Creating bespoke items for the home in an array of shapes and colours, The Poured Project has turned composite-stone production into a craft
Composite stone is a durable material, but Claire Pedley of The Poured Project says there is much more to it than that. “Our products will outlive all of us,” she says. “They also retain heat, so they are very energy efficient.”
The Poured Project aims to elevate composite-stone production into a craft. The family-run business creates bespoke items for homes, restaurants, hotels and other commercial locations, sculpting the raw material into elegant and distinctive pieces, including basins, sinks, baths and wall cladding. “They are very tactile products,” says Claire, “and you can create unique patterns and details with the material.”
The company employs earth tones to create an effect like natural stone, sometimes incorporating other materials such as granite for a particular finish. Clients can also opt for a colour-match service, as the wide array of pigments offered by The Poured Project lends itself to a multitude of options. With a smooth finish there is no need for polishing, although a more textured, organic effect is available.
The business was set up in 2016 by Claire’s husband, Andy, The Poured Project’s Creative Director, who has a background as an antique furniture restorer. He brings the same painstaking approach and creative expertise to composite-stone design. The process usually starts with a site visit to take measurements. Then an individual mould is expertly crafted from wood, before the composite stone is poured by hand in the company’s workshops in Yorkshire and the surfaces are sealed. All materials are sourced from local suppliers and the whole procedure can take around five weeks.
Hardwearing composite stone is also recyclable – any that is left over can be crushed and used again in another product. And it is naturally water and stain resistant, making it perfect for designs for the home.
The possibilities for bespoke design are endless, says Claire, and the company is always researching new products. “We work with a few science labs in the UK to test the results of the inclusion of different polymers [for added durability] and other components, and how different chemicals will react with them. That sets us apart from other manufacturers who don’t have that kind of knowledge.”
The Poured Project team is currently working with Huddersfield University to create pre-heated baths and, eventually, pre-heated outdoor seating. One innovative new product that is now in production is The Poured Project radiator, which takes full advantage of the versatility of composite stone.
The radiators come in three sizes – 150W, 300W and 600W – and are freestanding or wall-mounted. They can also be customised to complement an interior, in the client’s preferred colour and style. They are eco-friendly, being either mains, solar or battery powered, while the composite stone, made using 86 per cent recycled and waste materials, is sourced from the UK. They are also fire safe and, as no plumbing is required to install them, they can be fitted anywhere. Composite stone can withstand extreme temperatures and, thanks to its hardwearing properties, needs no maintenance: the radiators will not degrade, leak or rust, so the sleek design will stand the test of time.
“It is an amazing product and we have high expectations for it,” says Claire. “Andy’s mind is constantly working and there is always something new in the pipeline.”
www.thepouredproject.com