Experienced and innovative master joiners who handcraft bespoke interior design pieces from the finest wood, glass, metal and leather, St James Interiors is a business that is getting itself noticed.
Its Dhan desk – strikingly carved in black gunmetal and named after founder Pritesh Lad’s father – won a Design et Al Award in 2021, the second year in a row that the business has been recognised with a high-profile accolade, after its signature Vithal Jesse desk won at the International Yacht & Aviation Awards. ‘With the design and creation of the Dhan piece, we expressed our view of modern furniture and showcased how our technical ability and traditional skills come together to create a masterpiece,’ says Pritesh Lad. ‘We were very proud to have this recognised.’
From the London workshop, where its master craftsmen, designers and project managers are based, St James Interiors has used this period of uncertainty to strengthen and build relationships with clients and supply chains – continuing to grow and contribute innovative designs to homes, private residences, hotels, private jets and luxury yachts. ‘The type of client we work with has shifted and now includes some highly recognised interior designers and architects, business owners and developers. It’s truly been a wonderful year for us, and we look forward to continued growth and collaboration.’
St James Interiors not only fulfils the needs of A-list clients but also has a social conscience, running apprenticeship schemes and completing works for local temples that look after the wider Brent community. At the same time, it works on some undeniably high-end projects, such as the design, manufacture and fitting of bespoke joinery for a palatial £30m home in Windsor, which included lifestyle elements such as a wine room, spa, multiple dressing rooms and bathrooms, a pool area and gym. ‘It was so wonderful to see the completed design,’ says Pritesh, ‘and we’re very much looking forward to hearing what the new owners think of it.’
St James Interiors is renowned not just for its artistic skills but also for being an agile collaborator, bringing years of experience in material choice and buildability that adds great weight to the design process and ultimately produces satisfied clients. ‘Our work is all about design, innovation, honesty and originality, so when we are working collaboratively, those are the elements we bring to the table,’ says Pritesh.
The brand has noticed a new consumer consciousness, with raised levels of interest in where things come from and how they are produced. Clients are invited to visit the workshop to see first-hand how their work is being crafted, and the business has started using new materials, reflecting the worldwide shift to more sustainable products and new technologies used in joinery detailing.
St James Interiors was ahead of its time in investing in a wood burner that burns wood waste to create steam that heats the workshop, and effectively lowers carbon footprint by reducing the number of skips required. New electric forklift trucks and LED lights have been integrated into the business’s modus operandi. ‘It’s a constant evolution,’ says Pritesh. ‘We believe there should be real tangible benefit when implementing sustainable changes.’
