A CLIENT’S STORY
“We found Claire through Instagram. I felt that Claire’s ability to mix antiques with a contemporary look resonated with my own nascent ideas for the cottage/barn we had bought in July 2021 and needed to bring to life. Despite a beautiful deVol kitchen it was a little bland and needed a comprehensive makeover. Although I’ve always enjoyed interior design it was 20 years since I’d last taken on such a large project. I needed reassurance that my ideas were valid, creative input to deliver a whole-house coordination, and a guide through the thousands of pages of paint, fabric, and furnishings I’d begun to confront on my iPad. We were undertaking some pretty significant structural changes too and needed someone with vision (something I struggle with) to bring the architect's drawings to life.
The next hurdle was to persuade Claire, who’s based in Essex, to take on this project in the Vale of Belvoir. We kicked off with a Covid era Zoom call, wobbly video walk-through of the property, and emailed copies of the architect’s plans and details of treasured pieces of furniture we wanted to incorporate. We agreed a per room consultancy fee plus travel costs for visits.
Claire’s first task was to source a couple of casual chairs for a corner of the deVol kitchen, and a new pendant light. I was really pleased with the recommendations which now grace that room, and excited about Claire’s first visit scheduled for early November. When she arrived, I just knew this was going to work. She was smart, professional, warm, and oozed confidence without being intimidating. I liked her as a person and enjoyed her enthusiasm for the task as we spent a few hours measuring and photographing the rooms, and sharing ideas.
For the first unveiling of Claire’s work, three bedrooms, we arranged to meet in London and I was probably as excited/nervous as Claire when she came into the restaurant with three A3 carriers full of hard-back concept boards, fabric swatches, curtain trims, cupboard door knobs, and comprehensive sourcing notes. Each room was presented with detailed rationale for the coordination of the colour schemes, shape of the cushions, size and position of the lights and their shades, dimensions of the furniture to be acquired. Difficult corners and awkward wall shapes (it’s an old property) were deftly absorbed. Website references and product costs were all produced in summary form with Claire walking us through her thinking and totally selling us on her wonderful concepts. I was on the iPad madly shopping as soon as our train left Kings Cross.
After three site visits, three meetings in London, numerous Whatsapps and a few confirmatory phone calls, our project is nearing completion. We have a full set of concept boards, the decorating is nearly finished, furniture has been ordered and hopefully here for Christmas. I am totally thrilled with the result. There were so many areas where Claire persuaded us to be bold and brave, introduced new thinking, sourced products from suppliers new to me. There were no disputes, I feel as though she has taken my rather unfinished ideas and woven them into something quite extraordinary then very practically helped to deliver them.
We will miss Claire.”
Private Clients - Mr & Mrs D. Wells
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