches out about a project as it's a chance to see our lights become a part of some truly beautiful bathrooms.  Their adaptive, client-centric approach to design also means that no two rooms are ever alike.  The quality of finish is always consistent, but each project is unique, which makes for very pleasant surprises each time a new project goes up on their Instagram feed.  which you should definitely follow @simplybathroomsltd

For us, that's the real value of creative collaboration. It's not simply about making beautiful spaces; it's about the shared satisfaction of bringing ideas to life together. We love seeing our lights interpreted through Sophie's design eye, and it's rewarding to know she finds the experience just as enjoyable from her side.

“Working with Spark & Bell is joyful. Not only do I get to choose statement lighting pieces for clients, but I also get a level of service that sees Emer often go beyond standard, to a level that you only really find with smaller British companies. From last-minute changes to helping out with on-site issues, I know they are there to make sure that projects are everything they should be at handover – flawless, award-winning bathrooms,” ends Sophie.

Thank you to Sophie for sitting down with us, and for the continued support. If you would like to know more about Sophie and Simply Bathrooms & Interiors, visit their website, or even better, book in a consultation for your next design project.  

And if you'd like to become a trade partner, it only takes a minute to request your Spark & Bell trade account. 

IMAGE CREDITS: @ADAMCARTERPHOTO