Stories 1 GBP

STORIES

A happy ending We always like to offer a little gift to mark the opening of a new season. So this autumn, receive a hand-made Bowsley cake stand when you spend over £100.

Just bring us back a piece of cake.

STOR IES FOR AU T U M N

VOLUME 1 AUTUMN 2016

In store or online, simply use the code A U T U M N 2 0 1 6 before 12th October 2016.

Valid up to and including 12th October 2016

NEPTUNE.COM

AUTUMN 2016

“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.”

L.M.Montgomery

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Welcome

So this is it. Volume one of Stories is here. It’s

product story on a piece of which we’re particularly

something we've been wondering about doing for a

proud. It might be commentary on a design movement

while, but as with everything we do at Neptune,

(see the Shaker story on page 69) or a discussion

we wanted to take our time, to do it properly, and to

around a certain aesthetic that we admire. It might be

do it beautifully.

an interesting interview. In fact, it’s all of those things,

First though, let us introduce ourselves briefly, but

and more. Inside these pages we share with you

properly. Neptune is a world of beautifully crafted

insights into our world. If you’re new to Neptune, we

furniture, textiles and accessories for the home and

hope it serves as a pleasant introduction, but if we’ve

garden. Design wise, we’re perhaps most known for

met before, we hope you enjoy getting to know us a

our almost obsessive attention to detail, refined

little better .

aesthetic, and our commitment to natural materials

(solid timber in particular). Put simply, we make

our new autumn/winter collection. Every design is

things of which we’re proud.

now available online or in one of our beautiful stores

Now back to Stories. Stories is a collection of

We’ve timed this first volume with the launch of

nationwide and overseas. More of that later though.

articles; thoughtful ones brought to life with

For now, it’s time to get comfortable.

photography and written with empathy. It might be a

Autumn has arrived.

neptune.com +44 (0) 1793 427300 Stores nationwide Be inspired. Sign up to receive our weekly emails

AUTUMN 2016

Features

T H E C O L O U R C H R O N I C L E S 11 Three of the most exciting colour stories right now.

Mustard vs not-just-any-grey: a fresh interpretation of one of mid-century’s favourite colour couplings.

The new monochrome: where we change the ratio to 70:30 for much more impact. And the dark ages: a movement that sees inky blues and nearly-black tones reign over entire schemes.

S Y M M E T R Y 19 Even in childhood, symmetry permeates every aspect of our lives, from the familiar arrangement of features on our parents’ faces to the first circles we draw in geometry.

We come to recognise it, not just in our immediate surroundings but also in breath-taking buildings around the globe, from the Parthenon to the Taj Mahal, as well as extraordinary exercises in artistic poise and balance such as Leornardo da Vinci’s last supper.

H E A D I N G E A S T 41 It’s time to talk about China. Neptune has two production houses there. One in Qingdao, the host city for sailing at Beijing 2008. The other in Foshan, in the northern part of the Pearl River. Our making story is a global one and we have so much to say about it, and so much of which we’re proud. So we decided it was time to tell it properly.

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THE REVIEW The autumn/winter press preview event BY SUZANNE IMRE

Every July, Neptune unveils its autumn/winter

Imagine taking a plain white gallery space in a London

collection to the press. Journalists from the

side street and turning it – in 72 hours – into a beautifully

most influential titles from the UK and beyond

decorated home, packed full of gorgeous furniture and clever style ideas – and then dismantling it again after

descend for one day only to see what the new

only one day. Oh, and doing it all on one of the hottest

season has to offer, ready to report their findings

weeks (yes, there were a few) of the year. Well, that’s

and new favourites in their upcoming issues.

It's a big day for us. But a brilliant one.

what the Neptune team did in July to showcase their new furniture, fabric and cabinetry collections to the UK’s top interiors press.

As journalists, we get pretty spoiled by the creative

ways companies present their latest ranges, so it is quite rare to arrive at a press show and want to move in – literally. But that was the effect on arrival at the Neptune show. From the elegant sitting room scene, complete with well-stocked, Art Deco-style bar trolley, to the show-stopping, modern rustic kitchen, the humble art gallery had been transformed into one very stylish, but ultimately, very relaxing family home.

What we ate Plump smoked salmon blinis What we drank Health-boosting green juices and hits of strong coffee

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PAGE 6 Caspar tan leather armchair £1,610 Arthur large stool in Ewan Dove £520 Carter large side table £340 Shoreditch large sofa in Pale Oat £1,960

PAGES 7-8 Francis king bed base in Angus Flint £880 George king headboard in Angus Flint £480 Fitzroy large lamps with Oliver shade in Angus Flint £182 Laura scatter cushions £72

PAGE 8 Hudson console table £800 Wardley chairs hand-painted in Smoke £255

AUTUMN 2016

The looks and mood that the team created instantly

captured the essence of all that Neptune stands for (this is always useful for the press when we are seeing up to five shows per day), but it also highlighted some real stand-out pieces. For me, the lighting collection was super-strong and I loved the idea of an industrial billiard-style light hanging low over a coffee table in the sitting room. Who would have thought of doing that? While the new Isla Finch velvet fabric, displayed on a modern sofa shape (the Shoreditch), was a surefire winner. Glimpsed through some on-trend Crittall windows (also installed and dismantled for the show), the upholstered Francis bed held its own in a beautifully designed bedroom setting. All in all, a press show success. Now can we discuss a moving in date please?

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PAGE 9 Henley kitchen with custom cup handles from £13,000 Carter side tables used as wall cabinets £340

PAGE 10 Browning small pendant in Bronze £250 Wardley table £1,000 Wardley chairs in natural oak £285 and Smoke £255

AUTUMN 2016

Black magic just like the little black dress, a hint of black in a decorating scheme guarantees sophistication. At the show, classic Henley kitchen cabinets got an elegant update with a black stone worktop and butler’s sink, highlighted with industrial copper piping and set against moody concrete-skimmed walls. The Livingetc team wants!

GETTING CR AFTY W ITH CABINETS As an interiors editor I get to see many clever styling ideas but it is not often that I feel compelled to declare an idea “Genius!”. But the kitchen island and wall units in the Neptune press launch kitchen deserved just that title. The brainchild of one of Neptune’s store designers, the open-plan island is simply two Neptune coffee tables stacked on top of each other, while the shelving unit is actually a row of three, upside-down, side tables from the same Carter collection. Not only is it a clever solution, but it would be hard to find better looking open-plan storage. A great example of style AND substance in design = genius!

SUZANNE IMRE is the editor of LIVINGETC. One of Britain’s most popular, and most influential, interiors titles.

NEPTUNE.COM

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The colour chronicles BY JO LEEV ERS

We've coloured our pages using shades from our water-based paint collection.

This is Mustard Mustard eggshell ÂŁ53 Mustard matt emulsion ÂŁ37

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THR EE OF THE MOST E XCIT ING COLOUR S TOR I E S R IGH T NOW

THE NEW MONOCHROME MUSTA R D VS

Contrasting black with white has always been the

N O T- J U S T- A N Y G R E Y

shorthand for sophisticated style. It remains the most effective way to add impact to a predominantly white

There are some colour combinations that just work.

kitchen or utility room, but the trick is to vary the

Brilliantly. Or, to be more accurate, brilliantly and

proportions. A straight 50-50 split between black and

quietly. Yellow and grey is the perfect example – a

white could make a home feel rather cold and office-

shaft of bright, positive warmth brings depth to a

like. Plus, it’s just too obvious and has been done far

darker, more reserved tone. It was a colour combination

too many times before. Instead, tip the balance towards

made famous by mid-century fabric designers such as

purest white with a dash of black. A granite worktop,

Lucienne Day and Sheila Bownas. These days, their

the dark lines of powder-coated metal storage unit or

winning mix is still going strong, but the yellow

even dark grout are easy ways to achieve this. Or, for a

favoured by interior designers is a more mellow mustard

moodier feel, reverse the formula and add the naturally

than the Fifties-style lemon. Similarly, today’s most

pale striations of marble to dark kitchen cabinets or on

versatile and flattering grey has also matured into

walls through contemporary tiling. The final ingredient

a calmer shade. With undertones of warm blue and

in a monochrome scheme is texture. Reach-out-and-

purple, it’s seen at its best in paint, such as Neptune’s

touch throws, grain-rich timber, or natural wicker will

‘Smoke’ available as a matt emulsion or eggshell. In

break up the contrasts to make the space liveable and

these freshest incarnations, yellow and grey are on-

tactile. Welcome to mixed-up monochromes. The more

trend all over again but in a brand new guise.

interesting way to work black and white magic.

PAGE 14 Kennet hexagon tiles £94 per m2 This is Smoke Smoke eggshell £53 Smoke matt emulsion £37

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THE DA R K AGES When interior designer Abigail Ahern first enveloped her rooms in walls of deepest, darkest blue, grey and even full-on black, it caused quite a stir. Several years on, it’s become the creative way to add drama and depth to a living space. But to make it work, you need great lighting and even better accessories. Whether your room is north- or south-facing, invest in statement pendants that will stand out against their dark backdrop – those cast in gleaming metal or eye-catching glass are ideal. Team with table-level lamps and furniture and accessories that can hold their own. Think furniture in butter-soft leather or luscious velvet and cushions in linen or the softest wool. Pick out period details such as skirtings or wall panelling in a deep, dark grey.

If you don’t have original panelling, faux cladding is surprisingly easy to install. Then, to keep things cohesive, outline doors or window frames in the same inky shade. Finally, keep artworks low-key: the real work of art is already wrapped around your walls.

JO LEEVERS writes for some of the UK’s most acclaimed lifestyle magazines and national newspapers, from The Telegraph to Homes & Antiques.

This is Navy Navy eggshell £53 Navy matt emulsion £37

We believe In creating new classics. We draw inspiration from the past and then we reformulate, refresh and reimagine.

Here we see two classic silhouettes: the 19th-century swoop-arm and the slipper chair. But we played with proportions, pleating and piping. And we introduced them to new-era fabrics that tip them into modernity, slightly. This is a lesson in how to age oh-so gracefully.

Amelia armchair ÂŁ710, shown in Emma Floral Dove. Madeleine chair ÂŁ400, shown in Isla Finch.

neptune.com Stores nationwide

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Symmetry The interview

THOUGHTS FROM JOHN SIMS-HILDITCH

BY GILES K IME

Even in childhood, symmetry permeates every aspect of our lives, from the familiar arrangement of features on our parents’ faces to the first circles we draw in geometry. We come to recognise it, not just in our immediate surroundings but also in breath-taking buildings around the globe, from the Parthenon to the Taj Mahal, as well as extraordinary exercises in artistic poise and balance such as Leornardo da Vinci’s last supper. Perhaps more exciting still is that symmetry isn’t a purely man-made concept – the natural world, as da Vinci emphasised, is full of symmetry too.

AUTUMN 2016

Symmetry isn’t just conceptual, nor is it something purely to be seen. Symmetry is something that is felt

subliminally or otherwise – that it lends familiarity to a space. Our eyes are naturally drawn to a focal

too, but that’s a side aspect that isn’t often considered.

point and are almost lost when they can’t locate

A balance in movement is necessary for riding a

one. For designers, symmetry isn’t just a way to

bicycle, for walking. We are drawn, consciously and

lend a calm, cohesive feel to a room, but it helps

subconsciously to flavours, colours and textures that

them to manipulate space. Rooms that might have

are in perfect symmetry; hard with soft, rough with

seemed chaotic can be bought under control with the

smooth, light with dark, sweetness with piquancy.

We learn that even the smallest imbalance can make a big difference.

judicious use of furniture, lighting and accessories.

Mirrors, paintings or photographs mark a central axis. Pairs of sofas, chairs, table lamps and wall lights act as a supporting cast, emphasising the structure,

For John Sims-Hilditch, one of the founders and creative forces behind Neptune, symmetry touches

and together create order where it might not have previously existed.

almost every aspect of human experience. “Even the concept of ‘being fair’ is about evaluating evidence in a way that is in equilibrium,” he says. “Symmetry is

Yet, in John’s view, achieving symmetry successfully is a more subtle art than simply creating a room in

something we seek in the way we interact with others.

which two halves simply mirror one another. “Look at

Intrinsically we yearn for them to react in a way that’s

the Mona Lisa,” he says “at first glance, it appears to

reciprocal to our own behaviour, and empathetic.”

be a depiction of a beautifully symmetrical face, until you notice the slight imbalance that is used to create

To interior design. It is because symmetry is so omnipresent – and we are so conscious of it,

an almost imperceptible hint of emotion. It gives the painting a beguiling dynamism.”

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AUTUMN 2016

Eva sofa large, upholstered in Elliot wool £2,560 Tenbury lamp with Oliver shade £163 Arthur stool large, upholstered in Ewan Dove £520 Amelia armchair, upholstered in Night Sky: £630 Amelia armchair, upholstered in Emma Dove: £710 Louis footstool, upholstered in Ermine velvet £255

His belief is that the rules of symmetry work best when they are broken, or at the very least, bent.

While there is no doubt in his mind that symmetry is vital when coaxing a space into feeling calm and cohesive, he equally believes that it works best when consciously undermined in some way, however subtle.

Two chairs on either side of a console table in a hall might, at first sight, underpin the symmetry by appearing to be a pair but closer inspection reveals that they are different style. Or a large painting on one side of a chimney breast might be balanced not by another large one, but a collection of smaller artworks.

Push the boundaries further and one can create an arrangement that is asymmetric – a large striking item or piece of furniture that throws the symmetry but which, like Mona Lisa, style is framed within a comfortingly rigid structure.

Perfect symmetry, it seems, lies in imperfection.

GILES KIME is Interiors Editor at Country Life magazine – the quintessentially British magazine that offers weekly coverage of the countryside, arts, architecture, property, and Britain’s loveliest gardens.

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Big up the dish BY JO LEEV ERS

Move over, the humble dinner plate. This autumn, it’s

The American version, the Power Bowl, has its roots in

all about the bowl. Today’s meals are no longer a pie-

macrobiotics, so tends to come with rather strict quotas

chart arrangement of meat and two veg. Gone are the

for how much protein or vegetables should be included in

days when Sunday lunch was served in neat sections,

each bowl. However, we prefer to advocate a slightly more

with no overlapping allowed and the only sauce in sight

relaxed approach. Serving a warming bowl for a quick

was from the gravy boat. In fact, fragrant sauces and

lunch or an impromptu dinner with friends is all about

food that overlaps and gets deliciously mixed up is the

being versatile and creative. The same goes for bowl size

very aim of bowl food. It works for a hearty chicken

and shape – pick what suits you. Deep and slightly taller

casserole. It’s perfect for noodles. In fact, most stews,

sided bowls work for soupy, sauce-based meals, but the

stir fries and sauce-based dishes taste – and look – better

likes of salad or spaghetti need a slightly wider, flatter

served in a beautiful bowl. Even a good slice of home-

dish shape to get a good forkful. Think one size up from a

made pie works when the crust is soft and crumbly.

cereal bowl. Team with side plates: perfect for extras such

No wonder the hashtag #powerbowl is taking over

as crusty bread – and they’ll save your table from looking

Instagram, with #bowlfood close behind.

too spartan. With loving bowlfuls, informal, delicious

meals are the order of the day.

Ever since pasta, rice, quinoa, noodles and anything

that doesn’t demand the use of a knife became staples

of our mealtimes, the bowl has been edging the more

right for bowl food…

Turn to page 29 for an inspiring recipe that’s just

formal dinner plate off the table. Sales of bowls now account for 40% of new crockery purchases and there’s even a new breed of cookbooks devoted to the bowl food trend. Nigella Lawson, ever the advocate of easy, delicious indulgence, has declared she’d eat every meal from a bowl if she could.

JO LEEVERS writes for some of the UK’s most acclaimed lifestyle magazines and national newspapers, from The Telegraph to Homes & Antiques.

PAGE 26 Hanbury dinnerware from £12 Bowsley dinnerware from £8

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STORIES

We believe In craftsmanship. And the quality, the care, the individuality, and the love that come with each and every piece.

Take it from our designs though. Like the Wardley. A Shaker-inspired collection, here we see the spindle-back dining chair and solid oak table. Traditionally made, slowly sculpted, and each featuring the emblematic swallowtail detail that appears somewhere on every piece. What you can't see are the traditional foxtail joints that bring all the components together. They're a true mark of craftsmanship.

Dining table in natural oak £1,000. Dining chair in natural oak £285 or hand-painted birch £255

neptune.com Stores nationwide

AUTUMN 2016

Life.

G OOD FOOD. G OOD M USIC .

A ND A GOOD BOOK.

Three of life’s loveliest pleasures.

This is Juniper Juniper eggshell £53 Juniper matt emulsion £37

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In the kitchen What with all this talk of bowl food, it felt only right to provide you with a recipe to enjoy at home, on the sofa, preferably under a blanket.

The filling is a recipe we adore by Nigel Slater. Our editor heard it on BBC2 on her way home one evening and made it that weekend, but instead topped it with our take on Delia’s home-made shortcrust pastry (our version uses spelt flour rather than plain). We like to serve it with a side of garlic-crusted green beans.

All you need is a fork.

R ECIPE Piquant pea and pumpkin pie for a lazy Sunday afternoon SERV E S 4-6 depending on how hungry you are Use an 18-20cm pie dish W H AT YOU’LL NEED For the pastry 110g spelt flour plus extra for dusting 25g lard chilled 25g butter chilled 1 egg yolk A pinch of salt

For the filling 1kg pumpkin or butternut squash 250g yellow split peas 10 cardamom pods 6tbsps olive oil 3 garlic cloves

A good shake of ground pepper

2 red onions

A splash of cold water

2 bay leaves 1tsp sweet smoked paprika 1/2tsp hot smoked paprika

Why spelt? Spelt flour is a non-wheat flour that is nutty and slightly sweeter in flavour.

It’s heralded for its strong nutritional profile, but it still contains gluten so that the texture of the pastry isn’t compromised. The gluten in spelt breaks down much more easily than in regular flours though so be careful not to overmix it.

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WHAT TO DO 1 Start with peas. Soak them in a bowl for two hours. Easy.

9 Next, finely slice the garlic and add that into the pan with the onions until they turn golden.

2 Next, the pastry. Sift the flour into a good-sized

10 Now it’s the turn of the split peas. Add them to

bowl and sprinkle in the salt and pepper. You can

the pot with 800ml of fresh water and bring the

substitute the pepper for seeds or a herb of your choice.

mixture to the boil. Add in the bay leaves and

Whatever your palate prefers.

simmer for 30-40 minutes until the peas are soft.

3 Slice the butter and lard into little cubes and then

When you’re happy, add the smaller pumpkin cubes

tumble them into the flour, cutting it into the mixture

and season with salt and pepper. Then continue

with your knife until it looks evenly blended.

cooking for another 25 minutes. If the water

4 Give your hands another quick wash and then rub any remaining fat into the flour using just your fingertips. A few lumps left is fine.

A little tip from Delia: as you’re rubbing, lift it up high so that it falls back into the bowl. It encourages air flow so your pie crust should stay lovely and light.

5 Trickle in about a tablespoon of water. Take your knife once more and cut the mixture to bring it all together. Finish this off by using your hands so it

disappears too quickly, add more. If it’s not disappearing quickly enough, turn up the heat.

11 Take a different pan and use that to brown the larger cubes of pumpkin or squash in the remaining oil. Add to that the crushed black cardamom seeds, lower the heat, and add the paprika. Place a lid on top and leave for 20 minutes or so until soft.

12 W hile both pans are bubbling away, roll out your pastry on a floured surface so it’s ready to go when you are and preheat the oven to 180°C/gas mark four.

easily forms a neat ball. The bowl should be left

13 Once everything is beautifully tender and almost a

fairly clean, but if it isn’t just keep adding a few

little mushy, stir the spiced pumpkin cubes into the

drops of water until it is.

pea pot and add more seasoning if necessary. Then

6 Wrap it in cling film and pop it in the fridge to have a well-earned rest for at least 30 minutes.

You can put your feet up at this point too until the split pea soaking time is up.

7 Back to the filling. Peel your pumpkin or squash and cut one half into small pieces and the other into bigger cubes.

8 Take your casserole pot and place it over a moderate heat with 3tbsps of the oil inside. Peel the onions and add them to the pan to soften.

pour the mixture into your pie dish, patting it down and spreading it evenly across the base.

14 Carefully drape your rolled out pastry lid over the top and make a little cut in the centre so any steam can escape or use a pie bird if you have one. Decorate the top with any leftover pastry and crimp the edges so it fits in snugly.

15 Create a quick egg wash by whisking your single egg yolk and a few drops of water and lightly brush over the lid.

16 Place it in the centre of the oven and cook until the loveliest shade of brown roughly 25 minutes.

This is Paprika Paprika eggshell £53 Paprika matt emulsion £37

AUTUMN 2016

Neptunes THE SOU NDTR ACK TO THE SEASON

Handle with care Traveling Wilberries Here comes the rain again Eurythmics You and I Ingrid Michaelson Please don’t say you love me Gabrielle Aplin Ink Coldplay Sunrise Nora Jones

Late-into-the-night supper party. Lazy Sunday lunch with the family. A quiet evening in with you and your slippers. Whatever you’re doing,

Strong London Grammar Fly Ludovico Einaudi Maybe tomorrow Stereophonics Ghosts Laura Marling

this is a playlist that will see you through the

Country song Jake Bugg

autumnal months (and beyond). From piano

Like a star Corinne Bailey Rae

classics to toe-tappers, don’t be scared to turn up the volume.

Autumn leaves Eva Cassidy Seasons Future Islands September Earth, Wind and Fire (we had to) Follow the playlist on Spotify by searching Neptune_home

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We believe In the kind of comfort that makes the day melt away.

So we experimented with dozens of different cushion filling combinations until we found the one that made us sigh upon first sit and smile hours later. And then we cloaked every cushion in the finest fabrics spun from nature’s loveliest yarns. Duck feather-filled cushions, from £57.

neptune.com Stores nationwide

AUTUMN 2016

The book club Sitting in the garden, tucked up in bed, sheltering indoors watching the rain fall – these are but a few of our favourite moments to settle down with a good book. So this autumn, just before you hibernate, invest in a few fabulous reads to help you through drizzly days or to unwind with on those long and cosy evenings in front of the fire.

W H AT W E’R E R E A DING

Sweet Caress by William Boyd – a wonderful tale of

The Running Hare: the secret life of farmland by

a pioneering female photographer called Amory Clay.

John Lewis-Stempel – a quirky piece of nature writing

It’s where fiction meets history. It’s about war and

on Lewis-Stempel’s journey to love and nurture acres of

brutality, but also love and friendship. Boyd makes us

his own land. From sowing seeds and growing crops to

feel like we’re there with Clay, seeing what she sees and

restoring wildlife, this multi-award winning account is

feeling what she feels. We adored it.

poignant, educative and an eye-opening read.

The Parrots by Alexandra Shulman – we know you’re

The Romanovs by Simon Sebag Montefiore – this is

not meant to judge a book by its cover, but with The

a more serious, historical book but is no less gripping

Parrots we very much did (the colours are gorgeous and

than a fictional novel (indeed the Telegraph’s review

it has a velvety matte texture). Written by the editor of

describes it as being “bursting with blood, sex and

British Vogue, this easy-to-read piece of fiction is a

tears.”) The author takes us through the lives of the

story of beautiful people living beautiful lives but with

Romanov family from their infamous rise where they

a darkness to it and an unexpected twist.

ruled a sixth of the world’s surface for three centuries, to their ultimate demise.

This is Snow Snow eggshell £53 Snow matt emulsion £37

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Here’s to you To coincide with the launch of our cocktail collection, it felt only right to provide you with a classic cocktail recipe to go with it. And seeing as it’s autumn, it had to be whisky.

R ECIPE Old-fashioned Taken from a well-thumbed copy of The Savoy cocktail book

W H AT TO DO 1 Crush the sugar and bitters together.

2 Pour a measure of whisky into your tumbler and stir well.

3 Add the lump of ice and drop in the lemon twist.

4 Decorate with a simple slice of orange.

5 And enjoy.

W H AT YOU’LL NEED 2 dashes of Angostura Bitters 1 lump of sugar 1 glass of Rye Whisky 1 cube of ice

A ND HOW TO SERV E IT It’s not just about the glass, it’s about setting the scene.

An Art Deco-esque bar trolley has become a bit of a must-have. They look fabulous in a living room and are at their best when they’re stacked with a mix of iconic

1 twist of lemon

spirits and lesser-known treasures like Chase Vodka

1 slice of orange

which is made at a family-run farm in Herefordshire or Blue Bottle gin from the copper stills of Guernsey. Add in a few sophisticated tumblers, a cocktail shaker, a set of jiggers and a majestic decanter filled with whisky or port and the party will always be at your place.

Tip Bar trolleys also work wonders in a bathroom with fluffy towels below and glass jars of cotton buds on top. See the Manhattan drinks trolley and Mayfair cocktail collection from the autumn/winter collection.

AUTUMN 2016

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The ones to watch OU R A BSOLU T E LOV E S FOR T H IS SE A SON A N D BE YON D. M A K E ROOM.

This is Fog Fog eggshell £53 Fog matt emulsion £37

AUTUMN 2016

Caspar tan leather armchair (available October) £1,610 Sefton throw in Cobble £170 Tamsin scatter cushion in Hugo Mustard & Hector Fossil £76

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AUTUMN 2016

N O T S O H E AV Y M E TA L

BOU TIQUE BATHROOMS

Steel is having a real moment. Again. The super sleek

Luxuriously decadent and ever-so classy, this season’s

and slightly industrial frames of Crittall windows have

bathrooms are all about classical elements reborn.

always had a bit of a cult following but in recent years

The shapes are traditional, cue the steady rise of the

they’ve gathered real pace. First Crittall took hold of

old-world shower rose and high-level WC, but we’re

city loft pads and warehouse conversions in places like

seeing them in polished brass, copper, rose gold and

London’s Shad Thames and now we’re beginning to see

even sultry matte black from brands like Dornbracht.

it used as interior doors and ceiling-to-floor partition

The materials are a little bit historic too. More and

windows in homes both contemporary and classic.

more, people are harking back to the era of the marble

Get the look: we’re big supporters of the Crittall

bathroom. Heralded for centuries (as far back as the

movement. So much so, it’s what inspired our new

Ancient Greeks), this delicately veined natural stone is

collection of Carter tables. Take a look at the strong

being cut into geometric shapes to create a washroom

but slim steel lines beneath the solid oak table tops and

that’s a little contemporary and a lot ‘cool’.

you’ll see what we mean.

Get the look: our new Kennet marble floor and wall

It’s all about the base.

tiles come in two of the most coveted geometrical layouts

Although it’s also a lot about the top too. The timber

around – herringbone and hexagon. They look fabulous

tops appear aged but actually they've never-been-used

contrasted against one another to create the most

before oak that Neptune has taken through a seven-stage

beautiful sea of stone. Pair them with our just-launched,

finishing process so it appears timeworn.

marble-topped Edinburgh washstand. Go for the his and hers, double sink option if you have the room.

EV ERGR EEN Flowers will never fall out of favour but it’s indoor plants

Hannah’s top greenery picks

that we’re currently excited about. The deep, forest

The wife of one of our founders is our resident

green tones of a house plant’s glossy leaves instantly

floristry expert. Here she recommends her top

lift a room be it pots of slightly overflowing herbs in a

picks for indoor greenery:

kitchen or a large potted Fiddle Leaf Fig in a spacious hallway. Plus they’re superb at purifying the air.

Get the look: just as with florals, we love to mix

Eucalyptus choose faux over real as it can make the water smell

real with the make-believe. Instead of being used as

Artichoke leaves

fillers, more and more we’ve been grouping our life-

Ivy

like twigs and sprigs of Pittosporum and Laurel as

Lambs’ ears for shallow arrangements

standalone arrangements. Sometimes we’ll even just go

Bells of Ireland

for one leaning stem. Combine them with real leaves in

Thistles but before they flower

different vessels around the room for added texture.

PAGE 39 Marylebone prints £88 London Village print £132 Carter large console table £770 Carter nest of tables £670 Edinburgh washstand in Vintage Oak £770 Keats wall light with glass shade £108 Castlefield stripe throw £200 Various plant pots £10/£15

40

China

HE A DING E AST

T HE ROA D T R IP

13 days. Six flights. Five hotels. 16,245 miles, and counting.

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STORIES

It’s time to talk about China. Neptune has two production houses there. One in Qingdao, the host city for sailing at Beijing 2008. The other in Foshan, in the northern part of the Pearl River. Our making story is a global one and we have so much to say about it, and so much of which we’re proud. We decided it was time to tell it properly.

On 5th March 2016, Chris and Sarah from our communications department boarded a plane to Hong Kong. Chris took a camera.

Sarah took two notepads.

Mr Shao

45

STORIES

0 6/03/16 , 10 PM

He goes to the market every morning to buy all of his ingredients fresh to make breakfast, lunch and

We arrived in Guangzhou. It’s amazing that a local

dinner for everyone; to Miss Luo, the painter, who

train journey felt longer than an international flight.

wears a Buddhist jade necklace for protection and to

It was humid and the atmosphere was electric. Every

bring good fortune to the factory; to softly spoken

building was lit up, horns beeped every few seconds,

Andres who learnt upholstery from his father as a

and people were everywhere we turned. It felt like the

little boy; to Mr Cao the incredibly skilled ‘sample

whole city was still wide awake.

guy’ who claims he can make anything. He’s practised carpentry for 26 years and was making our SS16 oars as we interviewed him. He told us how oak is his

0 7/ 0 3 /16 , 7A M

favourite material to work with. And we made a young couple blush as they told us how they met here, Mr

Our first three days were spent in Foshan. We were

Shi and Miss Lu. Now they have a three-year old son.

picked up in a Neptune branded car each morning.

Four or so members of the team all live in downtown

less so. Just like anywhere really. We saw a few people

Guangzhou and so travel to and from work together.

with red stickers all over their hands and asked what

Some of the work is highly skilled, other roles

Foshan is run by Geoff. It’s set against a mountain.

they were. “It’s to inspect the paint finish,” Betty

Every day we spent there we watched as Geoff worked on

explained. “One team inspects it this close (she held her

expanding it, bettering facilities and trying to use space

hand a few inches from her face) and puts a red sticker

more wisely. Recently he’d had the canteen refurbished

wherever there’s a slight imperfection. Then the next

and fitted it with double glazing to keep in the cool

team corrects it, removing the red sticker when they’re

air, as well as having installed line upon line of air

happy.” There were male and female supervisors, a

conditioning units and dehumidifiers. When we arrived

plethora of ages and many husbands and wives that

there were builders constructing a new mezzanine level.

work here together. Some of them choose to live in the

“It’s going to be a table tennis room,” Geoff told us.

factory dorms and some choose to live out. We spoke

Our translator was Betty, Geoff ’s assistant. The

to Annie and Rachel who share a room together. It’s

three of us walked around to learn more about how

modestly decorated but it’s clean and spacious. They

we make, talking to people as we went. We met

told us they feel safer here and living ‘downtown’ is

Malsong who’s just redesigned our lighting packaging

not as convenient. They get three home-cooked meals

and who says “rock and roll?” to check if something

a day and have 24-hour security.

is signed off or not. We spoke to the chef, Mr Qiu.

AUTUMN 2016

10/03/16 , 8 A M

We spent a lot of time with Li Yumin who heads

up both the upholstery and frame teams. He told us We f lew to Qingdao the evening before and were

that he oversees every procedure to make sure it’s all

picked up by Pavelas (who runs the Qingdao

done precisely. It was his birthday when we were out

production house). Everything felt different. The

there and even when we wished him happy birthday

skies were blue (at least for the first two days), the

he smiled but his eyes didn’t move from the Henley

atmosphere felt calmer and the factory was seriously

dining chair that was being upholstered in front of

impressive. We also got an hour extra in bed in

us. Another manager, Liu Jichang who heads up the

the mornings.

assembly team, spoke of how he’s constantly looking

Qingdao felt polished. It was built, by us, with

to improve quality even though he’s happy with his

the experience and knowledge garnered from creating

team’s work. Other workers shared different insights

our production house in Foshan. Pavelas has an

like Ge Wangbin who works on the final machining.

eye for design so made a rugged feature wall in the

We asked him why he enjoys working here and he told

entrance made of scaffolding and timber. He built the

us immediately that “the big manager cares”. It was a

office area himself too. Everywhere is tidy, pristine

phrase we went on to hear many times. Ge explained

and ordered; it just flows. The workshop is the

that was rare in China and often the managers show

same. Everything slots into place so naturally, even

little compassion or interest. The salary here is

the electric doors are nice. There’s a basketball hoop

good and the environment is positive. He spoke of

in the courtyard and a table tennis area inside. The

how everyone receives a cake for their birthday and

dormitories are well looked after, the food is cooked

that Pavelas arranges a party at Chinese New Year.

fresh each day here just like at Foshan, and there are

They’ve even celebrated Neptune’s birthday with a

no clocks (the workers explained their stomachs tell

karaoke performance and a parody of Swan Lake put

them what time it is).

on by the senior team, including Pavelas. Tutus and

Then there’s the people. Even before anyone spoke

all. Li Jin Gong, the 60 year old cleaner was laughing

to us there’s just a great feeling. We kept grinning at

through the glass as he was working, pretending to

each other. There’s a strong connection at Qingdao

do a huge wave as he dusted, and the young office

with output and end product. The carpenters knew

workers Wang Chunxia and Mary giggled as they told

the name of the product’s leg they’re making and the

us they’re “single and ready to mingle.”

upholstery team knew the names of all the fabrics.

Then of course there’s Mr Shao. Everybody

They have their favourites too (Cranberry velvet

should get to meet him. Standing at less than 5ft

being a big one as red is the colour of luck in China).

tall with incredibly long eyebrows (another sign of

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49

STORIES

good fortune in China), and the happiest disposition

we’ve ever encountered, he’s the incredibly cute (cute

Pavelas if he had an image for what he wanted the

is the only word to describe him) caretaker who’s the

factory to be. “I want to provide the best environment

oldest worker there. He described his own smile as

possible,” was his response. One day he will return

being beautiful – which it was – and his laugh is

to Europe to be with his family and we asked if that

completely infectious. We went to see him before we

would be soon. “Not until my vision is achieved.” A

left and he ushered us into his little office and opened

direct quote. Then he was needed so had to go.

Towards the end of our stay at Qingdao we asked

a bag of photos. We expected it to be snapshots of his family. Instead it was 30 or so photos of himself.

He showed us each one, individually. A little self-

14 / 03/16 , 5. 3 0 A M

indulgent, perhaps, but it made us like him even more.

He wanted to show us all the places he’d travelled to.

The day before this was gruelling. It was another early

On our second day we visited the local workshop

start and the majority of the day was spent travelling.

where all of our leg turning takes place. Along a

First a flight, then an excruciatingly long taxi journey

dusty, bumpy track we found a crumbling provincial

in endless traffic. And we were up for our earliest flight

workshop with mounds of sawdust surrounding us and

yet the following morning. This was the day that our

a sign on the door that translates as ‘neighbours should

behaviour may have been described as ‘grouchy’.

always have good relations’. It belongs to Mr Wang

But then our moods lifted.

and his wife. They walk to work together and their 19

The next three days were to be spent on a supplier

year old son helps out at weekends. They hope he’ll

trail. Most companies who manufacture abroad all

take over one day. He spoke of his work as a hobby, not

largely use the same pool of suppliers that have been

a job, having done it for 20 years (before that he was

in operation for generations. We’ve done things

a farmer). He began work on a leg for the Sheldrake

differently. Foshan and Qingdao are Neptune-only

dining table and told us it takes him about ten minutes

production houses; built by us, managed by us, making

to do one leg. He’d like to do it all by hand but there

purely Neptune things. If we don’t have the expertise

just isn’t time; the demand for his work is too high.

in-house to make something ourselves though then we

He makes around 50 Sheldrake legs a day and roughly

find the people who do. That’s where our auditing team

100 for sofas. We left with a miniature leg he carved

come in. Headed up by Nick, who the locals refer to as

for us by hand. We told him we’d keep it on our desk.

小光头 (meaning ‘the small bald man’), they search for

It’s in front of us as we write this.

the people who have the skills we need in conditions that are akin to our own. Nick had arranged for us to

AUTUMN 2016

travel to three different suppliers with Joanna acting

are quite small. We couldn’t have misjudged it more.

as our guide and translator. It ended up being our

Here we discovered perhaps the most impressive level

favourite part of the entire trip.

of skill we’d seen on the whole trip and a feeling of

The first was in Quanzhou to see ceramics. At

togetherness like at our own factories. One of the girls

first we were disappointed to not see any of our pieces

showing us around literally ran out of the lift to greet us,

being made. But then we spied the crimped edges of

laughing. We were a little taken aback but it was lovely.

the Croxton. Then the Bowsley, the Hanbury and

It made us all laugh and feel instantly comfortable in

even the Mayfield, learning about every step involved.

their company. Inside the lift there was a family tree

The makers explained the processes to us, step by step.

of people who’ve worked at the factory for more than

The body is made, then it dries (taking six-ten hours),

ten years with a before and after picture. The office

it's then smoothed over and washed before being dried

layout felt quite western and an artistic, laidback air

once more (taking a further five hours). Next it enters

flowed freely. Designers sat with sketchpad and pencil

the ovens for 12 hours before it’s glazed and left to

(every design starts life this way), and they have an

set for five hours. It returns to the ovens for a final

archive room with products from all over the world and

12-hour bake at 1080°C and then it’s over to the QC

magazines stacked high for inspiration.

team. It takes two-three days for our plates and bowls

to be made, and four for mugs, cups and jugs.

one side of the door there was a 6ft tall Father Christmas

The best room had to be the sculpture workshop. To

We asked to try local cuisine at lunch and so they

figure and to the other a Christmas post box of the same

took us somewhere authentic. Later that afternoon we

size. All they had was a tub of clay, water, carving knives

took a high-speed train to the island of Xiamen to see

and a sketch. We were blown away. Several other rows

our Easter and Christmas decorations. We had dinner

of artists sat at their desks each working on something

with Joanna’s old colleague and her little girl and then

utterly remarkable.

crawled to bed.

A bell rang and they all jumped up from their desks.

Suddenly everyone was in pairs playing ‘keepy-uppeys’ with a shuttlecock (which we later learnt is called 15 / 0 3 / 16 , 8 . 3 0 A M

Jianzi, one of China’s national sports.) When we asked what was happening, the factory owner asked us very

The workshop was only a very short drive from the

matter-of-factly “don’t you have playtime?” They have

hotel. We were thrilled not to face a long journey and

15 minutes mid-morning and mid-afternoon.

arrived feeling on top form. Quite honestly, we didn’t expect much as our Christmas and Easter collections

50

AUTUMN 2016

16/03/16 , T I M E F O RG O T T E N Our final day was in rural Chaozhou where our pottery and various accessories are sculpted. The landscape here was different to anywhere else we’d been. It was small and quiet with farming taking place along the roadside.

This was where we met Jeremy, who spends his days on the road travelling from maker to maker. He explained how if he ever finds the perfect product but within unsatisfactory working conditions, we’ll always say no.

It’s a deal breaker.

On the top floor there was a workshop with its

own rooftop garden area. This is Mr Liao’s domain.

He’s worked here for ten years creating the samples that are used to make the moulds for mass production.

The walls are completely spattered with clay and he uses traditional machinery with a cigarette almost always between pursed lips. We watched as he made the lid to a jar he’d previously sculpted with worms of clay spitting out as he dug channels into the clay. We’re told his is the most complicated role here and that it’s very hard to find people who can do his job. It’s too difficult, too dirty.

We left after lunchtime and began our long journey home.

Chris had taken over four thousand photos. Sarah had filled both notebooks.

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STORIES

Spotlight on: bedrooms

SOFT TOUCH Thought softness was all about touch? Think again.

Softness is often seen before it’s felt. Here’s how to achieve the ultimate soft look in two very different ways.

THE NEW CL ASSIC

The brief

Textiles: go beyond the obvious.

I want a scheme with traditional touches,

A throw at the end of the bed isn’t enough. Layer

classic shapes, and a timeless palette, but

them with different weights, knit patterns, colour

I don’t want to play it too safe either.

and texture to make things super-soft. Go for a cosy fabric on a lampshade such as wool instead of linen

Anatomy of the look

and sit them aside an upholstered headboard.

Palette: soft grey combined with earthy browns, rust and biscuit tones create warmth

Details: subtly rounded contours make a big

and an elegant kind of cosiness.

difference. Look closer at the bed base and the trail of peg hooks. Now picture them with sharp

Floor: wood all the way. It roots the look in

angles instead. Would you still describe it as a

nature and familiarity. Plus the irregular

soft scheme? Thought not.

knots and swirls keep things informal.

And one other thing: an armchair in a bedroom achieves instant softness. It’s an unexpected extra that couldn’t say comfort any louder if it tried.

This is Smoke Smoke eggshell £53 Smoke matt emulsion £37

AUTUMN 2016

Olivia headbaord in Emma Dove £610 Aldwych tall side table £375 Castlefield stripe throw – Mustard £200

54

AUTUMN 2016

THE MODER N MINIM ALIST

The brief

Details: blanket layers work here too.

I love stripped-back style that’s a little bit cool without

We like to keep one free-flowing. As for the

feeling cold. It’s all about clean lines, contemporary

rest of the bedspread, feather and down duvet

shapes and softness that comes on second glance.

and pillows lend it come-hither appeal and with crisp white bed linen, you just know it’s going

Anatomy of the look

to be a high-thread count Egyptian cotton.

Palette: grey on white. A darker grey on its own creates intensity and definite ‘snugness’.

And one other thing: it’s back to the humble

Dark grey with white does something very

armchair. With all its modernist edges, this room

different. This is where you create your crispness.

gets away with a more rounded, roomy style.

Curve-appeal is in, softness is felt, but the overall

Floor: tiles mix things up. They’re sleek and

aesthetic is very much intact. And by staying

smooth but easily softened with the loopy pile

pared-back and linear overall, it just invites all

of a pure wool rug (and underfloor heating).

of the tactile elements to take centre stage.

Textiles: this time we suggest an upholstered base as well as a headboard for ultimate softness, and we choose wool once more because it’s the fabric that looks so inviting.

PAGE 55 Francis king bed base in Angus Flint £880 George king headboard in Angus Flint £480 George armchair in Angus Flint £1,020

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PRODUCT FOCUS

L is for laundry

July saw the launch of our debut laundry collection.

Agreed?

The idea behind it? Well since you asked, the

Perhaps our favourite thing about the collection is

purpose was to make one of the most onerous household

that you can make it work in any room. If you have

chores a joy, or as near to a joy as possible. A big aim,

a laundry room already, fill it to the brim. If you have a

yes. But an achievable one we thought. As an analogy,

boot room, take a few key pieces. Same goes if you have

think about how tea tastes better from a pretty teacup,

a utility room. Or select one or two and work them into

or how a good red wine gets better when it’s sipped

a kitchen, bathroom or landing area. It gets ten out of

from an elegant glass. Surely ‘doing the washing’ can

ten for versatility.

become more of a pleasure when it’s done in a setting that a) looks beautiful b) does everything you need (and more), and c) means you finally have a place to store everything, cleverly.

This is Powder Blue Powder Blue eggshell £53 Powder Blue matt emulsion £37

AUTUMN 2016

Chichester quad laundry base cabinet £1,122

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Editor’s pick OU R A BSOLU T E LOV E S FROM THE COLLECTION

The one for small spaces

The clever clogs

This wall-hung piece has a pull-out oak airing

It’s not all about laundry. This broom cupboard is

rack. So when you’re not using it, you can style it

a bit of a hero. It’s been designed to fit every cleaning

however you like (tip: in a city apartment, use it

cupboard essential from mop and bucket to ironing

in the kitchen and fill it with cookbooks).

board and vacuum. All at once. And it has a lovely little tan leather strop and hook to secure unruly mop handles

The two-in-one

or vacuum nozzles in place.

Even if you have ample floor space, it’s always

frustrating having two large slots taken by the

Meet the rest of the family online in our Laundry Room.

washing machine and tumble dryer. So this cabinet

decided to stack them, safely, securely, and most

Edition #3’ to discover the laundry cupboard essentials

importantly, subtly.

that we love the most. They’ll make the insides of your

Psst… take a look at our online article ‘The Guide:

cabinets as lovely as the outside.

AUTUMN 2016

Chichester full height airing cabinet £1,620 Ashcroft square basket £42

60

AUTUMN 2016

Going places THE STORY OF A STOR E

“It took us more than three years to find the right place.”

Tim Buxton, head of property.

He’s talking about Farnham. Our 14th UK store opened in June this year. Tim tells us the tale, from bricks to building.

This is Pink Peppercorn Pink Peppercorn eggshell £53 Pink Peppercorn matt emulsion £37

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STORIES

It starts with geography. Buying a property is not

Tim applied for permission to convert the former

something Neptune enters into lightly. Data is

The Wellington public house. “We bought the freehold

captured, research is conducted, and insights shared to

which is very unusual for a commercial property. Most

be as sure as one can be that it’s the right location. It’s

companies buy leasehold but we’re not looking to leave.

very much like moving home. You wouldn’t up sticks

When we buy a property it’s a long-term commitment,

and relocate to somewhere on a whim. It takes time

not just to the building but to the area too,” he explained.

and careful thought to know that this is a place that’s

Location decided. Property found. Tim brings

going to feel like home and that you’re going to fit in

in the rest of his NSD team. It stands for New Store

just fine. Neptune knows its existing customers well.

Development. It’s a large team made up of project

But a new store is about meeting new people too. Heat

managers, certified builders and contractors who

maps are drawn up and then radiuses circled. The team

carry out all of the works including fit out, electrics

considers drive times, trying to not exceed 40 minutes

and plumbing as well as installing all the kitchens and

from where they think their main audience is. It’s

furniture. They started to work on plans and decided

a mixture of listening to data and trusting your gut.

to apply for a 1200sq foot extension. To the side of the

And so they found Farnham.

building were two crumbling garages that the team

Tim digests all of the findings and then it’s up to

transformed into a self-contained cottage to showcase

him to find the perfect place. No easy feat. He has

more of the Neptune collection. Farnham was project

over 20 years’ experience in the property industry, the

managed by Julian and it required 14 builders in total.

bulk of it in development. He even bought Neptune's

The build alone lasted eight months. And they made

head office site and built it, spending 18 months in a

sure that they were good neighbours:

Portakabin. But experience isn’t always enough. Yes it’s

crucial, but experience can’t produce a property and

have made creating the new store on Folly Hill. We live

it can’t mimic ‘the feeling’. Sometimes it’s a waiting

opposite and the refurbishment has made the building

game, but it always pays off. “It took over three years

look wonderful. The teams of builders etc. working on

to find the Farnham property. I try to be open-minded

it have been so respectful to residents. Even regularly

about the type of building. It might be that we go for

sweeping the pavements after big lorries have made

a historical building like our oast house conversion in

deliveries. A great job done.” An email from Linda

“I would just like to say what a great job your team

Canterbury. Or it could be a former pub – they tend

Gregory, a local resident.

to work really well for us. We’re looking for space and

character more than anything. We’ve converted a few

knit group of interior designers work very closely with

pubs now such as Winchester, York and Chester, and I

NSD. Design create the layouts. NSD build them.

love them. And that’s what Farnham turned out to be.

Fred Horlock is the store design manager. “Each build

It’s a very old-fashioned, very lovely building,” he said.

is allocated its own designer who looks after the entire

Then it’s over to the retail design team. This close-

AUTUMN 2016

project from initial site visit to store opening and I

She went to school in nearby Alton and spent a lot of

oversee the design process. As we’re working with

time in Farnham as a child. An accidental connection

architecturally interesting buildings we always start

but a happy one.

with historical research to find out as much as we can

about the building’s past, and then we try to restore it.

by the visual merchandisers. Furniture and accessories

Farnham had been extended many times over the years

on their own look beautiful, but it’s the work of a stylist

but not in ways that complemented the building. So we

that takes it one step further and turns it into a space

looked at its origins and demolished parts entirely to

that feels lived in, longed for, and loved.

make it look as it should. We want to build on heritage,

Neptune Farnham cost in excess of £1million to

not remove it. The colours we use are always sympathetic

complete. It opened its doors on 16th June 2016 and can be

to the building and the area too, and we try to use locally

found at 16 Folly Hill, Farnham, Surrey, GU9 0BB.

The final touches that bring the store to life are done

made, locally finished materials as much as we can, like local shingle for all the pathways. From there we do site visits and work with structural engineers to develop a layout. That usually involves knocking down walls and often reconfiguring things entirely. We’ll then layer up the design by going through the interior design process, choosing materials, which designs should go in each room, and all the accessories that will turn it from a typical showroom to somewhere that feels like a home.”

Lizzie was the lead designer who looked after Farnham.

NEPTUNE.COM

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A day in the life of A K ITCHEN DESIGNER

Meet Karon Read. She’s been designing kitchens for more than 15 years and has also worked as Neptune’s kitchen design trainer, travelling the country to do masterclasses with the designers in each of our stores. To say she’s in demand would be an understatement.

We caught up with Karon following a busy weekend with clients in our Weybridge store (where she’s recently relocated to be closer to home) to talk through an average day.

This is what she said.

8.30A M

THEN

My day now starts with a very bearable 10-15 minute

I might do a site visit, or two, or three. Generally the

drive. I tend to get into my design studio at about

homes I’m visiting are about an hour’s drive from the

8.30-8.45am.

store. Often they’re less. This is so I can perform a first

Like with most jobs, emails await me. Sometimes

survey of the space before I do a full design plan. I’ll look

I’ll find it’s a few simple questions from a client about

over dimensions, beams, window sill heights, plumbing

changes to a plan or to ask if I have advice on say, wine

and electrical positioning, and to check there are no

coolers. Other times it’s from a new client deciding they

obvious obstructions. If the customer’s (or architect’s if

want to proceed with their design project. It really does

it’s an extension) room plan is spot-on, I may not need

depend. I often feel like I know exactly how I want to

to alter my initial plan. If there’s some detail missing

structure my day until I open my inbox. But that’s the

or different, I’ll then need to rework the drawings to

nature of any job.

reflect the reality of the room.

OR Instead of site visits, or as well as, I may spend a few hours drawing new designs. I tend to flit between sketch and screen and I can’t really explain why; different projects require a different creative approach I guess. If PAGE 66 Suffolk kitchen from £12,000 Keats large pendant in snow £89

it’s a larger room then I may favour my pencil so I can really play around with options.

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WEEKENDS My Saturdays and Sundays tend to be back-to-back

appointments. Whether it’s the very-first meeting where

with families and babies in prams or arms. We all sit

I introduce clients to the collections and start exploring

down over tea and biscuits. The weekends are when the

early ideas, or the second-stage design consultation

store feels most like a home.

The atmosphere on a Sunday is lovely. It’s bustling

where we really start to drill down and map things out fully. Or, it can be the design presentation where we go over the finalised plan and make firm decisions before

6PM

the project is given the green light. Generally all three of these appointments are planned throughout the two

Home. Although we have a late opening until 7.30pm

days as that’s when people are free to think about things

on a Thursday and we close at 4pm during the weekend.

properly without work getting in the way. My role as

So home time changes. I don't mind that though.

a designer is first and foremost to listen. It’s not about designing for design’s sake, but to create a home for the family in front of me to live their lives in.

Suffolk kitchen hand-painted in Charcoal from £12,000 Montague bar stools in Slate £165

AUTUMN 2016

How did you get into designing?

If you could give one

I’d always been interested in buildings, architecture

kitchen design tip what would it be?

and design. I studied economics because I wanted

Make sure you have something you really love in

to work in media initially. I could show that I have

your kitchen. That could be one single thing like

good design knowledge, communication and project

a beautiful dresser, or a key element like a grand

management skills and I used that to find a way in.

island. The kitchen is part of your daily life and you should enjoy it every time you step in there.

Your big break?

Describe your own

I’ve been lucky enough to have a few.

kitchen at home in one sentence.

I trained in design with Smallbone and worked on whole house projects. I also worked for the BBC and Associated Newspapers.

In my current 1960s house, it’s small but perfectly formed because everything has a place and lovely outlook onto the garden. I have the Neptune Suffolk collection with a small island mixed with my own freestanding larder cupboard.

Career high?

Working as kitchen trainer and mentor for Neptune. I also wrote a dissertation on the

And what would

kitchen industry when I studied part-time for an MBA which helped to further my career.

your dream kitchen look like?

I used to think my last kitchen was my dream kitchen from when I lived in the West Sussex

And low?

countryside. It was large with a cast iron oven as

Not really a low, but working out how I could

well as a range cooker, dresser and lovely old table.

combine working in design and the media.

Most importantly for me was a lot of wall space for shelves, pictures and kitchen objects that I’d collected. The purchaser bought most of my

Favourite Neptune kitchen collection?

kitchen objects and wall art when I moved.

Suffolk. The Shaker style is an enduring classic

But now I love my little kitchen just as much.

and I’ve visited Shaker settlements in the USA. Best part about the job?

Most memorable

The people. My absolute favourite part is that

kitchen design/customer to date?

initial meeting where you think “I can make this

One of my first projects a long time ago was for

kitchen work”. It goes from being a daunting

Sharon Osbourne. I recall she owned a beautiful

project for them to such an exciting one.

collection of Art Nouveau silver which she wanted to display around the house.

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STORIES

Behind the design S I M P L E . H O N E S T. S H A K E R .

Shaker-style. A ‘look’ that’s so often referred to but what do we actually mean when we say Shaker?

You’d be surprised how many people answer that question, somewhat confidently, with “well it’s a cream kitchen with wooden worktops.” Firstly, they may well be right, a Shaker-style kitchen could end up with pale paintwork and an oak work surface, but that’s not the driving force behind this design aesthetic. Forget colour and materials, Shaker furniture found its feet in religion.

PAGE 70 Wardley dining chairs in natural oak £285 or hand-painted birch £255 Wardley Shaker-style pantry box from £56

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STORIES

Inspired by Shaker Our Suffolk kitchen was the very first collection that drew huge inspiration from The Shakers. But last season we took things one step further and designed a new collection that really was Shaker through and through – Wardley.

S H A K E R . I N B R I E F.

Officially called the, United Society of Believers in

2 1 S T- C E N T U R Y S H A K E R

There’s one key thing that’s changed with Shaker

Christ’s Second Coming, the Shakers are a breakaway

style in today’s world – popularity. At the time, Shaker

sect of the Quakers who formed their own religious

furniture wasn’t adored by the masses in the way that

group in colonial America back in 1744. Shakers were

it is today. It’s long been celebrated in our kitchens,

more than great believers of simplicity, they considered

helping to reduce clutter in probably the busiest room of

it a form of prayer, and so they began designing their

the home, but it’s only in recent years that its resurgence

own style of furniture with a laser-sharp focus on pared-

is being felt from room to room. In today’s busy

back forms, zero ornamentation and a rooting in utter

world where we have so much choice, so many design

practicality. When a new furniture form came into

influences, and so much pressure, the desire for back-

being, it will have started with the question: do we need

to-basics design has become all the more attractive.

this? In that sense, it’s rather like the declutter campaign

being championed by Marie Kondo today. Everything

its simple tailoring and strong lines. And in the land of

had to have a function and decoration was deemed

interiors we feel a deep respect for furniture that’s made

entirely unnecessary. And because their commitment to

thoughtfully, with functional form and proportions,

simplicity and quality was understood to be a testament

and from exquisite materials. We (individuals and

to God, every single thing the Shakers made was of the

companies) feel inspired by the religious sect’s guiding

highest possible pedigree.

principles of simplicity, utility and honesty. If anything,

Fashion has felt the Shaker influence too, falling for

the Shaker movement is more relevant to today than it was to 18th century America. And that’s something we’re 100% okay with.

PAGE 72 Wardley dining chair in natural oak £285 Wardley Shaker-style box from £56 Corinium medium jug £11 The Wardley collection also includes the four-poster and dining table. View them online or in the Directory.

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STORIES

Volume 2 Stories for Christmas STORIES

STOR IES FOR CHR ISTM AS

VOLUME 2 CHRISTMAS 2016

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STORIES

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STORIES

A happy ending We always like to offer a little gift to mark the opening of a new season. So this autumn, receive a hand-made Bowsley cake stand when you spend over £100.

Just bring us back a piece of cake.

STOR IES FOR AU T U M N

VOLUME 1 AUTUMN 2016

In store or online, simply use the code A U T U M N 2 0 1 6 before 12th October 2016.

Valid up to and including 12th October 2016

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