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NEVER SAY NO!

Since it was formed in 1985 by three upholsterers from London’s once legendary Charles Hammonds, the Interior Workshops of London has established itself as a go-to place for bespoke commissions among some of London’s leading interior designers.

With a staff of 20 working on the two distinct soft furnishings and upholstery sides of the business, Interior Workshops deals with everything from strictly regulated historic pieces to the more hip ideas of contemporary homes designers, translating their ideas on paper into reality.

As co-owner Vincent Gruber (who oversees the upholstery side of the business while partner Alex Munday runs the soft furnishings arm) observes: “We’ve learnt to never say no! We’ve always prided ourselves on being able to interpret a drawing and turn it into a reality – no matter how challenging that might prove. A lot of our success is down to our ability to realise an idea.”

And here’s a few examples of how they do it: A pair of classic Lutyens designed Edwin Napoleon armchairs. Traditionally upholstered in horsehair fabric with hand sprung seats.

Contemporary curved sofa made to fit an acute angled wall. Manufactured in two separate pieces, assembled and finished on site to avoid showing any join. Hand sprung seat with a hidden recessed plinth to create a ‘floating’ illusion. Down and feather scatter cushions, contrast piped.

Pair of twin beds scalloped half testers finished contrast bound with matching side curtains and back cloth contrast bound to the leading edges and contrast lined. Leather deep buttoned circular conversation piece in an apartment in Hampstead. Hand sprung seat.

Fully dressed day bed with fabric walling, headboard, bed base valance, head and foot curtains, hard pelmet and quartered roof tester all finished with contrast binding. Bespoke L-shape sofa and matching foot stool, float buttoned, and contrast piped with down and feather filled scatter cushions. Fabric walling, with matching Turkish style sofa with woven cord finish and a Roman blind finished contrast bound. All made to pattern match. Flat top ottoman at the front finished with antique brass nails. Down and feather woolsack style scatter cushions. Patterned blind finished fabric walling with

curtains to match in a London town house. Pleated silk tented ceiling with centre choux hand made from the same fabric.

Velvet fabric walling with a blind finish. Velvet curtains with a wide braid inset from the edge and a cut fringe inserted to the hems. With a traditionally upholstered sprung seat and back smoker’s armchair, finished with inset cut fringe to the base of the skirt.