Pudsey-based Ornate Interiors is celebrating 20 years of delivering plastering excellence at many of our most treasured landmarks

It’s exactly two decades since brothers Ronnie and Iain Clifford took the decision to do take control of their own destiny and from those tentative beginnings in a small farm unit, with a first year turnover of just £50,000, the firm has grown to become one of the UK’s most respected names in traditional and specialist plastering and a major player in the UK’s restoration sector with a 2008 turnover that topped £1.6 million.

Iain still remembers their first job well: “It was for a domestic client in the leafy suburbs of Leeds on behalf of architect Bernhard Blowers and at that time we were working seven days a week, doing countless late nights and we never had holidays!”

In the intervening period Ornate Interiors has carried out almost 5,000 jobs at many iconic locations across the British Isles and further afield in some instances and the two brothers are agreed on the projects that provided the most satisfaction.

Iain went on: “Work on a spectacular, new build Private Chapel in the north of Britain led to us picking up the 2007 Plasterers Award. That is the biggest accolade in our industry but there are two other contracts that really stand out.”

Ronnie continued: “The recent restoration of a large Georgian property in the Cheshire countryside challenged all of our skills and a few years back we were working on a castle in Ireland that belonged to a well known singer.

“We now employ 24 staff including 3 apprentices and operate out of a 10,000 square foot workshop in West Leeds,” added Ronnie “so we’ve come a very long way in 20 years and still get as much enjoyment and pride out of what we do.

Iain concluded: “We’ve worked with some fascinating individuals and truly talented conservation experts, had the honour of meeting Royalty on several occasions and have the satisfaction of knowing our work will be enjoyed and experienced by generations to come!”

For more information visit www.ornateinteriors.co.uk