Local designers & makers: interview with retro queen Lucy Mortimer

In the first of our series of interviews with local makers, Emily Horton speaks to Lucy Mortimer, a designer of vintage-inspired furniture

Lucy Mortimer, founder and director of Galapagos Furniture

What do you do?

A Galapagos produces new mid-century-inspired furniture and recycles vintage items in collaboration with local craftsmen. Our aim is to make it easy and fun for people to buy vintage furniture that has been updated in fresh British fabrics that suit their lifestyle and last for years.

What is your style passion?

A Certain periods of design are as fresh today as they were when made new. The 1950s was a period of huge change with new materials and colours that reflected the revolutionary events of the time. Today, I think we would be hard-pressed to recapture that sense of excitement and evolution. Sometimes I think contemporary furniture is more about fashion than design, which is a shame.

How did you get into your craft?

A I’ve always loved designing (and re-designing!) my home, and when I found a vintage chair I really loved but could only buy in Germany, I realised there must be an easier way to bring vintage furniture into the home and the business was born!

What is your key piece?

A Our signature design is the 1950s cocktail chair, which is a playful mid-century chair that suits the colours and patterns of our fabrics. People like it because it fits into modern life where space is at a premium, injecting a blast of colour without having to commit to bold hues on the walls or sofa. We’ve produced over 100 colourways and patterns!

What inspires you?

A Galapagos chair in eye-popping colours

A I went to The World of Charles and Ray Eames exhibition at the Barbican in London recently and left so full of renewed excitement. Charles and Ray Eames were designing and working with new materials like steam-bent plywood, but also taking existing pre-fab components and reconfiguring them in new and exciting ways. They worked across so many media – furniture, architecture, film, photography – simply for the love of being creative.

Where do you source your fabrics?

A All our fabrics are British-made, and many are from the studios of other new designers. We love to showcase their talent and our furniture. For this year’s Decorex interior design show (Syon Park, Sept 18–21) we are working with Korla, Parris Wakefield and Claire Gaudion.

Where are your pieces produced?

A We have a workshop in Chertsey, which is where the vintage magic happens, and we work with a manufacturer in Long Eaton, Nottingham, for our newly made furniture.

Where can readers view/buy your wares?

A more neutral offering from the Galapagos range.

A We sell online, delivering all over the UK, and we always welcome clients to visit our workshop where they can see and feel the fabrics for themselves. We’re open at weekends by appointment.

What do you think your customers love?

A I think they find our chairs joyful, and they love being able to make a bespoke chair that’s just for them. There is something lovely about owning a piece of furniture that no-one else has.

What are your top styling tips?

A I love the quote from William Morris who said, “Have nothing in your home that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.” Surround yourself with things you love – don’t be afraid to mix and match styles and periods and use colour or texture to tie the look together.

What is your USP?

A We offer a truly bespoke service: we have a huge range of vintage chairs already made up and ready to take home, or you can choose any of our styles, with fabric and piping in thousands of colours and designs. We also source to order.

Do you have any upcoming events?

A We hold open days at our Chertsey workshop four times a year, during which we offer a free consultation service and discounts. Our next open is day is on May 14, 10am – 2pm.