ADVERTORIAL

Lindfield-based family-run business HomeSmiths has bucked the trend and grown through the recession.

Since starting the business in 2001 in Dorking, husband and wife team Jacqui and David Smith have seen the HomeSmiths morph from a bespoke furniture business into a well established interior design practice. Their combination of talents and sheer grit and determination have helped them through a tough economic climate; David, an award winning furniture maker and Jacqui, a creative ex-marketer with a keen eye for colour. With their first son just months old when the business got off the ground, the early years were a juggle.

A move to Lindfield in 2003 brought with it a new workshop near the Bluebell Railway, an increasing demand for interior design work and a year later the birth of their second son. In 2005 they started to take on more substantial interior design projects, including the refurbishment of a Grade II-listed property on Lindfield High Street.

The interior design side of the business was rapidly taking off so the decision was made to close the furniture workshop and focus purely on residential design projects. David’s excellent design skills transferred perfectly to the space planning and CAD role in the business. David was also able to channel his skills into kitchen and bathroom designs and his practical background is invaluable as he manages projects on site.

By 2009 they engaged a part time admin assistant, Nikki Smith, and later that year they moved house, converting their double garage into the current studio. Their expansion into the care home arena began when they were approached by the owner of a group Care Homes for adults with learning disabilities.

HomeSmiths have since provided turnkey solutions for three new homes for this client as well as refurbished some existing sites. 2010 was a fantastic year for the business. Barratt Homes started to build in the local area. Seeing an opportunity to integrate the new build into the community, Jacqui approached Barratt Homes with a view to designing the show homes in their new development.

They have since designed and installed four show homes across the South East and have six more in the design stages. The care home side of the business continued to grown with the interior design of a seven site Extra Care scheme in Kent. Similarly, on the residential side, the team were kept busy with plenty of sitting rooms, kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms, as well as whole house refurbishments.

It was time to take on a new pair of hands – enter our incredible intern! Kirsty found us on Twitter and was a real asset during her six months at HomeSmiths before finding a full time junior designer role nearer to her home in London.

A couple of months later Jacqui was approached by Katy who, after a nine-year career in visual merchandising, was looking for a change of direction. The timing could not have been more perfect. Katy was taken on for a week’s work experience and Jacqui and David immediately knew they had found their junior designer.

Two weeks into the job, Katy was assisting on the install of a duplex apartment and completing the fit out of a delayed four-bed show home with Nikki. Five months on the work is continuing to flood in and plans are afoot for premises to accommodate the ever expanding collection of fabric books, as well at some stage another full time junior designer.

Throughout the past 11 years, one thing has not changed; their ability to listen to clients and deliver on time and on budget. A large proportion of HomeSmiths’ work comes from referrals from past clients who are not only thrilled with the designs but also with Jacqui and David’s honest, down-to- earth approach. HomeSmiths are experienced interior designs who work in the residential, show home and care home markets.

Factfile

For more information call HomeSmiths on 01444 440880 or visit www.homesmiths.co.uk.