Island Life Magazine Ltd February/March 2009 | Page 111

LOCAL BUSINESS

Bright ideas and a stitch in
time from Andrea Lesley
When people are phoning
from London to place
orders for curtains and
cushions, you have to assume
there’s something special
about Andrea Lesley Soft
Furnishings. After all, the
Capital doesn’t lack suppliers
of smart fabrics.
“We believe in a top personal
service,” says
Jackie, of Andrea
Lesley . “Nothing
is too big or too
small. If someone
just wants a
cushion made we’re
just as happy to do
that as refurbish a
whole house.”
So it often
happens that
clients whose
Island homes Andrea has
worked her magic on will ask
her and her staff to take a look
at their city home. “We are still
reeling from Christmas when
we were refurbishing a huge
London house while trying to
meet the demands for curtains
for clients who all wanted
them, of course, in time for
Christmas. We do go the extra
mile for our customers.”
And then there is the Royal
Hotel in Ventnor. Andrea
has long been responsible
for keeping this 4-star

establishment looking its
sumptuous best, and the
discipline required to work to
the timetable and requirements
of a hotel are reflected in
every aspect of the business:
“A hotel can’t delay opening
because the curtains aren’t
hung!”
As you would expect, all
the most desirable
names in the fabric
and furnishings
world are available:
Wilman, Jane
Churchill, Colefax
& Fowler, Kate
Foreman, Voyage,
Larson, Osborne
& Little. Wood
venetian blinds and
roller blinds can
be supplied, as can
shutters, tie-backs and other
accessories.
What you might not expect,
given the top notch labels
and exacting finish Andrea
demands on every job, is the
relaxed and friendly approach
of the staff at the smart new
showroom at Weavers Yard,
Bembridge. They are happy to
chat about every level of the
process, offering guidance and
advise where needed.
Andrea Lesley Soft
Furnishings, Weavers Yard,
Bembridge. Tel: [phone].

life

Making sure the
sparks don’t fly
Go to any event on the Island,
from a smart black tie event
to the Bestival and the man
powering it is likely to be Neil
Lilley. “We offer event power
solutions,” he says – which
about sums it up.
In practically any event, there
are problems to solve. Neil, of
NDL Electrical, works closely
with Gray’s Marquees, which is
the firm of choice for most of
the key events on the Island,
and the challenge is to set up
fully working kitchens, discos
and lighting in the middle of
a field. “Obviously there’s no
electrical supply so everything
has to rely on generators.
We bring a smart venue to
anywhere the client wants,”
says Neil.
He has to be prepared to be
flexible. “You just mustn’t
flap,” grins Neil. “In-laws at
weddings have an idea in their
minds about how they want a
marquee to look and then give
you a couple of hours to turn