Fit for Royalty
There’s lots to celebrate on a Wednesday evening in Fulham. It’s the 10th anniversary of luxury bathroom company Catchpole and Rye’s showroom in London plus the launch of The Charleston washstand. Bring on the Chapel Down and canapés! Catchpole and Rye’s foundry and headquarters are in Kent so it is right to have sparkling wine from that county. The Garden of England is becoming the Vineyard of Britain. The fresh scent of floral arrangements from Blooming Green and candles from Wild Planet Aromatherapy fills the air of the showroom.
The Charleston has a distinctive outline with a chamfered cornered splashback and perpendicular angled legs. It is available as a single or double washstand – each is handmade to order and tailored to the client. There are four marble variations and a choice of eight hammered metal finishes. It’s a classic contemporary design that would look as good in a Robert Adam townhouse (circa 1792) as a Robert Adam country house (circa 1992), in a Richard Rogers apartment or a Richard Meier villa.
Managing Director Tony O’Donnell designed the new washstand. He explains, “We’re renowned for our traditional designs and that’s something we’re very proud of – for making our mark on the industry in that way. I wanted though to do something different with this design and create a more contemporary piece. A lot of engineering work went into creating a design with such sleek support that is still strong and sturdy. The Charleston is about form following function and the commitment to creating a beautiful piece of furniture.” A visit to Charleston House in the South Downs, the former home of painters Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant, provided Tony with artistic inspiration.
Catchpole and Rye was founded by husband and wife Tony and Elaine O’Donnell in 1991. They are originally from County Tipperary. It was the discovery of an old bath in their new house in Kent that prompted them to launch a bathroom company. He recalls, “The bath needed restoring so we set about trying to find someone who could do the work but there wasn’t anyone.” The O’Donnells filled the lacuna. “Our aim from then on was to find antique items for the bathroom and modernise their functionality. It wasn’t easy and we more or less had to invent the industry in Britain.” New ranges would follow. National would grow international. History in the making.
