With over 45 years experience in the upholstery, furniture making and antiques businesses, entrepreneur Simon Richardson knows a thing or two about fabrics, textures and interior design. His glittering lifelong career has taken him all over the globe with an impressive client list including many celebrities and even royalty; one commission included reupholstering an entire ballroom for the late Prince Phillip.
His impressive double fronted shop and showroom in Goldhawk Road in Shepherd’s Bush, West London (pictured) is an Aladdin’s cave, full of ever changing stock, supplying bespoke hand made items to order as well as a complete restoration service and a varied selection of furniture and antiques, many of which emanate from Europe and in particular France.
Entrepreneurs don’t stand still for long and not content with his highly acclaimed business in London, Simon started looking for an additional premises and an opportunity to expand. Like many of us, he fell in love with Rye, saw a gap in the local market and when the opportunity arose he had no hesitation in opening a shop in town, at No 11, Cinque Ports Street, to be exact.
I met him there briefly recently, you can’t really miss him in his hallmark designer shirts, he also wears his heart on his sleeve, a man who doesn’t suffer fools and who doesn’t mince his words but someone who clearly knows his business inside and out. Meeting him was a real education, he’s a very busy ‘hands on’ sort of a guy and more often than not in his London shop, but I would encourage anyone to chat to him, if you get the chance.
He’s just as at home running his empire as he is getting his hands dirty (despite being THE Chairman) and at our meeting he had just finished painting the new shop, freshening it up as his ‘oppo’ unloaded a very interesting selection of upholstered and antique pieces from the van, ready to sell on.
Looking through his selection of photographs on Instagram, you get a good idea of what’s available, and be it newly constructed, re-covered, restored or totally rebuilt, Simon and his team of experts are prepared to tackle anything. Bespoke chairs, sofas, headboards, stools and seating are available in a rainbow of colours and an impressive variety of fabrics for all tastes.
Expanding a London based business by opening in Rye is a growing trend, satisfying the needs of the resident and visiting home owners is good business and looking at the prices on the Chairman Interiors website I have no doubt the stock will be changing regularly. Why not drop in and see what I’m talking about, you won’t be disappointed, or for further information contact them direct on 0208 7499008 or info@chairmanandson.co.uk.
Image Credits: Orlando (Chairman Interiors) , Instagram .