A young entrepreneur has launched a unique business in Dorchester’s South Street – offering a one-stop shop for people who want beautiful interior design.
Laura Eleni, 34, has gathered together designers in a gorgeous co-working space, with beautiful lights, furniture and wallpaper and fabric samples.
Olive & Wilde is a novel concept – possibly the only place in the UK where creatives can rent space to work alongside others rather than get stuck in a mental rut at home, and be among gorgeous items that you wouldn’t usually find at a provincial interiors store.
Laura launched her new venture at the end of September – a 1,000 sq ft showcase based in a Georgian building at the South Walks end of South Street.
She said: “I was genuinely shocked at how many people came to my launch. It’s been lovely – really positive. Lots of people have been coming in and we are getting lots of interest already.”
The 1760 building has all the lovely wonky lines you might expect, which has been a challenge with wallpapers and flooring. But the historic building, offering space over two floors with a meeting room and space to browse all the wonderful wallpaper samples, lends itself well to the superb array of items Laura has sourced, including many exclusive pieces from London-based designers.

Laura has run businesses before, and still runs her holiday lets firm of four sumptuously designed boltholes. But this is the first time she has established a store.
The store will provide a co-working space for all kinds of creatives – not just interior designers. She said: “So many designers all work from home at their dining room
tables.

“There’s no one to chat to and share ideas with. Here they can have that conversation, enjoy lovely coffee, have the best wifi in Dorchester and have all these
beautiful fabrics and wallpapers and bespoke lights to provide inspiration.
“They can meet their clients surrounded by samples and the buzz of a design studio.
“The items here are middle to high-end – stuff that you just can’t get around this area.
“People who want something fabulous but who don’t want to travel to London to achieve it can come here and let us create something truly
bespoke for them.”
Laura is also compiling a ‘black book of trades’ to offer customers – local tradespeople who can carry out high quality work to a set of designs. And she would be
interested to hear from artisans and designers who would like to showcase their work at the shop, too.
She is offering a free consultation for anyone who brings in a copy of the West Dorset Magazine.
Creatives can use the space by the day for £25 or monthly (open Tues-Sat) for £250.
n oliveandwildeinteriors.com
07917 800746
laura@oliveandwilde