A Suffolk home furnishings superstore is undergoing a major £1m refurbishment aimed at giving it a fresh new look.

More than 100,000sq ft of bespoke flooring is being laid at Glasswells at Bury St Edmunds as part of plans to enhance shoppers’ experience.

The store remains open, with a massive stock clearance sale in progress while work continues on a complete refit of flooring, roomsets, fixtures and fittings.

While the family-owned retail chain, which also has stores in Ipswich, Haverhill and Saffron Walden, has carried out more minor redecorations, managing director Paul Glasswell felt it was time for a more significant overhaul at the site, which underwent its last major works 15 years ago, when it was extended to include an atrium entrance, extensive homewares and bedroom departments and a purpose built carpet warehouse.

“Glasswells has always strived to offer our customers the latest and most stylish furnishing options and it is essential that our environment provides visitors with the very best shopping experience,” he said.

“We are a forward-thinking company and I understand how important it is to move with the times and embrace change. Whilst the store will be given a fresh, new look our ethos of offering the widest choice, at the best value, with the highest customer service remains the same.”

The work, which began in October 2016 with a £150,000 22-seat extension to its popular Place to Eat restaurant, has been planned and managed in-house by visual merchandiser Sarah Norris.

She has used a colour palette of cool greys and mix of natural materials aimed at giving the revamped shop a modern and airy industrial feel, with integrated technology offering shoppers a more interactive and informative experience.

The first phase of the works began in July with the removal of old flooring from the first floor Bed and Bedroom departments to make way for new carpeting and tiles.

Craftsmen will be erecting new partition walls and decorating the rooms sets, ready for new displays and a different layout.

Works will continue into next year, including the modernisation of the reception and paypoint areas, and new fixtures and fittings in the flooring, soft furnishings and home accessories departments.

Mr Glasswell said staff had been “brilliant” during what has been a fairly disruptive time.

“All of the furniture has been moved multiple times to accommodate the flooring fitters, which has been hard work for everyone involved,” he said.

“We’ve still got plenty of clearance furniture on show, new models are arriving every day, and we look forward to being able to give our special customers the freshest, and ultimately the best, shopping experience in Suffolk.”