Interiors should not be the product of ephemeral style trends, but of a client’s own personality and preference. Studio Clementine takes a collaborative approach, both between client and studio, and in terms of the many specialist skills and suppliers our designers bring to a project. We pride ourselves on listening to what people want and then surpassing expectations both creatively and in delivering a seamless, personal service.
THE ART OF INSTALLATION
Wells Interiors and Studio Clementine
A Conversation with Mick by Georgina Wood
Georgina Wood and Mick Wells, Managing Director of Wells Interiors, sat down to discuss wallcovering installation and what makes Wells Interiors one of Studio Clementine's favourites.
The wallpaper we specify in our projects at Studio Clementine is closer to artwork than wall covering and deserves to be treated as such. Just as a beautiful piece of art demands careful framing, fine wallpaper requires an equally considered installation. No two projects are the same, and nor are two walls, making this a true craft, one that requires skill, experience and sensitivity to realise the maker and designer's vision.
I have worked with Wells Interiors across all of my projects, and the level of trust I place in Mick and his team is unrivalled. Their professionalism and expertise in handling the most prestigious wallpapers is rare to find in the industry.
WHAT LED YOU TO START WELLS INTERIORS?
I started in the superyacht industry, my sister, who worked at de Gournay, had mentioned opportunities in wallpapering, so I decided to make the move. After completing formal training, I began an informal apprenticeship with the late Paul Laing and quickly fell in love with the craft. I also noticed a strong crossover with the superyacht world, it’s often the same clients with similar expectations. Early on, I worked trade shows around the world, often for free, supporting smaller brands and building experience. This gave me a deep understanding of the craft. I also recognised a gap in professionalism within the industry, things like uniforms, branding, and digital presence.
WHAT'S ONE THING THAT EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT HANGING WALLPAPER?
Definitely what it looks like on the wall before you start to hang. It’s sounds obvious but don’t be afraid to ask questions and request untouched photos from the supplier. Ask if you can see what it looks like installed and if you can see it in person. It’s all about managing expectations, so for example if you use grass cloth, you will always see the joins because that’s part of the product. Overall the number one thing you should know is what the product looks like on the wall.
DO YOU HAVE AN ALL TIME FAVOURITE PROJECT THAT WELLS INTERIORS HAVE WORKED ON?
Definitely Stoke Park, I’m not sure a project like that would ever come around again. The project was extraordinary, with 20 rooms in 2-3 weeks. We worked with Russell Sage and it was a real example of the designer, the supplier and the installers working together seamlessly right from the start and what you can achieve together. It was simply amazing, a project that doesn’t come around very often.
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A GOOD INSTALLATION AND A TRULY EXCEPTIONAL ONE?
There are some rooms or homes which you walk into and you just think wow, everything is balanced and the room looks like it was always there. A lot of creating that feeling is in the details and with wallpaper how a pattern is balanced or how panel layouts feel and fit in a room. When we’re able to really collaborate with a designer it comes down to where a pattern will be placed in a room? Where do the wall lights go? Is the pattern centred in the room? If there are eves how does the pattern interact with them? All of these questions are important to creating that overall look and feeling in a room. Exceptional installations make a room feel effortless and like it was always meant to be there.
WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE STUDIO CLEMENTINE PROJECT THAT WELLS INTERIORS HAS WORKED ON?
I would say Eaton Square which we’re currently working on together, I really love that job because of the people. At its core, if you speak to any craftsperson it’s all about putting a smile on people’s faces and nothing beats when you can see people really appreciate your work. When the client understands the craft behind your work after going the extra mile and you're able to build a relationship with them. There’s something special about residential projects, you’re in someone's home, especially when the client has a lot of pride in the house, you know they will appreciate your work and in turn you receive that satisfaction.
HOW DO YOU HANDLE THOSE NERE-WRACKING MOMENTS? SUCH AS FRAGILE PAPER, A DOUBLE-HEIGHT SPACE, A TRICKY CORNER, A PATTERN THAT HAS TO LAND PERFECTLY?
The first part of the answer might sound a little strange but stick with me, it’s the wallpaper gods. I’ve taught this to our team, if you are putting in 100% effort and following the process and not taking any shortcuts, and I mean, everything, whether it’s extra care on an overlap or sanding. If you do everything to the letter you can have faith that the wallpaper gods will look after you. Because of course, mistakes can happen, but if you’ve put in 100% effort and you’re switched on that gives you a lot of confidence.
From a more practical standpoint, where you can, test, test, test. Test as much as possible. The walls are always inconsistent because no two homes are the same and the product is also quite inconsistent as they’re handmade. Testing is incredibly important to see how the materials will react in that specific environment. There isn’t room for any ego, it’s always best to get another opinion if a project or a material is new to us, so I will call fellow installers for advice.
Photography: The Londoner, courtesy of EE Smith.
WHAT DO PEOPLE MOST CONSISTENTLY UNDERESTIMATE ABOUT THE SKILL INVOLVED?
I think one of the tell tale signs is if you buy a kitchen you can get supply and fit, the same with curtains or joinery. However, you rarely or in fact can’t with wallpaper, which leads onto why it’s so different. There’s a lot of craft in it because it’s not an exact science, although we do the same thing every day, no two projects are the same. It’s easy to underestimate the nuance in it, what worked well last Monday might not necessarily work well this Monday.
HOW CLOSELY DO YOU WORK WITH INTERIOR DESIGNERS AND HOW DOES THAT RELATIONSHIP SHAPE THE FINAL RESULT?
As closely as we can. Ideally, we’d like to be involved from the specification stage, not from a design perspective, but from a technical input. There are too many times where for example, a heavy-duty vinyl wallpaper is specified on a residential property with lots of external corners. There are lots of different things that, with a technical input, need to be explained to manage expectations. Overall, when I think back over my favourite projects and the ones that go off without an issue, it’s because we’ve been involved early on.
WHY SHOULD A CLIENT CHOOSE WELLS INTERIORS?
The number one reason is we really care and we genuinely like what we do. Of course, the guaranteed finish, and everything you should expect from working with us, but also for lack of a better term, we will stay in the fight. We know how projects go and they’re rarely straightforward, products can be temperamental and there’s a million things that can go wrong but we don’t walk away from a project. When things get hard, we’re all in.
Photography: Oliver Burns
Thank you for your time Mick, it's always a pleasure to work with the Wells Interiors team. We look forward to our next project together!
Georgina xx