Established by Italian architect Chantal Martinelli and her French husband Julien Desormeaux, Mad Atelier is a little pocket of Mediterranean style transported to London’s East End.

Opened in late 2017 on Lower Clapton Road, the store specialises in hand-selected playful pieces by contemporary designers, as well as vintage finds picked up by Chantal and Julien from galleries in Milan, Paris and Barcelona. The mix is constantly evolving as the duo discover new workshops, studios and craftspeople to collaborate with, often on exclusive pieces.

A reflection of Chantal and Julien’s instincts rather than current trends, Mad Atelier’s vibe is a melting pot of Southern European and Northern African aesthetics – much like the Mediterranean itself. This sun-kissed oasis is also home of Chantal’s architecture and design studio, established in 2013, which has excelled in giving characterful and historic buildings a contemporary reimagining. Mad Atelier’s home, for example, is a former East London boozer that had been empty for 12 years before the couple gave it a new lease of life.