Interior design project showcase: “Oh we do like to be beside the seaside…”

Posted on: June 18th, 2013 by rginteriors No Comments

With summer almost upon us and the recent burst of glorious weather, we thought it would be the perfect time to showcase the whimsical coastal themes and nautical loveliness of a recent project we did in partnership with the fantastic Coastal Retreats in Northumberland.

North Star House is a tranquil haven that, at the request of its owners, takes inspiration from “surrounding unspoilt landscapes” and the “endless sea of stars in the vast Northumberland skies” offering guests a truly idyllic escape. We had a pretty impressive blank canvas for this project – a huge rambling old stone property that oozed charm and was bursting with potential, presenting the opportunity for us to create something very special.

It was love at first sight for our design team and once we got started we never wanted to leave. There are so many unique, design-led features that we adore but here’s a few of our absolute favourites:

The huge bespoke gourmet kitchen/dining room is the hub of the house. Hand painted in Little Greene Paint Company Clay and French Grey with granite work surfaces and perfectly framed views of Bamburgh Castle, it’s the perfect place for a coffee, leisurely lunch or to plan the day’s adventures.

The quirky ‘galley-style’ bunk bed was custom made and is perfect for sleepovers in style and dreaming of a life at sea. We designed the interior with families in mind and the bespoke cinema room and sofas with ‘extra added squish’ make it the perfect destination to relax and unwind after a busy day taking in the sights.

With the beach on the doorstep the house mirrors its coastal setting in classic style, from the soothing colour scheme and Seagrass carpets to the maritime accessories and décor.

Unfortunately for us, we did have to leave in the end but, like the holiday-makers who stay there, it left us dreaming of the seaside long after we got home!

Take a virtual tour of the full transformation of North Star house and if this leaves you daydreaming about escaping to your own coastal retreat visit www.coastalretreats.co.uk to view the full range of holiday properties. We are also currently working on the interior of the gorgeous red-brick property The Chimney, which we can’t wait to unveil the end of July 2013.

Planning your own interiors project and not sure where to start? Contact any of our interior designers for tips and advice or even better call into our showroom.

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Interior inspiration from Italy – inject some romantic Roman revelry into your home

Posted on: June 10th, 2013 by rginteriors No Comments

At Richard Grafton Interiors, we are always looking for new inspiration for our interior design projects. We aim to craft rooms that not only look good but create an atmosphere and lifestyle fit for the owner/users. As well as buying trips, we make a point of visiting places where we can immerse ourselves in the architecture, design and culture to help us conjure up new themes and ideas.

On our recent visit to Rome, we took in all the sights with the help of an informative and well educated local guide who talked us through every intimate detail of the history of the breath-taking Pantheon, the angelic Sistine Chapel, the awe-inspiring Colosseum, the renowned St Peter’s Basilica and the magnificent Roman Forum. All of them evoked opulence, romance and revelry. This Vatican ceiling is a perfect example:

Vatican ceiling Richard Grafton Interiors Rome trip May 2013

As well as studying the Renaissance architecture for ideas, we took in the local culture, food and fashion at some of the city’s best shops and eateries. We also treated ourselves to a stay at the central Rocco Forte Hotel de Russie – Rome’s most unique luxury hotel, right in the heart of the city. The extensive, terraced “Secret Garden” makes a stunning feature and perfect place to ‘get away from it all’. The use of soft lighting and tranquil view overlooking the Via del Babuino provides the ideal alfresco dining experience.

Rocco Forte Hotel de Russie in Rome

Want to inject some romantic Roman revelry in your home or garden this summer? Whether it is choosing the perfect Roman blind, introducing new colours and textures, or re-designing a whole room, house or hotel, we can help.

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Snake Davis in Yorkshire!!

Posted on: May 1st, 2013 by rginteriors No Comments

“Snake Davis has one of the most passionate Sax styles and simple bluesy approaches a-la Sanborn heard in these Isles for a while.” TIME OUT

Thank you to everyone who attended the Snake Davis gig at Kirkby Overblow on Friday evening sponsored by Richard Grafton Interiors.

Snake Davis is a session musician (saxophonist) who has played with some of the worlds biggest artists   (more…)

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Harrogate interiors venture exceeds £1m turnover in first year

Posted on: April 8th, 2013 by rginteriors No Comments

The RGI Team - Left to Right: Victoria Varney, Janet Sandles, Rob Reidford, Michelle Frost, Milly Grafton, Karen Draper, Andrew Freestone, Suzanne Watson, Richard Grafton and Kim Robb.

Harrogate-based interior design and furnishings business Richard Grafton Interiors has announced turnover in excess of £1m for its first year of trading from April 2012 to March 2013, 35% ahead of budget.

The retail and commercial interior design business, which recently made a £50,000 investment in completely redesigned and refurbished room sets at its three-storey showrooms, has grown from five to nine staff over the last year.   Last September, it acquired Harrogate interior design business, Janet Sandles Interiors, and in December, the company joined forces with a renowned interior installations contractor Andrew Freestone to launch a new joint venture firm called Grafton Freestone.  The joint venture handles all bedroom, bathroom and wet room design and project installations for Richard Grafton Interiors.

(more…)

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Introducing our new artist inspiration – James Wheeler

Posted on: March 27th, 2013 by rginteriors No Comments

Autumn Pasture, James Wheeler £170

Visit the Richard Grafton Interiors showroom to view the gorgeous prints on display from our new artistic inspiration James Wheeler.

James, born in Glasgow, studied at the Glasgow School of Art and trained as a carpet designer before moving to England to carve out a highly successful career as a carpet designer.

With colour and composition being so important in his professional designs, James allows this to flow naturally through the subtlety of hue and texture in his landscapes. Painting primarily in oils on cork, his work straddles the contemporary and the timeless. (more…)

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Once again RGI are proud to support The Crystal Ball

Posted on: March 27th, 2013 by rginteriors No Comments

Hope you all have a wonderful evening at the Ball!

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£50,000 investment for Harrogate interiors venture

Posted on: March 20th, 2013 by rginteriors No Comments

Harrogate-based interior design and furnishings business Richard Grafton Interiors has made a £50,000 investment in completely redesigned and refurbished room sets at its three-storey showrooms just a year after launching.

The retail and commercial interior design business which opened its doors in March 2012, has completely remodelled its 3,000 sq ft retail and showroom premises on The Ginnel in Harrogate’s Montpellier Quarter. Featuring entire rooms to showcasing its design and installation capability and products, the showrooms have been updated with brand new living rooms, a dining room, bathrooms and a show apartment to reflect the latest trends in interior design.

Launched with a £1m investment from owner Richard Grafton, the business has already grown from five to nine staff over the last year. It provides a complete high quality interior design service and also offers design-led interiors products, from fabrics, flooring and wall coverings to bespoke kitchens and bathrooms, furniture and objects d’art. (more…)

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Business Quarter Magazine Winter 2012 – Turnkey Talent

Posted on: December 14th, 2012 by rginteriors No Comments

Richard Grafton believes his new interiors business is a step change from the companies he has been running for the past two decades. He tells Peter Baber why

There may be many a successful Yorkshire entrepreneur who, having reached the point where they can take a step back from their business, feels they can finally enjoy the finer things in life.

That enjoyment might include at least getting involved in doing up their pad – more than likely with the help of their partner.

And they or their partner might even employ the services of an interior designer, someone well spoken who will show up at their house weighed down with swatches and wallpaper sample books and spend many an hour discussing the finer points of William Morris versus Coloroll (well, perhaps).

Richard Grafton, managing director of Richard Grafton Interiors, which opened in Harrogate earlier this year, knows such a person all too well. “The trouble is that soloists like that usually only have a library,” he says.

“Working like that is actually quite a dull experience. You can have the best library, but if you don’t have knowledge and skill of how to use the books, the recipe is not complete.”

The shop he has opened, he insists, is quite different. Customers who come into it will, of course, get the full interior design service, but they will also be able to have some idea of how the finished project will actually look, because the upper floors have been turned into sample rooms. (more…)

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Harrogate based interior designer joins the team!

Posted on: September 3rd, 2012 by rginteriors No Comments


Richard Grafton Interiors, has acquired Janet Sandles Interiors, another Harrogate based interiors firm, and the owner Janet has now joined the team at Richard Grafton Interiors as an interior designer.

“The acquisition of Janet’s business, and her recruitment to our team of designers further boosts our design capability, and allows us to build on the flying start we have enjoyed since we launched in March,” said Richard Grafton.

“Janet has a great deal of experience, having run a successful design business for the past 12 years and as well as having worked as a designer for the BBC for 10 years earlier in her career.  We are looking forward to welcoming her input into our design contracts as we continue to grow our client base across Yorkshire,” he added.

Janet, who holds a Bachelor of Arts in fashion and textile design, will be based at Richard Grafton Interiors’ 3,000sq ft showroom and design studios at The Ginnel, Harrogate. (more…)

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Yorkshire Life July 2012

Posted on: July 3rd, 2012 by rginteriors No Comments

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