The floods, which came to a head on Friday 20th October, were bad enough to impact disastrously on many businesses. Some, however, like Leonide Interiors, emerged from the catastrophe stronger, smarter, and more powerful.
Paul Pearson, owner of Leonide Interiors, will never forget the day that the water gushed up through the manhole covers and descended torrentially like a river into his bathroom and kitchen showroom.
“The floods were horrific,” said Paul. “There was absolutely nothing we could do about it. I’ve never experienced anything else quite like it in my life. Afterwards, all I could see in front of me were ruined displays, stock, computers, and flooring. The electrics were wiped out. The whole showroom was a complete mess.”
The Leonide Interiors showroom, located on Spa Lane in Chesterfield, took the full brunt of the flooding. The clean-up process, which is now in full swing, is no mean feat. “So much stock has had to go into skips,” said Paul. We have used gallons of bleach and disinfectant and hosed the shop out. And then we’ve had dehumidifiers and heaters on constantly to try and dry the place out.”
The silver lining for Leonide Interiors is that it still very much open for business. Orders are being fulfilled as usual, stock is still available from all the manufacturers, and anyone in the market for a stunning bathroom or kitchen can still be seen by Paul simply by ringing him on his mobile.
“We could have sat there and licked our wounds,” said Paul.” But we decided to use the disaster not as something to defeat us, but as something which to inspire us to push on again. Nothing has stood in the way of us fulfilling the installation, design, and quoting process. We are in full operation and immensely proud of that.”
Paul is temporarily operating from Unit 24 on Avenue 2 of the Storforth Lane Trading Estate in Chesterfield. “We are on track to reopen our Spa Lane showroom early in the New Year,” said Paul. “That will have been quite some achievement based on what we were faced with.”
Paul still has access to all the latest bathroom and kitchen products, including the superb ranges from Ambiance Bain, Pelipal, Carissa, Aqualisa, Geberit, Vogue, and Sanijura.
In addition to outstanding bathroom designs, high-end kitchens from Rempp and other exclusive German suppliers are available on order.
“We pride ourselves on offering the very highest standards of customer service,” says Paul. “Because of this, many of our loyal customers, who originally had a new and beautiful bathroom fitted, have come back to us time and time again to renovate, refurbish and overhaul other rooms in their homes. Quite often, what started as a bathroom project, has developed into a complete home rebuild, involving new kitchens, bedrooms, office spaces, cloakrooms, utility rooms, hallways, and, for that matter, any room imaginable!”
“Everything we do here is based around giving our customers the best products available along with the best possible service and advice,” continued Paul.
Whether it’s the ultimate contemporary, sleek and streamlined look or the traditional carpentry of a bespoke craftsman’s rustic masterpiece, Paul has the tools and inspiration to produce a bespoke design custom made to each customer’s individual requirements.
The range of materials for the walls and panels is quite staggering. Marble, travertine, splash panels made from waterproof foam resin, natural slate, onyx, acrylic composite, and glass are always available. The choice goes on and on.
At Leonide Interiors traditional craftsmanship meets modern technology. Therefore, an individual or special design for a bathroom or kitchen is no problem. Through the interplay of thoughtful functions, selected materials, a variety of colours and exciting details, bathrooms and kitchens are designed to all requirements imaginable.
To book an appointment
or for further enquiries:
M: 07746 720071
E: info@leonideinteriors.co.uk
www.leonideinteriors.co.uk
Words by Mike Snow and photography by Robert Bannister of Reflections Magazine.
