9 minute read
SOPHIE ALLPORT A lovely new
Sophie Allport’s new COLLECTION
It takes an artist to design something beautiful for your kitchen, but it takes a mum to design something that lasts, standing up to the rigours of family life. Local designer Sophie Allport’s new collection, Home Grown, is inspired by her love of gardening and growing her own collection at home, and we think they look really great!
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Words: Rob Davis.
‘Have nothing in your home that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful,’ said William Morris, he of the Arts & Crafts movement and the busy-looking textiles. Quite right, too.
Sophie Allport, based near Stamford, is of course an artist, and perhaps the best-known of all homeware designers. Her work is unmistakable in its style; cheerful and brilliant.
But Sophie is also a mum. And that means she recognises the importance of her products not just looking beautiful, but proving themselves to be useful and resilient.
It’s all well and good producing a range of kitchen linens or crockery which look great, but if they fail to stand up to the rigours of family life, they’ll only fulfil half of the designer’s remit.
And that’s why Sophie’s work, her range of products, remain so popular. Not only are they a stylish addition to any kitchen, they’re also top quality, designed not to be left on the shelf and used ‘for best,’ but to be used day in, day out; to endure endless dishwasher cycles or tussles with the washing machine and tumble drier; to suffer the bumps and bangs of clumsy kids and haphazard husbands.
It’s little wonder then that Sophie had to relocate the business into their current 35,000sq ft space in Bourne in October 2017. The company now has 68 members of staff, 50 different designs, and 3,000 different lines to accommodate and 2,000 stockists internationally to keep happy. It’s a business that has grown terrifically well since Sophie and her brother Jem founded the company ten years before in 2007. “We were raised in Potterhanworth – a little village in Lincolnshire – and I attended Lincoln Minster School before moving to pursue a Graphic Art & Design degree at Leeds Metropolitan University.” I left in 1994 and moved to London where I met my husband Chris,” say Sophie. “I loved to paint and would take on the odd commission to fund my way through university.”
“I even sat on pavements in central London sketching and selling the odd piece to tourists. That was in-between trying to get my work in front of illustrative agents and publishing companies. I had a friend who worked at the Country Living Show and in 1996, she asked me to be a demonstrator. I produced a few cards to sell at the show and it all began from there.”
“Eventually they were selling before I’d even produced them, and I was picking up work in advertising. One of my most memorable early commissions was for Harrods and they used my illustrations in their window displays. Working from the spare room of my London home I began producing a few mug and card designs of my own.”
“In 2004 our father suffered a stroke. We’re a close family and it felt like our world came tumbling down. My brother Jem and I were devastated. It acted as a catalyst to set up our family business and so Sophie Allport Limited was born. And then the world... just... exploded!”
“I’m still the creative element behind the business and Jem is happy to be behind the scenes but honestly, he’s terrific.” >>
>> “I can’t sing Jem’s praises enough. His role in the finances, logistics, sales and distribution of our ranges enables me to just concentrate on what I love... creating beautiful products.”
Despite the company’s growth, Sophie still designs her ranges as she always has, never designing for a particular market or with commercial interests in mind, but sitting in front of the wood burner in her kitchen with the dogs at her feet and a mug of coffee.
The company is still able to ensure that the dogs and children or the Aga that you see in Sophie’s marketing images are those of family or friends, and that when Sophie extended her product range to include pet collars, leads and pet toys, their own dogs took a starring role.
Sophie’s beloved Mable is a renowned destroyer of dog toys and so she was also keenly involved in testing each of the new products to destruction, ensuring their ability to squeak wouldn’t peak after a bit of roughhousing... or perhaps that should be ruff-housing? Other more recent additions include hand lotions and soaps for your cloakroom – sold exclusively through Sophie Allport’s Stamford & Bourne shops and via Waitrose – plus bedding, cushions and throws. Also new for this summer is a range of t-shirts and pyjamas and adorable bibs and swaddle blankets for babies.
Sophie has launched five new collections for spring and summer 2021, the Multicoloured Hearts collection, which launched in time for Valentine’s Day and Mothering Sunday this year; Bees Teal, which is a extension to her ever popular Bees design; Giraffe which includes a donation from sales to the Zoological Society of London (ZSL). Bears & Balloons features adorable animals and a range of baby grows and lunch bags for children, and Dalmatian features spotty dogs and navy teal background. The final collection launching this summer, Home Grown, the one we’ve featured both here and on this month’s front covers. “The collection features our favourite seasonal vegetables, including parsnips, carrots, turnips and beetroot on a pale linen or dark green coloured background,” says Sophie. The range includes plenty of excellent gift ideas for gardening enthusiasts and those who love their wholesome veg.” Naturally, Sophie's linens are still made from 100% cotton, and the brand's mugs are made from fine bone china. But she has also introduced lots of new products from stoneware mugs, jugs and bowls to new bags and accessories. All will stand up to daily use and will continue to look great year after year. “If there’s one value, one philosophy that underpins what we do it’s family,” says Sophie. “We’re a family business, making products for families, and despite growing as a business, we still have the feel of being an extended family here too. We want to remain faithful to that ethos forever.” n
Home Grown Apron 100% cotton apron with front pocket, 72cm x 90cm, £21 Printed Tray Birchwood, 27cm x 20cm or 43cm x 33cm, £18/£30.
HOME GROWN HEROES
Stamford based Sophie Allport’s latest range is Home Grown, a super collection inspired by the designer’s love of fresh, home grown food...
Each of our featured products are available from www.sophieallport.com or by calling 01778 560 256.
Placemats & Coasters Set of four placemats/coasters 29cm x 21.5cm/10.5cm2, £30/£14. Home Grown Mug Standard 275ml or ‘Editor’s cuppa’ size, 475ml, £12/£14.50.
Everyday Tote Bag 100% cotton 46cm x 35cm x 18cm, popper fastening, solid base, £21.
Create a Better Home with TURNBULL
Lincolnshire’s largest family owned independent builders’ merchant is looking forward to a bumper year as Turnbull gets ready to create stunning new spaces in time for summer…
Words: Rob Davis.
Indoors, outdoors, for any room in your home. It’s time to visit Turnbull to invest in your home and your lifestyle. The team at Turnbull are poised and ready to open the doors on 12th April to customers eager to get their home improvement projects underway.
“We have had a lot of interest recently in all areas of our business, from kitchens and bathrooms to outside living ready for clients to welcome their friends and family back into their new and improved homes,” says Group Showroom Manager, Olivia Hopkins.
“Obviously people are reluctant at present to commit to international travel plans this summer and we have all spent a lot of time at home. So, people across Lincolnshire seem keener then ever to invest in their property instead. We have seen an increase of clients wanting to incorporate their outside entertaining area with their indoor living space.” “It’s understandable; if you’re going to be spending more time at home with family or friends, why not make it the best home it can be?”
“We can happily provide everything you need for your kitchen and bathrooms including, appliances, flooring, worktops and much more. All our products are of characterised by their quality, and they can suit any budget.” “All our showrooms have a range of beautiful displays including contemporary kitchens by Rotpunkt which are made to order in Germany as well as more traditionally styled kitchens from Symphony and Sheraton.” “Our bathroom offerings include German brands such as Duravit and Hansgrohe as well as Crosswater and Merlyn.” “We like to partner with well-known manufacturers within the industry such as Silestone and Dekton for our solid surfaces, Quooker for 100 degree boiling water taps and Neff, known for their hide and slide ovens and for which we are a five star master partner. We have working displays in each of our showrooms so you can see and feel the quality of the products for yourself.” “What’s more if you are looking to ensure your kitchen and outdoor spaces flow into each other then we have everything you need to create terraces and patio areas for al fresco dining for the long summer evenings we are all looking forward too.” “Our original showroom in Sleaford has been established for over 40 years which gives us the experience in the industry, and making all of our six showrooms among the largest and most respected in the county.” “This summer we will hopefully be spending more time at home entertaining, so helping our clients to make their homes the very best places they can be is both our profession, but also our pleasure, too.”
n Turnbull Kitchens & Bathrooms has showrooms in Sleaford, Boston, Newark and Brigg, plus a flagship 7,500sq ft showroom on Lincoln’s Deacon Road. For a no obligation discussion about your kitchen or bathroom, and for free advice too, call 01529 308839 or see www.turnbullsonline.co.uk/showrooms.
