About Us
What we do?
In a nutshell - We create one-of-a-kind, luxurious, statement furniture. Made from carefully curated vintage furniture, restored and refinished. Bespoke designs created for each individual item, made by hand. The perfect blend of contemporary design mixed with vintage character makes for truly unique items. Professionally refinished with meticulous attention to detail, high quality products, and extra detailing for that extravagant, sumptuous touch. Not mass produced bland items, we create bold and beautiful, timeless items for your home to be cherished. ‘One of one.’
Ready Made Collections
Commission Orders
Restoration
Brand Story
Black Leopard Interiors started in the lockdown of 2020. It began when the founder lost her job due to the pandemic, and needed something to do with her time, creativity and skillset. Finding herself with time to spend indulging in her passion for furniture upcycling, it all began - in the loft of her parents’ home! It started with a few experiments of just transforming some old furniture for personal use successfully. Seeing potential, this led to purchasing a few smaller, cheaper items for some experimental furniture ‘flips’ - that were put up for sale on a local page and sold swiftly. Now, getting a taste for this new market, it led to buying and experimenting more. Trying new things. Gradually pushing the skillset and boundary a little with each new item. Slowly progressing to larger, harder more challenging items. Moving out of the parents home after lockdown and progressing to a workshop in the garage. It happened naturally piece by piece. One item after the other, selling one to invest in the next. Improving the quality, the products used, personal skillset, detailing and finish each time. Learning new trade techniques. Finding the way. This also led to some commission orders for bespoke made-to-order items too. The doors were slowly opening to a whole new world to get stuck into, a field that showed so much potential to follow a lifelong dream of running a practical and creative small business.
Before you knew it, it turned from a hobby to a small business, with our own workshop. Now offering available to purchase items, commission orders, work on customers own items, and simple restoration. So here we are now - still growing, developing, and trying new things. Pushing the boundary on design. Always striving to make something special, different and totally unique! Never the usual thing you’d find on the market. Embracing and salvaging vintage items, saving them from landfill and giving them a new lease of life is so fulfilling - to put your stamp on a piece of history. Developing our own brand style and identity. Building the dream. With lots of amazing, lovely customers along the way. We continue to build a customer base with many returning, and that support is so valued. What began as a passion project has evolved into something more. We’re proud of where we’ve been and even more excited for what’s ahead. We’d love you to follow and support the journey.
Meet the Owner
“I’ve always been a very creative person and needed a space to express that - whether it be through a form of art, textiles, my work life, business side hustles, or how I dress. Throughout my life I’ve studied and worked within Art, Textiles, Furniture and Fashion. Studying art: I’ve always had more of a precision style. I like perfect line work, immaculate attention to detail and flawless finishes. I’m a bit ‘OCD’ and always take too long trying to make things perfect! But at least it benefits the finish of my furniture now. Studying textiles: I love fabric - the colours, prints, depth and richness. The feel and luxury that texture can bring. Hence why I put it onto my furniture before anything else in the trial stage at the beginning. When in school I would love going to textile shows - collecting up as much fabric, trims and beads as you could carry and coming home to make quirky things like sequinned jackets! I loved sewing and playing with fabric manipulation. I like the freedom and experimental nature that art and textiles can give when using it as a tool to create with. Going on to study fashion I loved creating wacky conceptual designs! I got really into fashion and progressed into the Fashion Retail world for work - but within the management side of visuals and creative. It was all about interior styling of shops - creating amazing displays inside and out, refreshing layouts to make them fresh and exciting for customers to ultimately make sales. I loved the job and progressed up the ladder, but after many years I started feeling the urge to make something for myself - not giving my skills for someone else’s benefit. I started a side hustle to fulfil my artsy side in the pandemic and it went from strength to strength. I feel this background gives you an insight into my furniture - why I like using fabric on my pieces where I can. That I like to try out of the ordinary looks and make something really unique. That I strive for perfect details and high quality finishes. It may take me longer to make each item but they’re worth it.
Outside of this: I have 2 doggies who are my babies! On a weekend I love being out in nature, thrifting for antiques with a coffee in hand. I’m lucky to have an amazing supportive family who have always helped me follow my dreams. I have a small workshop at my home where I spend my days making my furniture. I live for what I do now and don’t want to stop and go back to working for the man! Running a small business is so hard, and I would love if you could support me in any way you can.
Thanks for reading,
Much love
Emma X