I showed a friend from New Jersey around London when we passed by the iconic Trellick Tower. I remembered that the Goldfinger Factory had opened up, so I decided to pop in and investigate. This award-winning social enterprise features an interiors shop selling upcycled furniture, bespoke furniture and vintage home accessories. The Goldfinger Factory contains a shop, café and underneath, there is a woodworking workshop and teaching academy, so it’s a great place to explore.
Trellick Tower
Goldfinger Factory Stock
This initiative is a brilliant idea. The focus is on empowering the local creative community to become self-sustaining through craft. In the process, they also reduce waste and help the environment, which is pretty neat. The ideology is to turn waste into gold. For example, wood is saved from going into landfill, and if they use any new materials all offcuts are incorporated into the designs like their chopping boards, cheese boards, coasters or jewellery.
Oak Cheese Board
In the store, you will find a good selection of furniture to buy. Many items have been designed by Goldfinger and made by the community, which you can also have customised. For instance, the Autumn Leaves table is made from reclaimed birch, mahogany and walnut, which varies per the off-cuts available and costs £650.
Autumn Leaves Table
The Nordic Set comprises a dining table with two benches made from birch wood. This is ideal for a family and perfect for contemporary interiors, thanks to the clean lines. This is made to order, so you can vary the dimensions if required; the price is £680 for the set.
Nordic Set
You can also buy furniture which has been upcycled or revamped, such as sideboards, chests of drawers, storage units, desks and upholstered seating. With some fixing, sanding, alterations and a lick of paint, they scrub up extremely well! It’s a great place to pick up vintage pieces which have been brought back to life and restored with a contemporary twist.
Revamped Sideboard and Upholstered Dining Chairs
Aside from the furniture, you will also find retro lamps cleaned up and now in good working order. There were some colourful glassware and vases when I visited. You can also pick up a sixties tea set. Other items included rustic mirrors, painted canvas artwork, colourful cushions and scented candles.
Vintage Cabinet with Retro Tableware
Goldfinger Factory Interiors
The shop is connected to a café with separate entrances, but you access both sides once inside. The front of the shop has a large window so you can see inside. The furniture and accessories are thoughtfully arranged to tell a story with objects relating to one another or made by an artisan. The shop décor was minimal, with white-washed exposed brick walls and a light-coloured marble tiled flooring. This allowed the furniture and decorative objects to shine. It was an interesting shop to browse with some fantastic furniture and accessories.
Shop Interiors
You can pop next door to the café (Panella London) for a cup of coffee and something nice to eat. They serve breakfast from 7.30-11 am, which ranges from pastries to fresh fruit and full English. You can order Sicilian street food at lunch, including frittata of the day with salad.
Visit the Goldfinger Factory
This shop, café and workshop are situated in the famous Trellick Tower, which is an iconic London landmark. This 31-storey brutalist building by architect Erno Goldfinger, is now a Grade 11* listed building. Yes, that Goldfinger name gave Ian Fleming a great name for his villain in the Bond movies. Just under the tower block is a parade of shops which is where you will find this store.
Shop Exterior
For more information, you read the Goldfinger Factory Website. The address is 13-15 Golborne Road, London W10 5NY. The nearest tube station is Westbourne Park which is on the Circle and Hammersmith and City lines. Look out for Trellick Tower to find your way. Opening times are Monday to Saturday, 10.30 until 6 pm and Sunday, 11 am until 5 pm. The cafe is open from 7.30 until 6 pm.
Author: Homegirl London. Photographs: Homegirl London. Thanks: Molly and Homeboy, for accompanying me.