It’s said an Englishman’s home is his castle. This proved true in the case of a member who wanted us to source historical items for his 13th-century property, a wedding and conference venue. It’s specialist jobs such as this that we can help our busy members with as research takes time. Acquiring medieval shields would be tricky as they’d probably be in a museum – however, we managed to find a solution that didn’t break the bank and was more practical to display. We found a company that casts armour from original pieces – previously for films such as Troy, King Arthur, Alexander and A Knight’s Tale. It looks identical to the real thing but is made from polyurethane, meaning it’s much cheaper and lighter, so easier and safer to hang – and far less costly to insure. The member was overjoyed.
Using our services to get someone else to brainstorm and come up with a fresh perspective is often the best way to start a project. Interiors specialist Zoë Springbett is our resident expert at tracking down the ‘impossible’ for members’ homes. Regardless of budget, type of property or project or how hard something seems to be to source, Zoë has a knack of finding what members are after and understanding their taste and style. People often know what they want – until someone suggests something else. She often comes up with options someone hasn’t thought of.
A good example of this was when a member wanted her nursing chair spruced up for her impending third baby. ‘Repainting and reupholstering it would have cost as much as buying a new one,’ Zoë says. ‘I suggested that the member spend her budget on a bespoke patchwork memory chair, made using her choice of colours and fabrics, such as pieces of clothing, nursery curtains or christening robes – the company could even hand stitch on her children’s names. This heirloom could grow with the family and serve many purposes, from playroom furniture to games console chair and so on.’
Zoë used to work on the design team for the Channel Five programme Cowboy Builders. She sourced the materials for each makeover, whether paint, wallpaper, furniture, kitchens, rugs, flooring, lighting or artwork – building up a ‘little black book’ full of creative contacts that she is constantly adding to.
‘One such company is Surface View, a highly original business that can give any room the wow factor, by putting any image on any surface,’ says Zoë. ‘If you want a Monet on your bathroom tiles, a cherry trifle on your kitchen floor, a Victorian map of London on your living room blind or a mural of poppies on your dining room wall, Surface View can help.'
‘The quote: ‘You are what you eat: you are also nourished by your environment’ illustrates how I feel about the importance of making where we live a happy, comfortable place,’ Zoe explains. ‘When I ran a ‘Domestic Goddess’ business, I loved seeing how different homes were and how they reflected the occupants’ personalities.’ Our members are similarly diverse.
No matter what your budget, lifestyle or dwelling type, it’s possible to have a harmonious space that’s a true reflection of who you are. ‘Stamping your personality on the place you live doesn’t have to involve huge sums of money,’ advises Zoë. ‘Regular trips to car boot sales and house clearance warehouses, with a good eye, have been a major source for my own magpie tendencies.’
We can also source bespoke furniture. Recently a member was seeking a metal and glass breakfast table ‘unlike any other’. Zoë managed to find a company to create an unusual table. The member loved it and said lifestyle concierge ‘made the whole process easy and painless’.
The amount of choice can be intimidating, so members frequently turn to Zoë’s confidence in home sourcing. She regularly attends design shows and events, so her finger’s always on the pulse of what’s available. ‘Knowing what’s hot – and what’s not – keeps me inspired and ready to help, no matter what your home request may be – perhaps doorknobs made of cricket balls, a lamp crafted from a riding boot, or the most beautiful Venetian glass chandelier. I like a challenge, and look forward to all these projects coming my way.’
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