Palomino by Adeko & Co: A Sensory Journey in Luxury Design at Decorex 2025
people • MAKERS
For its tenth anniversary, Adẹ̀kọ́ and Co. has created one of the most anticipated installations at Decorex 2025. Titled Palomino, the five-room experience reimagined Olympia London through a narrative of performance, spectacle and quiet transformation. The project brought together the studio’s fascination with emotion, storytelling and material craft, drawing on the rich theatrical history of the venue and weaving it into a contemporary architectural journey.
In this Designeers interview, founder Tola Adẹ̀kọ́ reflects on the research that shaped Palomino, the influence of early spectacles, and the artistry of collaboration with master craftsmen from across the world. Moving through the concepts of anticipation, costume, illusion, reveal and reflection, he explored how interiors can function like acts on a stage, inviting guests to feel, listen and discover.
DESIGNEERS
Palomino is described as “a love letter to performance.” Can you tell us about the moment the idea first sparked, and how the concept evolved into this immersive, five-room experience?
Tolù Adèkó
The idea began while we were researching Olympia London, the home of Decorex 2025. We were fascinated by its rich history of spectacle, from the Paris Hippodrome to Bertram Mills’ circus, and how its legacy of drama and showmanship could inspire a new kind of interior experience.
We started with architectural references like Crystal Palace, studying the grandeur and theatricality of that era. The concept evolved into a cinematic journey through five interconnected rooms: anticipation, costume, illusion, reveal, and reflection. Guests don’t just observe; they move through the design like actors in a play, each space unfolding as part of a narrative performance.
DESIGNEERS
The design draws on the performance history of Olympia London and nods to figures like Bertram Mills and the Paris Hippodrome. What drew you to this particular narrative?
Tolù Adèkó
Performance is timeless. It embodies transformation, artifice, and wonder. Olympia’s history captures that intersection between architecture and emotion, and we wanted to explore how theatre, craft, and luxury intersect in interiors today.
We were particularly inspired by how early performances were so meticulously staged, from set design to choreography, mirroring the precision and storytelling of interior design. This narrative also connects cultures: Parisian theatrical traditions meet London’s circus heritage, creating a dialogue between nostalgia and modernity.
Philippe Hurel & Tom Faulkner furniture
Mural by Timna Woolard Studio
DESIGNEERS
You’ve collaborated with master artisans and ateliers from UK, France, Italy and beyond. Could you spotlight a few collaborators whose contributions were particularly meaningful to the story of Palomino?
Tolù Adèkó
Palomino is truly a tapestry of craftsmanship. We worked with DeMuro Das in India, Studio 1718 in Glasgow, and Philippe Hurel in Paris to create bespoke furniture, alongside signature pieces from Tom Faulkner.
Lighting became a central character, designed in collaboration with Martin Hoxford, evolving in tone as guests move through the rooms. Will Foster Studios created a hand-painted finish unifying the scheme, and Timna Woolard Studio produced a mural enveloping the Grand Salon bar.
We also partnered with Artmura in Milan for decorative wallpaper, Ulgador for verre églomisé, and Véronique De Soultrait for rope marquetry, represented by Amonaia Styling. Fabric houses like Pierre Frey, Dedar, Casamance, and Lelièvre added layered tactility. Every collaborator played a role in shaping the emotional language of the space.
DESIGNEERS
Layered materials, rich palettes, and hand-finished elements are central to your aesthetic. What was your approach to materiality in this project, and were there any surprises or breakthroughs along the way?
Tolù Adèkó
We approached materiality like a costume designer, focusing on what materials evoke, not just how they look. Each room required its own rhythm and atmosphere, so we composed a restrained yet expressive palette.
A breakthrough came through colour: we used a single tone across multiple rooms, allowing texture and light to become the storytellers. Collaborating with Jo Malone London, we integrated woody scents like English Oak & Hazelnut and top notes of Pomegranate Noir to enrich the multisensory experience.
“We approached materiality like a costume designer, focusing on what materials evoke, not just how they look.”
Tolù Adèkó
DESIGNEERS
Each of the five rooms in Palomino evokes a distinct mood or moment. Could you walk us through one of your favourite rooms and the emotion you aimed to capture there?
Tolù Adèkó
The Grand Salon is one of my favourites. It’s both dramatic and intimate; the ceiling references circus tents, while curved banquette seating creates a sense of embrace. Subtle shifts in light and texture replace spectacle with quiet theatre. The room invites reflection and surprise, a perfect embodiment of Palomino’s narrative.
DESIGNEERS
This year marks Adẹ̀kọ́ & Co.’s 10th anniversary. How does Palomino reflect the evolution of your studio’s design philosophy, and where do you see it going next?
Tolù Adèkó
This project represents everything we’ve learned: storytelling, craft, and emotional design. Over the past decade, we’ve explored how interiors can become experiences, spaces that move beyond visual beauty into sensory memory.
Our work at wow!house last year pushed us further into design as art. Palomino continues that journey, merging narrative with multisensory engagement. The next chapter for Adẹ̀kọ́ & Co. is about deepening these emotional connections, using sound, scent, and touch to create spaces people truly feel.
DESIGNEERS
If Palomino had a soundtrack, what music would be playing in the background as guests step inside?
Tolù Adèkó
We have developed an original score with a U.S. studio. Like the design, the music evolves as guests move through the space, building anticipation, drama, and finally quiet reflection. It’s another layer of storytelling that makes the experience immersive and unforgettable.
DESIGNEERS
What do you hope lingers with guests long after they’ve left the lounge—a mood, a message, a material memory?
Tolù Adèkó
A feeling of being transported, not through spectacle, but through subtle emotion. A memory of texture, a hue, a moment of stillness.
By reinterpreting the circus through a lens of luxury and craft, Palomino becomes a symbol of transformation. We want guests to feel the story, and remember Adẹ̀kọ́ & Co. as a studio that designs with narrative integrity and timeless emotion.
Palomino Lounge at Decorex London 2025
PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS:
DARREN CHUNG
