Bespoke kitchen specialist Humphrey Munson and interior designer Studio Clark + Co have worked together to refurbish the day room for Reigate and Banstead Women’s Aid (RBWA).
The new day room at the refuge was designed by Lucy Clark, founder of Studio Clark + Co in Cobham, and the kitchen was made and installed by Humphrey Munson, which has showrooms in of Felsted and St Albans.
Louisa Eggleston, creative director at Humphrey Munson, said: “When Lucy got in touch and asked me to help I felt immediately that we had to do something. The pandemic has affected everyone differently, we’ve never been busier or more in demand at Humphrey Munson but, for victims of domestic abuse, the pandemic has made escape even more difficult and literally a living nightmare.
“Hearing the stories first hand sent chills down my spine. These women are leaving potentially life-threatening situations and the number of reported cases of domestic abuse is increasing hugely ,which is completely terrifying.”
Clark said about the space: “The day room felt dreary, unloved and run-down and I instantly felt that, with careful design and attention to detail, I could create a sanctuary that the brave women fleeing domestic abuse could use and enjoy.
“I knew from speaking with the RBWA that the women arriving at the refuge leave everything behind – they have been through unthinkable situations and survived. When they come into the day room, I want them to have a feeling of a new way of living free from fear of abuse. It was so important to create a day room that felt spacious, relaxed and homely, so including all the little touches was essential to the success of this project.”
Humphrey Munson worked with our partners at Caesarstone, Cawdor Stone Gallery, Quooker and Miele to create the design. There were also other generous donors in the interiors sector to make the whole room come together.
Founded in 1984, the RBWA has provided safety and freedom for around 2,000 women and 3,000 children.
Charlotte Kneer, chief executive of RBWA, said: “The RBWA opened a new refuge during the first lockdown and were delighted to be able to save the lives of more women and children fleeing domestic abuse. We knew at the time the building could do with some TLC to truly make it a home for the families living with us who had already lost so much.
“We wanted to renovate a day room at the site, but only had a small amount of funding. Then we met Lucy from Studio Clark + Co. Lucy joined forces with Louisa Eggleston from Humphrey Munson and lots of other wonderful companies from the world of interiors, who helped her make the day room a beautiful space.”
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