Thomas Sabo, Milton Keynes
A curved MF feature ceiling, a circular drum with a slatted metallic perimeter, in a premium jewellery store
The project
Thomas Sabo is a national jewellery and accessories brand, and their stores are designed to a high specification. For the Milton Keynes store we installed the MF feature ceiling: a circular plasterboard drum with a curved, slatted metallic perimeter and integrated lighting, sitting above the main display floor as the centrepiece of the interior.
MF (metal furring) ceilings give a solid, seamless finish with no grid lines, which is why premium retail brands specify them. A circular drum with a curved slatted detail is some of the most skilled work in ceiling installation. It has to be set out precisely, framed to the curve and finished so the lines stay crisp under the store lighting.
This was national retail programme work, delivered to the brand's specification and deadline. Below is the feature stage by stage, from bare framework to the finished store.
The project in pictures
The work, stage by stage
Setting out the drum
The feature is a circular MF drum. It starts with a boarded plasterboard disc on a metal ring frame, set out from a template and hung dead level from the structure above so the finished circle is true.
Curved slatted framework
Around the drum we built the curved, slatted perimeter in metal framework. Every fin is set to the curve so the finished detail reads as one clean ellipse. This is precise, skilled MF work, a long way from a flat grid ceiling.
Boarding and lighting
The drum and surrounding ceiling are boarded in plasterboard, with the positions for the integrated downlights and the central chandelier set out as the boarding goes up, ready for first-fix electrics.
Finished feature
Skimmed, decorated and lit, the finished drum sits above the display floor as the centrepiece of the store. A seamless MF finish and a crisp slatted perimeter are exactly the standard a premium retail brand expects.
National retail fit-out experience
The Thomas Sabo store is one of many national retail programmes we have worked on over 19 years. Our ceiling installation work includes Selfridges, Primark, Debenhams, Waitrose, Tesco, Argos, TK Maxx, Molton Brown, Sports Direct, Moss Bros, White Stuff, WHSmith at Heathrow and The Perfectionist's Cafe at Heathrow. We understand brand specifications, programme deadlines and working in live retail environments.
Learn more about our MF ceiling installation and retail ceiling work, or read the MF ceiling cost guide.
About the author
Written by Paul Grieveson, commercial suspended ceiling installer with 19 years experience across the UK and Ireland. Based in Bredbury, Stockport. Ceiling installation work completed at Selfridges, Primark, Debenhams, Waitrose, Tesco, Sainsbury's, Argos, TK Maxx, Molton Brown, Sports Direct, Moss Bros, EE, Thomas Sabo, White Stuff, Wasabi, Paul's Patisseries London, Manchester Eye Hospital, Walsall Hospital, Bristol Hospital, Aquinas College Stockport, WHSmith at Heathrow and The Perfectionist's Cafe at Heathrow. Snag-free workmanship guaranteed on every job.
Get an Instant Estimate
Answer 5 quick questions and get a ballpark figure in under 2 minutes. No sign up required.
Get Instant Estimate →Frequently Asked Questions
- What is an MF feature ceiling?
- An MF (metal furring) feature ceiling is a suspended plasterboard ceiling built on a framework of metal channels, shaped into a design feature such as a drum, dome, curve or dropped bulkhead. It gives a solid, seamless finish with no grid lines, so it suits premium retail and hospitality interiors where the ceiling is part of the brand.
- Can you build curved and circular ceilings?
- Yes. The Thomas Sabo store used a circular MF drum with a curved, slatted metallic perimeter and integrated downlights. Curved and circular MF work is set out carefully from a template, framed in metal, boarded, and finished so the lines stay true. It is some of the most skilled work in ceiling installation.
- Do you work on national retail fit-outs?
- Yes. Over 19 years we have installed ceilings on national retail programmes including Selfridges, Primark, Debenhams, Waitrose, Thomas Sabo, WHSmith at Heathrow and many more. We understand brand specifications, programme deadlines and working in live shopping centres, and we can work out of hours where trading cannot be interrupted.
- How much does an MF feature ceiling cost?
- A feature MF ceiling costs more than a flat one because of the shaping, curved framework and finishing involved. The best way to get an accurate figure is a fixed price quote after a survey. See our MF ceiling cost guide for indicative rates, use the estimate tool, or call 0161 524 9076.
Planning a feature ceiling for a retail or commercial space?
Call 0161 524 9076 or request a survey online. We respond within 48 hours with a fixed price quote.