IN CONVERSATION WITH ALEC WILSON
Alec Wilson is the owner and Managing Director of Clive Christian Furniture Weybridge. Approaching his third decade with the Clive Christian Furniture team, we caught up with Alec to learn about the history of his showroom and his hobbies outside of the office.
I started working with Clive Christian Furniture back in 1994. We installed our first kitchen display in December of that same year. Positioning the display in the large open window resulted in immediate success and within a couple of years, we became a Clive Christian Furniture ‘Flagship’ showroom.
Relocating the business to Weybridge in 2003 proved to be the correct decision, as the company has gone from strength to strength. The new showroom has four glamourous displays; a stunning open plan Alpha Deco kitchen with bespoke marquetry; a contemporary Black Walnut Metro Deco kitchen; a superb wall panelled home office with floor to ceiling bookshelves and a statement Architectural bar. A real showpiece!
I’m proud to say we’ve installed hundreds of luxurious and prestigious projects over the years, in some of the most exclusive properties in the UK. It’s very satisfying knowing we have many of our clients returning to us when they move house or want to add more rooms. We must be doing something right!
When I have time on my hands, you can find me playing one of my many guitars. If I'm not playing the guitar, you will find me at a classic car event at nearby Brooklands or Goodwood.
An unforgettable place I have visited would have to be the Similan Islands, Thailand. My wife and I treated ourselves a couple of years ago with a joint special birthday adventure, sailing around the magnificent and unspoilt Similan Islands, an archipelago in the Andaman Sea off the West coast of the Phang Nga Province in Southern Thailand.
To me, luxury means the highest standard of elegance and comfort, achieved without financial constraint.
My favourite room in the house is without a doubt our magnificent Clive Christian Furniture Alpha Deco kitchen. We spend a lot of time there, especially when we have friends or family over. Our grandchildren love sitting up at the island helping with the cooking! After so many years of creating magnificent living spaces for other people, it’s such a pleasure to have one of our own.
What does great design mean to me?! Steve Jobs once said, "Design is a funny word. Some people think design means how it looks. But of course, if you dig deeper, it’s really how it works." Very true in all aspects of design, especially interior design. I would sum up good design by saying it has to be; thorough down to the last detail.
My guilty pleasure is creating and sharing playlists on Spotify. 'Luxurious Lounge' for instance, is great background music for around the house; 'Flamenco Chill' brings a Latin flavour to any Barbecue and 'Hello Sunshine' is full of upbeat and happy tracks for those beautiful sunny days. There are many, many more, which are all themed but vary greatly. I am not sure how this happened, but I now have over 20,000 followers.
We are currently working on several large scale new build projects and a magnificent Grade 2 listed property refurbishment, with a fascinating history. Our Architectural range will sit perfectly in this grand Italianate style home.
Everyone has their own priorities, but for me, every kitchen needs to include symmetry and balance. Regarding specific elements, a boiling tap is a ‘must’ in my opinion. Another lovely practical feature is a slim rectangular herb trough set into the worktop, which converts into a large ice bucket for serving drinks from whilst entertaining. Including a fridge with chilled, filtered drinking water on tap, is not only convenient but it eliminates the need for plastic water bottles.
To find full showroom details and how to contact our team in Weybridge, UK, please click here.
To learn more about Alec's statement Alpha Deco Kitchen with bespoke marquetry mantle, click here.
