Gwent soccer star’s family fitting out homes with style (From South Wales Argus)

Gwent soccer star’s family fitting out homes with style

9:30am Saturday 28th January 2012 in News By Melissa Jones

SISTERS Kay Collins and Sandra Phillips began their soft furnishings business with a single sewing machine - 25 years on, they are fitting out Premier League footballers' homes and 120-bed hotels.

And as far as work for one Gwent-born soccer star was concerned, it was a case of keeping it in the family.

For the sisters fitted 25 blinds and curtains at the home of Aston Villa and Wales player James Collins, Mrs Collins' son.

He was planning to employ a different firm to do the work at his five-bedroomed home, but his mum would not hear of it.

"He thought it would be too much for us, but Kay said ‘no way’," said Mrs Phillips, 62.

Through word of mouth, they went on to furnish the homes of a number of other Welsh footballers, including former Cardiff City and current Queen's Park Rangers defender Danny Gabbidon.

"They were all interested in making their expensive homes look nice, and made us so welcome," said Mrs Phillips.

The pair are celebrating 25 years of their S & K Interiors business, which began in their parent's attic in Pentonville, Newport. They studied making soft furnishings and started production for friends and family, buying their first machine and standing it on a large table made for them by Mrs Collins' husband.

Before long, they were taking their business as far afield as London and Jersey, with no job too much trouble, and moved into Queen's Chambers on Queen's Hill, so Mrs Collins could juggle parenting with work, as her children went to a nearby school.

"When we first started we both had children, so we thought it didn't matter if it didn't work out. But we have come a long way," said Mrs Phillips.

Subsequently they went on to open their premises in Commercial Road, Newport, employing six women to help with a flurry of orders.

That remains the company's base, and over the years they have furnished show homes, and made products for new homeowners and for interior designers around Wales.

At present the team are making curtains and bedding for 120 rooms in Thistle Hotels.

"We can go from making a cushion cover to furnishings for a whole floor of a hotel, so we are very lucky we can diversify," said Mrs Collins, 60.

"We have had our ups and downs but we've survived the recession and are grateful customers keep coming back to us."