5 minute read
IN BUSINESS
by Dales Life
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or ten years now, Holme Design – husband-and-wife Mel and Haydn Armsby along with their son Chris – have been designing, supplying and fitting topquality kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms across North Yorkshire. Whether you’re looking for an ultra-modern makeover or something a little more traditional, their gorgeous showrooms in Bedale and Northallerton are full of inspiring ideas for transforming your living space. BRIGHT IDEAS Haydn has several decades of experience under his belt, having been a kitchen designer since his early 20s. Mel initially came from a background in accounting but is, she says, “very much a person of two halves.” “I’m a typical Piscean: I love my creative side, and I’m passionate about interior design, but I’m also a very methodical person.” If you want ideas about colours and soft furnishings, Mel will be happy to advise – and when she’s not indulging her penchant for décor she’s keeping a close eye on all the paperwork. Son Chris, following in Haydn’s footsteps, has become an expert at computer-aided design. “Nowadays Chris is very much the one that pushes us along,” explains Mel. “He’s constantly looking at what’s happening in London – and all over the world for that matter – and coming up with new and original ideas.
“Clients like the fact that we work together as a family, that we’re all equally involved and that any of us can help them with whatever queries they might have. They also like the fact that we can get the whole project done from start to finish. It’s a stress-free process for them, and they don’t have to worry about anything.” STAYING ON TRACK “The specialists in our fitting teams are all people we’ve known for a long time and that we have confidence in, so customers can be sure that the job won’t stall. When we say it will be a two-week installation then it really will be done in two weeks.”
As part of their concern for quality, Holme Design is keen to support British businesses – and local ones where possible – as far as they can. “A big thing for us is that we use British manufacturers,” says Mel. “Our kitchens are made predominantly in Yorkshire. Even the wood used for the carcasses of the units is grown in the UK and sourced responsibly.”
Like all Dales businesses, Holme Design had been affected by the Covid-19 crisis. “We reopened in the middle of June,” says Mel, “and fortunately we haven’t had any problems in our supply chain so far. But we have had to reschedule in one or two cases where customers are having preparatory construction work done and vital items are in short supply. Everybody has been busy on their own DIY projects during lockdown and builders are finding it difficult sourcing materials like timber and plaster. Fortunately things are getting back to normal now.” ALL CHANGE Looking to the future, how have interior design styles evolved over the years that Mel and Haydn have been in the business – and where are they heading now?
“In the ‘90s, wood kitchens were very much the in thing,” says Mel. “Following that, the fashion was for painted units in ivories, creams and limestones, paired with dark worktops. Now people are looking for something a bit bolder and want a splash of colour: muted pink, grey-purple, or even deep indigo blue, with pale work surfaces. And quartz worktops have become increasingly popular, as popular as granite, in fact.”
“The move towards a more colourful look reflects changing patterns in the way we live and work. Rather than have a separate kitchen and lounge, the trend is towards combining the two into a bigger, multifunctional space, a more open-plan living experience – one that brings the garden into play too, where possible.”
“As time becomes more precious, people want to be all together in the same area at least once a day, even if they’re not all doing the same thing there. It’s about creating a more sociable, family-oriented space.” As a sociable family themselves, the Armsbys enjoy walking their three dogs in the Dales and on the moors, and tending their garden at Holme-on-Swale near Thirsk. “Holme-onSwale is a lovely little hamlet on a single-track road,” says Mel, “just 17 houses and no street lights. It’s a wonderful place and we feel really lucky to have lived there for 13 years. In fact we love it so much that we borrowed the name for our business!” For more information about Holme Design visit holmedesign.com or call 01677 424669
A.D. CALVERT ARCHITECTURAL STONE SUPPLIES LIMITED
ROBOTIC CARVING AND DIGITAL DESIGN • SPECIALIST DESIGN SERVICE • WALLING • BESPOKE ORNAMENTAL FEATURES LASER ETCHING • MOULDED WORK • DOMESTIC AND COMMERCIAL NEW BUILDS • FIREPLACES • FLOORING • LANDSCAPING RESTORATION • BLOCK STONE • GRANITE, MARBLE & LIMESTONE PRODUCTS • VOLUMIX CONCRETE • SPECIALIST PLANT & HAULAGE
Established in 1993 and based in the heart of Wensleydale, North Yorkshire. We are a professional stone manufacturing company and have extensive expertise in all stone masonry work including new build, repair, conservation and restoration. We supply and manufacture sandstone, limestone, granite and marble.
The company comprises an extensive modern stone-processing plant with state of the art equipment and a large workforce of master craftsmen ready to undertake any project. We have the facility to complete projects from fi rst contact to delivery.
The Stoneyard • Wensley Road • Leyburn • North Yorkshire • DL8 5ED t: 01969 622296 e: stone@calverts.co.uk w: www.calverts.co.uk
