Mar 18, 2026 - Cameron BrierleySometimes we work on a project with a customer that turns out so special that it’s only right to spotlight it on our website.
The gym that Darren and Lauren Matthews dreamt up is one such example. Opting for our Phase 4 Rack with Smith Machine as the centrepiece, Darren and Lauren added their own custom artwork and LEDs to create a training space that looks every bit as good (if not better) than a commercial gym.
Now that the build is complete, we spoke to Darren and Lauren to hear about their experience and how they took the idea from concept to completion.
“For me, it all started with a canvas drawing,” Darren told us. “Some arty kit my youngest got as a present. We all had to draw something, so I sketched two bodybuilders to represent me and Lauren and wrote “DL” on it. Before I knew it, I’d taken a picture of the LD logo and asked ChatGPT to create a logo using pink and blue with our initials. That was the moment it started to feel real.”
“Then a random conversation with Lauren happened: she’d been thinking about a home gym too. She’d found a showroom in Preston, MuscleSquad’s. I told her to book it (I’m the impulsive one).”
Preston is one of our showrooms and is managed by our Creative Brand Manager and home gym encyclopaedia, Carl Jeffers (CJ). It’s a large, well-equipped space for customers in the north of England to get a feel for our equipment which is such an important part of making a purchase that you’re confident with.
“We met CJ in Preston — the GOAT. He was amazing. Long story short, we came home and I filled a basket with everything I wanted…and we didn’t even have a room for a gym yet! We literally did it all backwards.”
One of the products that we have on show in Preston is the Phase 4 Flagship Rack. “We were instantly drawn to it,” Darren said. “The crazy thing is, it wasn’t even the Smith machine version — it just looked the part. It was well built, multifunctional and incredibly smooth. At that point, we knew nothing about it, but the more we looked at it and tried it out, the more we realised it was the right one.”
After some final bits of planning and prep between Darren, Lauren and our team, which included the addition of a P300 treadmill and fully loaded dumbbell rack, we were ready to lock things in and set a delivery and installation date. Two members of our team went up to their address and laid the flooring, built the rack and set up the accessories. The result?
“The Smith machine is just amazing. It’s perfect for focusing on strict, controlled movements, whether that’s shoulder press, leg press, squats or chest work. It’s also great for exercises like shrugs and calf raises. The rack system itself is insane and offers so many possibilities.”
“There are so many perks to this, but the number one is that it’s our space,” Darren continued. “We can put the music on, throw on headphones and just focus on our workouts. The space feels really personal to us — and the best part is it’s less than a stone’s throw away.”
We’ve no doubt that Darren and Lauren will treasure their gym for years to come and are grateful for the part we were able to play in bringing such a unique space to life. 💪
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