TARTAN carpet firm Stevens & Graham has invested £50,000 to open a showroom in Glasgow's Bath Street.

The company is using the 1500 square foot store, located a short walk from the King's Theatre, to showcase its designs. It also includes space for interior designers to present ideas to clients.

Stevens & Graham, whose customers include Brooks Brothers, House of Fraser and Tommy Hilfiger, said it took inspiration from London's prestigious Chelsea Harbour development for the store's design.

With large picture windows overlooking Bath Street, the showroom is lit by crystal chandeliers and lined by gilt-framed tartans and wall coverings designed by Timorous Beasties.

John McIlvogue, who acquired the Glasgow-based carpet designer and manufacturer last year, said: "This showroom is modelled on the speciality outlets in the world's most exclusive shopping arena at Chelsea Harbour, where the internationally wealthy arrive by Rolls-Royce and Lamborghini and where few items for sale display prices."

"We will also have a space in the building where interior designers can work on their concepts and bring their clients to see how their concepts can be realised.

"Carpet making has a long tradition in Scotland and we want our new Bath Street premises to help put the name of Stevens & Graham back on people's lips."

The showroom comes after the firm secured a $1 million deal to distribute its products in the US.

It will see Stevens & Graham team up with Stark, a New York-based carpet, fabric and wall-coverings business, to distribute its tartans to interior designers throughout North America.