Made Resource Group Opens An Immersive New Showroom In Arizona

For Richard Wilkinson and Yaiza Brown, the founders of Made Resource Group, design isn’t about trends or even good taste. It’s about storytelling. That’s why the firm’s new 3,000-square-foot showroom delights in offering an immersive experience to the trade. Music, fragrance, textures and richly layered beauty engage all the senses. Here, Wilkinson reflects on the value and art of good design.

Did you have a vision for the showroom at the outset or was the process more gradual?

We had a vision from the very beginning to create a luxury shopping experience full of atmosphere and inspiration. The showroom is built to touch all the senses and transport the shopper through stories that they can then interpret on their own. The larger location also allowed us to express ourselves as curators and give voice to the many product designers we represent. The space is painted in moody, deep colors and features vignettes of various moments of conversation between brands. Clients bring in their plans, sip their favorite beverages from our espresso bar and leave refreshed before their next meeting.

Made is known for its exclusive partnerships. Are there any new ones about which you’re particularly excited?

Having recently returned from Paris and Milan, we’re very excited to begin partnership with the Italian wallcovering design house Glamora. Their murals are breathtaking, and they push the technical envelope with wallcovering materials suitable for showers.

Why is good design worth the investment?

Every person outwardly signals who they are by way of the clothing they wear, the car they choose to drive, etc. But this is all consumerism. When we retreat from the world and go inward to the comfort of our homes, we should be surrounded by meaningful expressions of ourselves, not by what social media tells us is “in.” Good design is an investment in oneself and isn’t immediate. It takes openness, education of taste and exploration of what brings you joy. Investment in good design is investment in self-care.