Salty Bespoke Interiors
In conversation with Sophie Williams, co-founder of Salty Bespoke Interiors.
Hi Sophie! Can you give us an introduction to Salty?
Salty actually began in our back garden in Southbourne where we handcrafted wooden furniture using ethically sourced materials. Rich is an extremely skilled furniture maker and we both love working with natural, organic materials designing and making beautiful pieces of furniture. We very quickly realised that the back garden/ our lounge was not the most appropriate place to make furniture, our cats were also not that impressed by the whole situation! So when our lovely customers started buying our furniture we decided it was time to get a workshop which is now out in the New Forest. We use traditional methods to craft contemporary designs that care not only about people but the planet too.
Sustainability is at the heart of Salty. What steps have you taken to achieve this goal?
Sustainability is the bedrock of our company and from day one we have always wanted to make a stand against mass produced, fast furniture and wholeheartedly commit to working towards a sustainable future.
Salty is a climate positive workforce, so we offset our carbon footprint including personal/business travel, home emissions, food and much more. By funding and supporting the restoration of forests both locally and globally. A tree is planted for every piece of furniture we sell.
All of our furniture is made from FSC timber which originates from forests that are responsibly managed for regeneration and the growth of new trees. We try to ensure our supply chain is as short as possible by sourcing materials from manufacturers in the UK and using local businesses as much as possible. All of our packaging is eco-friendly and biodegradable and all of our furniture is finished using non toxic, chemical free finishes.
How would you define the aesthetic of your studio’s work?
The Salty Collection is a fusion of Contemporary and Scandinavian designs. Rich and I love designing furniture that makes a statement. We use neutral colour palettes of warm browns and soft whites to finish our furniture. We believe that furniture should not only be beautiful but functional. What's the point in having a dining table that can’t get messy with great food, wine and sticky little fingers!
What would you like to see more of in our homes?
I think people are definitely starting to become more aware of the damaging impact we are having on the planet and are starting to make more eco-conscious decisions when buying interiors. However we still have a very long way to go here. So I think what would be great to see more of in our homes is furniture which has been upcycled or pre-loved. Give your old furniture a facelift, trade furniture with family and friends, use recycled materials to make furniture from salvaged wood, recycled textiles and reused materials. Making small swaps in your home for more sustainable products is the way we need to go, so choosing to buy interiors from companies who are striving to make a change is a great step in the right direction.
Lastly, what do you like doing when you aren't in the Salty workshop?
We spend as much time as we can on the beach or in the sea surfing. We have converted our van into a camper so we go off on surf trips when we can. We love adventuring down to Cornwall or over to France and Portugal, eating great food and being in the sea in the sunshine is our favourite.
Website → saltybespokeinteriors.com
Instagram → @saltybespokeinteriors
