What inspired the transformation of historic building in Ilkley?
- Nick
- Apr 9
- 4 min read
Meet the team behind the transformation of the historic Mortens premises on Cunliffe Road in Ilkley.
Rik Smith, Principal Director of Design Emporium in Ilkley, has two abiding memories of when he was a young lad; the first was admiring the teapots at Betty’s and the second was the tool store at the back of Ilkley’s famous hardware store, Mortens.
Back then, he was always ‘making stuff and building things’, with a fascination for drills, hand tools and tool accessories and so Mortens was a spiritual home for him.
Fast forward 35 years and Rik is back in the very premises that inspired him, together with his dedicated team of architects and designers, and with his practice name proudly above the door.
That practice is Design Emporium Ltd which he founded in 2003. It is a leading RIBA Chartered Architects Practice specialising in architecture and interior design, as well as project management, with a focus on bespoke private residences. Rik is a proud member of the British Institute of Interior Design.
He was offered the chance to move his studio and offices into the premises on Cunliffe Road in 2023 when Mortens decided to reduce the space of their store. Because he had lost none of his passion for the iconic and much-loved building since his childhood and recognising the unique opportunity to be involved in its continued history, it was an easy decision to make.
To him, his mission was clear: to lovingly return the frontage to its former glory and to preserve its heritage for generations to come. Something which is even more important now after the sad demise of the store.
As he explains:
“I’ve got so many photos of the Mortens building throughout the years, from the days when the traditional shopkeeper used to live in residence, to when the building used to be a café, and even when the basement used to house a mortuary. It’s fascinating to see how its appearance has changed over the years.
“In the 1960s, the trend was for a modern and contemporary look, so all the original features, including the steel pillars, were removed and clad over. When we moved in, the first thing we did was reinstate the traditional façade and reveal the beautiful pillars at the entrance to the studio.
“Working with the landlord and respecting the heritage, we also restored the space above the store to ensure design continuity and to give the building more stature and prominence. We believe that it enhances the whole street and we’re very proud of its transformation.”
Rik was born in Baildon and moved to Addingham where he attended Bradford Grammar School, excelling at Art & Design. A move to Horsforth followed before he finally moved back to Ilkley 15 years ago.
After a period of time working in retail management, he started his building and design career when he was working as a Project Manager on the redevelopment of a large manor house estate.
There he found himself working as a ‘go-between’ between the team of architects and the interior designers and felt that a cohesive single design vision and collaborative design approach were lacking, and that all the parties involved in the project were working individually.
When he later launched Design Emporium Ltd, he knew that this ‘single design vision’ concept would underpin every project that he and his team would undertake, and that the architects, interior architects, and interior designers would work collaboratively alongside each other, from initial consultation through to final touches, to provide a complete turnkey service.
Since then, he and his team have built a stellar reputation, and collected many industry awards, for this approach, delivering exceptional design, quality, and service for their clients.
As Rik says:
“We have always set out to provide a collaborative design approach and it is that cohesion of different specialists working as one team that allows us to explore and maximise every opportunity on all our projects.
“It’s all about creating bespoke designs that seamlessly blend form, function and flow. We strive for meticulous attention to detail, bringing our clients’ visions to life from architectural concepts to custom furnishings.
“Our vision is realised through our strong, collaborative relationships with trusted suppliers, contractors, and craftsmen who execute our projects to the highest standards. By combining our expertise in both architecture and interior design, we ensure that the exterior and interior of our clients’ projects are fully integrated, and that the design can become the reality.”
It’s clear that Rik loves property and loves the design of property. For him, working with his clients from the outset of the project to its conclusion is an emotional process as the creation of beautiful functional spaces that flow as well as the reimagination of existing spaces can be life-changing for his clients.
Reimagining existing spaces is certainly something he has done to great effect with his transformation of the Mortens building and as he says:
“I love being in the centre of town, in the hub of the local community, with such a prominent shop front location to showcase the company’s services. It’s come full circle being here and personally, like the rest of the town, I was extremely saddened to lose Mortens. However, we hope that its memory will live on when people see the building now in all its glorious splendour.”
