Friday 6th June marked the return of Dorridge Design Day, a celebration of the West Midlands’ vibrant design community and a hub for industry professionals shaping the region’s residential and commercial landscapes.
Kitchen Gallery was proud to be among the first returning exhibitors following last year’s success. For this edition, we brought a curated selection of the tools and design thinking that underpin our studio’s work, offering guests a glimpse into the quality and imagination that define our approach. While transporting an entire living space outside of our showroom presents obvious challenges, we recreated a scaled design studio environment to reflect the themes, materials and moods we craft for both residential clients and contract projects.
As ever, the chance to reconnect with familiar faces and forge new professional relationships is invaluable but perhaps the most powerful aspect of this year’s event was its forward-looking focus.
The guest panel featured notable voices including former Mayor of Birmingham Andy Street (Conservative), Ryan Gromley (Fabric Design & Build), Conor Nolan (ScanTech Digital) and Maggie Grogan (Muse Developments). Together, they painted a picture of optimism for the West Midlands, highlighting its growing design potential and economic evolution. While topics like HS2 generated lively discussion, the real standout was the unveiling of plans for the Mell Square redevelopment in Solihull.
Though early conversations had hinted at a major transformation, the presence of Muse, a leading national place maker, gave shape and weight to what had previously been speculation.
The vision: to reimagine a conventional town centre into a dynamic, design-led, mixed-use destination.
With new homes, hospitality spaces, and lifestyle venues at its heart, Mell Square promises to reposition Solihull as a forward-facing, culturally rich town with real momentum.
Our sincere thanks go to organiser Natalie Rossiter and the team at Solus Ceramics whose dedication ensured a seamless, inspiring event.
Their ability to balance immersive, hands-on experiences with meaningful conversation made Dorridge Design Day not only welcoming but truly impactful for all involved.
