ABOUT US
Soap and Salvation was founded by Jo and Barrie McPherson in 2021 and has swiftly become a haven for antique lovers and interior designers.
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After spending many years in the design world, Jo and Barrie embarked on an exciting new adventure nearly a decade ago, first immersing themselves in the vibrant and creative communities of East Sussex and eventually settling down in the historic town of Rye.
A strong passion for sourcing and collecting unique treasures had always been at the core of the couple's artistic pursuits, but it truly took centre stage when they stumbled upon an old Salvation Army Chapel at 20-22 Rope Walk. With its enormous arched windows and vaulted ceiling, the space allowed them to pursue their dream of forging a place where history, creativity, and design could intertwine.
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Now, the beautifully restored Chapel serves as the heart of Soap and Salvation, showcasing an ever-changing collection of vintage pieces, antiques, artworks, textiles, and homewares. For those seeking inspiration, there's a design led library and bookshop, brimming with rare and one-of-a-kind titles covering art, fashion, architecture and culture.
OUR PHILOSOPHY
The pieces we source include furniture, objects, mirrors, lighting, art, textiles and books, mixing rustic antiques and 20th century design with a tight edit of contemporary items. Every purchase comes from the heart and instinctively intertwines to create the interior style we love. Our aesthetic is clean and pared back with colour coming to the fore through textiles and art.
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Enjoyment comes from the story of an item so we don't tend to overly restore pieces —we love seeing their age and former use, so some charming graffiti on old presbytery tables or paint drips over an artist's easel will be left intact. That said we like each piece to be in good shape so everything is cleaned, made good, given a little nourishment if required and all lighting is re-wired and pat tested.
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We travel throughout the UK and Europe to source our eclectic array of items and regularly work with clients and interior designers to supply unique pieces for homes and commercial properties.
20-22 ROPE WALK
Each building at Soap and Salvation has its own history, character, and function. The main Chapel dates back to 1903 and was originally built for the Salvation Army. With its impressive arched windows at each end and a lofty beamed and vaulted ceiling, it's a remarkable space flooded with natural light, providing a clean backdrop for our diverse array of finds.
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Next to the main building is a smaller Chapel, which was once part of the old cattle market. It has been restored and now seamlessly extends our shop space. On the ground floor, you'll find a pantry stocked with a delightful collection of kitchen and utility room products, including handmade natural brushes, delicate vintage Japanese baskets, and wonderful French torchons. Upstairs on the mezzanine, you'll discover our design- led library and bookshop.
Behind the scenes are the old stables which act as our stock room, all be it a well-appointed one. Recently restored and a place to view items that are not yet on the shop floor.