An illustration of the best interior design trends
AUTUMN/WINTER EDITION 2021 | ISSUE 1
The Main Company is pleased to launch ‘The Main Home’, a bi-annual publication which will feature projects we have completed whether a kitchen, flooring or commercial development. Our goal is to create a periodical which shares our passion to design, construct and fit stunning installations which are distinct in their originality. Many companies have similar themes in their designs so the brand is obvious, we pride ourselves in the organic originality which sets us apart and embodies the unique brand we have become.
The Main Home will not only showcase our work but also give a snapshot of the other companies we work with who are an integral part of our service, the suppliers range from cookers to cup handles and everything in between. We are lucky to have been in business for over 40 years and that experience has seen trends come and go and come back again. It is also true to say that designs and architectural shapes from hundreds of years ago are still used today and certainly stand the test of time in a ‘if it isn’t broken don’t fix it’ sort of way. In our publications we aim to inspire, inform and involve you and look forward to your feedback.
Issue 1
Autumn slowly envelops us in cool, crisp colours of bright mornings and stunning orange and pink sunsets. It is a time to soak in the changing colours around us and prepare our indoor living spaces for longer periods inside. In this issue we feature a stunning ‘Perfectly Pink’ kitchen in South Bank (p.4), the glorious green of the Harley Green kitchen in Hammersmith (p.20), the fiery autumn Heat orange in the Hampshire tree house (p.28) and the calming Basalt blue in the Cornwall project (p.32).
Kitchens equal food and food equals recipes, we have included a foodie page from Bora, one of our appliance suppliers. We also have additional references from some of our main suppliers, Buster and Punch, Lacanche, Bora, 1810 and The Little Greene Company. This issue focuses on two flooring projects, one in Cornwall and the other in Archer Street and the commercial development for this edition presents the Archer Street Bar.
The countdown is on for a very special Great Yorkshire Show this year which will run over four days for the first time in its history.
As the UK emerges from the Covid pandemic we’re extremely happy to be exhibiting at the Great Yorkshire Show once again, one of the few major agricultural shows to take place in 2021.
So alongside some exciting Main Ring performances be sure to come and pop by our stand (217) where we will have our showroom display.
For the health and safety of staff, visitors, exhibitors and animals the Great Yorkshire Show are implementing COVID-19 safety measures including limiting attendance to 25,000 visitors each day.
Tickets to the event – from Tuesday 13 to Friday 16 July – will be sold in advance only and are now on sale.
We look forward to seeing you to the Great Yorkshire Show 2021!
Sliding barn doors are a great way of creating a partition to any room or open area, or creating a feature to a blank wall. In the same way our kitchens and furniture are bespoke to a customers measurements and needs, our sliding barn doors can be manufactured to bespoke measurements and finishes. We get a lot of people interested in our sliding barn doors. With this comes familiar questions that we are always answering.
The seed of an idea which started about 2 years ago has finally rooted in the Business Design Centre, Islington. The Centre is an iconic building built in 1862 as an agricultural hall and later renamed The Royal Agricultural Hall. Today it is the location of many showrooms and offices and is also a vibrant Exhibition centre with over 20 shows every year. The Main Company Showroom is very easy to find as it is on the ground floor on the left when you enter the building, you can’t miss our individual frontage!
A little bit about how we got here…
Over the last 5 years or so we have done an increasing amount of business in the South of England and around 2 years ago we started to consider having a showroom in London as so many customers asked us if we had one ‘down south’. Although we facilitated trips to our large Yorkshire showrooms the distance was off putting for many to make the journey. We will always be very grateful to our southern clients, who opened up their homes to showcase our projects, but this was not the way to carry on, there are only so many bottles of gin and Betty’s hampers that one can give in thanks! Toward the end of last year we started to contact estate agents and made appointments to view various commercial properties in London. In a circuitous way we considered the Business Design Centre briefly a few years ago but did not seriously consider it; it was on the last trip to London that after a long unsuccessful day of viewings we went to see one of our suppliers at the centre on the way back to King’s Cross. This visit was the ‘light bulb’ moment that started the ball rolling and serious consideration of this amazing location was taken.
After a few months, with all the paperwork completed and we officially became tenants, we started the showroom design and planned the installation to start at the beginning of April with our grand opening in June. That plan was severely scuppered with Covid 19 but in the end the pandemic worked in our favour as we were able to work throughout the day as the other tenants were mainly working from home and so our noise did not bother them and we did not have to stay to the normal installation hours of 7am to 9am and 5pm to 10pm. As soon as we were able to find accommodation which allowed workers to stay, we were able to start sending the vans and the joiners to London.
We had an empty shell to turn into a stunning showroom –
We started by laying the floor and in the front entrance we used our recently launched Cobble design in Weathered Barn Brick and we did the rest of the showroom in Random Width Weathered Barn Oak.
The front part of the showroom was an ideal place to showcase some of our flooring samples on the walls. These samples are smaller than the ones in the Yorkshire Showroom and this means we can line up clients’ choices on one row to make the comparing exercise an easier process. That said, considering between reclaimed engineered or hand aged engineered is still a difficult task as there are so many lovely finishes to suit any style. Both come in random width for the more traditional renovation project and fixed width for the more contemporary look. The Main Company is one of the few businesses in the UK to be able to offer a truly bespoke floor in both material and shade. The comprehensive collections comprise of rich, deep hues and cooler, grey tones. From rustic pine to clean oak, there’s an abundance of finishes to complement your living environment and personal style.
The next job was to start installing the show kitchen. We needed to be sure that we showcased different styles to optimise customer experience but the styles needed to work together. We knew from our Instagram followers that the Cornwall project had been very popular and so we designed the island with this in mind. The breakfast bar area is unique in every way, the Chapel Top, a chunky reclaimed pine sitting on engineered columns joined by cast iron tubular brackets exudes texture and warmth, an area to sit at for hours. The engineered columns constructed from Reclaimed Weathered Oak are designed to take power points so a great place to catch up with emails and charge the phone as well. Below the bar area are cupboards set back underneath, we always try to maximise storage space in our designs and these cupboards are great for things not used every day such as Tupperware overflow, Christmas dinner service or even bulk buy storage.
The rest of the island houses more storage, a Fisher Paykel Cool Drawer which very cleverly can switch from a cooled larder temperature to a freezer with temperature zones in between to suit the need of the moment. There is also a Fisher Paykel Dishwasher Double Drawer unit, another clever design allowing flexibility and energy saving. The Cargo Bin in the island is a four zone one allowing mixed recycling and waste. Finally the end of the island is finished with a shelving unit in Engineered Reclaimed Weathered Oak which could be for books or crockery storage or just a lovely piece of pottery to show off.
The worktop on the rest of the island is in Caesarstone Calacatta Nuvo, we chose to have a 30mm thick top in this project. The lovely white tones on this material are a crisp finish contrasting with both the rustic reclaimed wood breakfast bar and also the Lamp Black units below.
We used Buster and Punch Pendant lights in the stainless finish and followed the shape of the island to illuminate the bar in a U formation. We were limited with the way we tackled the lighting in the showroom specifically over the island as there is a particularly large air conditioning unit over the centre of the island. We plan to do something clever in reclaimed wood with aged metal grilles to camouflage this at a future date.
The range run is made in Engineered Grey Weathered Oak and has two sets of pan drawers either side of a Lacanche Chalonnais in stainless steel. The 1405mm range is stunning and any person who loves cooking should seriously consider the Lacanche brand, the Chalonnais in the showroom has a multi-purpose hob top, each cook can choose their preferred set up, we chose induction, gas and a teppenyake plate called La Plancha, the latter is one of the most versatile cooking surfaces ever.
The two pan drawers on each side of the Lacanche are topped by cutlery and utensil drawers in solid oak, these inserts can be made to any design and personalised to suit the clients’ needs. The pan drawers below can be left as simple pan drawers or can have inserts to turn them into plate drawers for example; pegs are screwed into a multi holed base to create the exact size of the plates and bowls stored in them. Alternatively the drawers can be sectioned to created pan lid storage, oven dish organiser, produce bins etc.
The work surface we chose was solid concrete in our own bespoke colour called ‘Main Iron’. Solid concrete worktops are completely timeless. The manufacturing of solid concrete top is unique to each kitchen and they can be made into any shape, including formed sinks either under mounted or Belfast styles, texture and flecking can be introduced and practically any thickness can be created.
On the wall above the Lacanche we chose the Lacanche Brasserie hood also in stainless steel, a real wow at 1.4m wide and built with top quality extraction internally. Although the Lacanche ranges come in some 30 sumptuous colours, we decided to go neutral in the showroom. Either side of the extraction we mounted Reclaimed Engineered shelves in Weathered Oak on Gallows brackets in cast iron, it’s a great look straddling traditional and industrial.
We will be added a stunning Vert de Gris copper backsplash and Italian tiles to this wall, so watch this space!
We painted the wall in two tones, Little Greene’s Tea with Florence at the bottom and Pal Mal above, just such a lovely pairing with the Vert de Gris splashback coming soon. The rest of the walls are in Little Greene Ceviche.
We used Teal Jules shades on a polished nickel double wall light and the colour combination against the Pal Mal on the wall is a lovely fusion.
The standalone oven and microwave combination with warming drawer below is a statement as a free standing housing which is unique in having a solid concrete exterior. The colour is also in Main Iron to match the worktops. We used Buster and Punch T bars and Pull Bars in Smoked Bronze to sympathetically merge with the Main Iron concrete. Although the look is industrial on first appearance it actually is quite neutral and also timeless and would stand alongside any style due to its simplicity and ‘clean lines’ style.
The metal and divided glass pane style Walk In Pantry run ticks so many boxes. So many people would absolutely love a walk in pantry but just don’t have the room for one. This design brings together the visually satisfying look of organised shelves, everything to hand at a glance and the stunning combination of metal and glass doors, a design which has been in use for nearly 200 years started in Essex by the Crittall family. We have created an area which you would want to be on display with a beautiful aged brass work surface behind the metal and glass doors with engineered reclaimed oak shelves above and engineered reclaimed oak internal sides. In our model we have included a wine rack below using the X design rather than the more usual individual bottle design made in Weathered Oak with bleached effect. Either side of this we have included banks of drawers, painted in Little Greene Lamp Black. Synonymous with storage in drawers is the lovely word ‘ergonomics’, ‘the study of how equipment and furniture can be arranged in order that people can do work or other activities more efficiently and comfortably’. We have already touched on how one can personalise drawer storage above and added to this are such things as spice bottle inserts, divided sections for electrical chargers and of course the bits and bobs drawer.
Our showroom kitchen also displays one of the many styles of table which we can make in our workshops in North Yorkshire. The Chamfer Oak Table is contemporary in style and is a very solid beast; we have it paired with lovely charcoal linen chairs and carvers. Tables can be made in any style and size and in a variety of new, hand aged and reclaimed woods in any thickness. The personal choices our clients are able to make are in part due to visiting our showrooms and also being able to see colour samples before ordering. Our furniture is built to last a lifetime and it is important to create a piece which is pleasing in every way.
Illumination over the table is with a slight eclectic twist mixing coloured balls on the grey stripe flex in a random selection of 4 colours, teal, pink, grey and clear finishing in the stunning Queen Mabel shade, we chose to have 3 pendants in this area.
At the rear of the showroom we have created an office and consulting space. The contemporary metal and glass room divide with big double doors open into a very peaceful room. The working area is furnished with a beautiful table with a metal arch base and a thick reclaimed Heritage Oak top, gorgeous contemporary leather chairs, a Georgian cupboard and a cool skeleton clock. Plants are important in any environment and we have chosen hanging plants for the working area and larger plants for the showroom area. The latter have been planted in gorgeous Terracotta planters from the Yorkshire showrooms.
We have accessorised the London show kitchen with just a taste of items we have available for sale in our Yorkshire Showrooms, just a small hint of homeliness to start the imagination on a journey which starts with a blank room, and ends with a fabulous space personalised in every way and remaining unique and unquestionably individual in the Main way.
Through our previous posts on our Journal and social channels hopefully you have a good idea what the London showroom kitchen will look like. Today we wanted to delve a little deeper, looking at the finishing touches and brands we’ve collaborated with.
Lacanche
We’ve worked with Lacanche for years now. Like us, everything is hand made in a family factory in the Burgundian countryside in France. You may remember when we visited their factory.
Not only are they fantastic cookers but they are customisable. From the internal oven to handle finish there’s hundreds of options to choose. For the London showroom we wanted something industrial in appearance so opted for a stainless steel finish with a complementing brasserie hood. This should really pop against the Little Greene Lamp Black and reclaimed timber cabinetry.
Fisher & Paykel
You will see Fisher & Paykel appliances throughout the kitchen. To the right of the sink we’ve incorporated the CoolDrawer. It’s such a versatile appliance which can be either a fridge or freezer. We often see our clients use the compact upper storage tray for sensitive foods and the tall bin for large bottles and containers.
Quooker
We first saw Quooker when we exhibited at Grand Designs Live. Then every year we were always opposite their stand. The demonstration was always mesmerising to watch and is backed up by the superior quality of the product.
We have a working Quooker Flex Cube finished in Stainless Steel in our Yorkshire Showroom. For the London Showroom we decided to go for another Quooker Flex but in their new black finish.
Buster + Punch
Handles can often be overlooked during the design process yet they can make a huge impact to the final aesthetic. You’ll see Buster + Punch on many of our designs as they create that industrial feel like no other hardware does. We’ve decided to go a step further in the London showroom and incorporate more Buster + Punch products, make sure you look out for them!
The large kitchen island will fit 4-5 breakfast bar stools. The design has many elements which will be a talking point and we didn’t want the stools to be too overpowering. We decided to go for a the simple backless three legged oak stool you see above.
You probably know us best for our bespoke kitchens, reclaimed flooring and furniture designs. That doesn’t mean our creativity stops at the door.
We naturally judge a shop by its exterior, therefore it’s important that our London showroom exterior design is as special as the interior.
The above image is the previous shop’s storefront, and in our view, not very inspiring! We needed to create something that not only makes us stand out from the crowd, but is also in keeping with our core values as a business.
The Design Process
Our contemporary logo has a three dimensional M you will be very familiar with. You’ll see it being displayed on our business cards, road side advertisements, brochures and much more.
It was this three dimensional aspect of our logo which got our creativity flowing back in 2018 when we were displaying kitchens, flooring and furniture at the Grand Designs Live show.
We needed signage which would allow people to identify our brand at the show. As a company we love working with raw materials so we decided to manufacture this out of Coreten steel.
We loved the signage so much that we mounted this on the entrance of our Yorkshire Showroom, and since been a talking point when people visit.
After going forward and back with various designs we finally settle on a relatively simple design above. Not only does this tie back to our Yorkshire Showroom it represents what we are all about: raw materials.
Once the frontage has been approved for manufacture we’ll try share some manufacturing and installation images.
Here at the Main Company we would like to begin introducing some of our team to you, our lovely followers and readers.
We have a group of designers who are extremely passionate and talented, who have helped advance the craftsmanship and style of our company. It is our designers that make every project unique, abound with individuality and innovation.
So let us begin – meet Tiago, our Portuguese interior designer.
1) Where does your passion for design come from?
Since a young age, I’ve enjoyed drawing, my love for design evolved from drawing. After three amazing years on a design course in Lisbon, exploring all aspects of design, I specialised in interior design. All my life I have focused on art and design and it seemed like the perfect area for me to apply my skills and passion for design and architecture.
2) What do you like best about working as a designer for the Main Company?
The opportunity of being involved in everything from start to finish. It’s not just designing something, we have the workshops here which are amazing, everything is made on site – I can go and physically see how things are being done and discuss with our makers any potential new ideas or directions. That’s the thing you can’t find elsewhere, being involved in the construction of the furniture, kitchens or whatever you are doing – you are involved in the whole process which is fantastic. If any problems arise, you can rectify it based on this environment. It is so great to take care of every step in the design process and be able to communicate this with my clients.
3) What does the Main Company offer that nowhere else does?
A varied range of styles: rustic, reclaimed, unique, contemporary, country. Our limitations are your limitations… there are no limitations.
4) Describe your favourite kind of client to work with.
People that are open to ideas. It’s about finding a balance between what they want, what you want, what they can have and what you can give them. Being achievable and realistic, and having the freedom to fit their needs the best way possible. That way, you can bring your personal touch to it. You always find a balance, which results in making a beautiful kitchen design within their budget. What matters most is that the job is done properly.
5) Do you have any interesting stories whilst working with various clients?
My first ever site visit in February… a couple visited the showroom and they lived nearby so I offered to come and have a look at their kitchen. They were a really nice couple to work with who made my first site visit an absolute pleasure, and they were super happy with the end result. The gentleman had worked in Portugal before and absolutely loved the culture there, so on my last visit to their home I gave them a bottle of Portuguese wine.
6) What is your favourite style of kitchen?
Contemporary, a mix of raw materials with a bit more of a modern edge to it. Not too much of one thing, raw, reclaimed and new materials combined, but not too many materials – concrete, painted units, reclaimed wood, brass.
7) What do you think is integral to a successful kitchen design?
Things that work, it depends from customer to customer. What is good for some people is tailored to each customer’s needs in accordance to their requirements. You need to make sure you meet that brief and that the client is going to be happy with the result. Be practical with some nice touches to the design, not losing the practicality of it. Make sure you meet what they expect from you and make sure everything works together.
It’s always important to understand how the client cooks, how they prepare their food, where they would like to store food and where they want to cook. That way I can work out how everything will work together for them, to create the perfect kitchen.
8) Which Is your favourite material to use when designing a kitchen?
Oooh, that’s a hard one because you might have a favourite material but it doesn’t go with a certain style of kitchen you are designing. So I would have to say reclaimed timber, it is a natural element that looks great with everything.
9) What style or change do you think you have brought to the Main Company?
I saw this company and thought – that’s what I want to do! I love it. So I wouldn’t say I’ve brought any new styles because they already have such a great contemporary vibe.
I believe my style of working is what I have contributed to the company – initially I sketch to ideate ideas, rather than jumping straight onto a computer programme. With pen and paper you have something that you don’t have on a screen. This hand drawn quality is where you show your customer that you are actually designing their kitchen, adding to that handmade quality. Our designs are handmade projects from start to finish, so this emphasises that process. And of course, I love drawing.
10) How do you judge the success of a project?
At the end of the day, it’s the customer being happy.
At The Main Company we are very passionate about continuing and developing our own sustainable processes. The conversation of climate change and sustainability has such urgency and importance in today’s headlines, so let’s work together to help reduce the greenhouse gases that cause climate change and global warming.
Our wooden kitchens and rustic furniture are made using reclaimed wood. We burn waste in our biomass to heat our buildings and workshops, this also heats our kilns to dry the wood to an acceptable moisture level. We are completely imbued in these processes of recycling, up cycling and sustaining natural materials.
How can we be conscious of the environment when planning a new kitchen?
Any kitchen we design, you can be rest assured that we have done our upmost in keeping things as green as possible. Let us embrace eco-friendliness together! We would like to help our readers achieve more sustainability in their kitchen.
Eco-friendly products and materials not only protect the environment but they have a rich rawness, offering a unique aesthetic with so much character and freshness. Take a look at our Cattal Street project, featuring a reclaimed engineered pine wood finish of Oldham Mill board, solid oak drawer boxes, lacquered birch plywood carcasses and stainless steel.
So which choices can you make to create a sustainable kitchen?
Stainless steel: Let’s begin with stainless steel – not only is it incredibly stylish, it’s made from 70% recycled material and it makes the perfect mood for an industrial look.
Salvaged wood: We create reclaimed kitchen cabinets and worktops, made from carefully sourced salvaged wood. We love the rustic patina of natural wood that has lived and can be revived. One of the most important aspects of choosing reclaimed wood for us is how no two pieces are the same, each one has a different story to tell.
Our reclaimed wood is recovered from old barns, factories and warehouses. This wood is hundreds of years old. Older wood has been proven to be stronger and more durable than new types of wood – it’s a no brainer!?
Paint: When you are choosing a paint for your next project, it’s worth considering how eco-friendly the company is. We use the environmentally-friendly Little Greene paint company; their packaging and metal cans contain recycled materials that are to be recycled again upon disposal. How fabulous! Choose a paint that is eco-friendly.
Flooring: Invest in a flooring that is going to last. We reclaim wood to make strong and durable floors. As one of the largest reclaimed ranges in the UK, our range of stock allows our clients to pick the perfect choice for their projects – from reclaimed wall cladding to engineered reclaimed floors.
We may be biased, but look how great these reclaimed wood flooring projects of ours are…
Another possibility to consider for your kitchen is underfloor heating, to keep those toes nice and toasty! It is also eco-friendly, regulating the heat more economically throughout a space. The Main Company are one of only a few companies in the UK that engineer reclaimed timber flooring that is compatible with underfloor heating.
If you’re not looking for a new kitchen but would like to do your bit to keep your cooking and kitchen eco-friendly, here are some Main Company tips:
Invest in some good quality hardware – pots and pans made from ceramic, stainless steel or cast iron will stand the test of time!
Say no to palm oil. The palm oil industry causes deforestation, threatening endangered species like Orangutans and the land rights of the indigenous peoples of Malaysia and Indonesia – how awful! Try to avoid buying products with palm oil ingredients. It’s super easy to replace palm oil with other vegetable oils. However, do be aware that for some product labels that include vegetable oil, they also state the amount of saturated fat you can find inside.. then that oil is either palm kernel oil, palm oil or coconut oil because they are the only vegetable oils containing saturated fats. It’s a complex business!
Fed up of cling film? We certainly are! Single use plastic is a no no in the kitchen.
We’ve been trying these BeeBeebeeswax wraps, they’re washable and reusable, and we love their groovy patterns!
Meal prepping – it sounds pretty basic but you would be surprised how many of us don’t do this. Not planning your weekly meals can generate food waste.
Food waste which ends up in landfill produces green house gases, contributing to global warming and climate change.
Pre-prepare and plan your meals – we love taking inspiration from Family Style Food. Check out Karen’s easy, healthy recipes using seasonal ingredients to kick start your weekly meal planning.
We hope you find this blog post useful, whether it inspires you to think more sustainably in the kitchen, or has helped in making some decisions for your dream kitchen, we really hope that together we can bring change and reduce our contribution to global warming.
Renowned for crafting highly individual kitchens full of unique style since the seventies, a kitchen from The Main Company promises to introduce authentic character and charm to your home. Often recognised for our commitment to unique kitchen projects, our expertise at The Main Company also includes a range of standard and unique furniture designs, as well as reclaimed flooring and inspirational products, all with the same focus on craftsmanship and character.
We’ve just launched an update to our website to include all of these elements under one roof, so whether you’re looking for a complete kitchen renovation or a set of reclaimed shelves, you can bring home a little piece of Main Company style. Taking modern living requirements and functionality into consideration, our designs can be found in the Interiors section of the website and combine technology with traditional design to create a truly timeless interior.
Furniture
Bespoke furniture design is second nature to us at The Main Company and our team of craftsmen pride themselves on offering innovative solutions to real customer problems. From awkward ceiling heights and out of square walls to difficult access and limited storage, a solution can be created to bring your space to life. With a bespoke design service available, each and every piece of furniture, whether fitted or freestanding, is carefully designed to suit your individual style and storage needs.
Engineered Barn Doors
Guaranteed to make a statement, our engineered barn doors are meticulously handcrafted and can be configured in a number of ways, from horizontal or diagonal planks, to a square basket design and a range of stylish herringbone options. Select a unique timber finish from our flooring collection or alternatively get in touch to discover the latest reclaimed materials available. A great way to divide your space whilst creating an impressive feature, our engineered barn doors can be used anywhere in your home, whether you’re looking for a rustic door into the pantry or a way to separate your kitchen and living areas.
Last year I had the amazing opportunity of visiting the Lacanche, a factory based in the heart of the Burgundian countryside in France.
One of the first things you approach from inside the entrance of the factory is a huge Spiertz 900 ton press. This die presses sheet metal to make the range paneling.
Moving through the factory you notice how many people are involved in it’s production. From welding individual components such as the feet, to assembling the doors it truly is a hand made product.
As you can imagine there are hundreds of components in every range. The factory organisation and production flow is second to none.
Before any range is approved for dispatch it receives a final quality control check for both performance and aesthetics.
It would be wrong to visit France and not have a taste of their fine wine! We were kindly taken to Domaine Bachelet Vincent in the heart of the vineyards of Chassagne-Montrachet.
Just before leaving we were taken around the original foundry which showcases the first ever Lacanche and their current product range.
I want to say a huge thank you to the whole Lacanche team. To Jean Jacques for his fantastic hospitality and to Steven, Candice & Adam for making the trip possible.
