In conversation with ... Lyndsey Goodger

Today we are having a chat with one of the owners of Rose and Grey, the beautiful interiors store tucked away on Altrincham (South Manchester) side streets which is a treasure trove of custom sofas, stylish accessories and decorating inspiration.

​What has your journey into the world of interiors been like?

​The idea for Rose & Grey developed while my husband Guy and I were renovating our home and hunting for beautiful pieces to fill it with.  We really struggled to find the mix of stylish and practical that we were looking for without it costing a fortune, and we spotted the opportunity to create our own brand that would do just that. 

When did you realise your passion for interior design

I’ve always been interested in interiors, even as a child. My dad is an architect and my brother works in property development so a passion for interior design definitely runs in the family. As a child I used to cut up interior magazines to make scrapbooks, so it makes sense that I ended up in this industry! 

How would you describe your design aesthetic?

​We like to balance our collection between trend-led pieces and timeless design. We tend to focus on designs with longevity for our larger furniture items, only buying into trends that we know will be around for a significant time, like our best-selling velvet sofas. We always have pieces that reference Scandinavian and Mid-Century design in our collections, as these looks don’t date and really appeal to our customers. We mix in trend-led pieces through new fabrics and smaller accessories. At the moment we’re seeking a lot of inspiration from Byron Bay in Australia and Joshua Tree in California for a fresh take on the boho look. 

Biggest challenges and successes in creating your brand so far?

​The current situation is one of the hardest challenges we have faced as a business, but our head office team has adapted quickly to working remotely and we have stringent social distancing procedures in place in order to keep the delivery side of the business running safely. We launched the brand twelve years ago during the recession, at a time when buying furniture online was relatively unheard of, so we feel the business is rooted in weathering adverse circumstances and that gives us the confidence to know we will emerge from the current challenges intact.
 
In terms of successes, there have been many ‘wins’ we have enjoyed over the years, big and small – but the one that stands out for me is when the business reached a point where my husband was able to leave his job to join the brand full-time.  

Who is the quintessential Rose & Grey customer?​

​Our customer is young at heart with a passion for interiors. They keep up to date with the latest interior trends and like to introduce personality to their homes through accessories, colour and statement pieces of furniture. They also understand the importance of well-made, quality furniture that is made to stand the test of time. They mix timeless designs in classic materials with fun, trend-led pieces to create eclectic homes that feels comfortable and stylish. 

What are your best sellers?

Our velvet sofas have been our best-sellers since we first launched a capsule collection in 2016. We’ve since expanded our range and now have two popular collections with a variety of models, sizes, colours and fabrics. Our Hugo Chesterfield sofa is favourite  – we particularly love it in vintage green velvet but it sells well in all colours of the rainbow. Our Cheeky bum vase is also proving to be incredibly popular, as are our shell-shaped vases and bowls for quick style updates.  

That ‘Aha!’ moment when you were recognised and knew you had created something special?

We definitely felt that ‘aha!’ moment when we moved into our current premises and built our showroom. It was amazing to complete the project and stand back to look at our products styled together in our own space. We’ve since been able to increase the size of the showroom and will be re-opening with a fresh new look and a focus on our beautiful sofas later this year.
 
We will also be launching our first ever exclusive collections in 2020. The first, our own designed range, will be unveiled in late June and the second, an exclusive collaboration with one of our most trusted suppliers, in September. I know that is going to be another huge milestone for our brand. 

One design trend you are loving and one you are glad is over?

​I am really enjoying the current trend for personality-led accessories – faces, boobs and bums on everything from vases to prints and textiles. Our customers can’t get enough of these items at the moment and the team have also been buying them for our own homes.
I am pleased the shabby chic trend is over; it was definitely a trend that lingered far too long.