A DREAM came true for one interior designer as she opened her showroom in the heart of the city where she was born, giving guests a tantalising taste of things to come.

House of Harper held a launch party at the new showroom at 37 The Tything in Worcester as guests enjoyed a sneak peek inside before the first customers arrive next week.

The official opening is expected to take place this Tuesday and business owners hope it can become the go to place for bespoke interior designs, especially kitchens.

Company director Rhian Williams is born and bred in Worcester and hopes her experience as a kitchen designer for 17 years combines well with her partner Ricky Davies's business credentials so together they can make the venture a big success. 

Worcester News: INSPIRED: Rhian Williams of House of Harper has worked closely with bespoke lighting experts Andy Print (centre) and Kabir Matharu of Leverint based at Top Barn, near Worcester to make the showroom look its best INSPIRED: Rhian Williams of House of Harper has worked closely with bespoke lighting experts Andy Print (centre) and Kabir Matharu of Leverint based at Top Barn, near Worcester to make the showroom look its best (Image: James Connell/Newsquest)

The name of the business also has a personal, touching resonance for the couple - it is named after their six-year-old daughter, Gracie Harper Davies.

Miss Williams said their daughter 'loves it' that she is, quite literally, one of the inspirations behind the new venture and 'the star of the show'.

Miss Williams, 32, who attended St Joseph's Primary School and Blessed Edward Oldcorne in the city, said: "This is my first business on my own. I've worked in kitchen design for 17 years and it was always my dream of having my own business - and I decided last year just to go for it.

Worcester News: INSPIRATION: House of Harper takes its title from the middle name of six-year-old Gracie Harper Davies, carried here by her dad and one of the directors, Ricky Davies. Next to them are Gracie's mum Rhian Williams, a director, and designer Zoe Tsetepis INSPIRATION: House of Harper takes its title from the middle name of six-year-old Gracie Harper Davies, carried here by her dad and one of the directors, Ricky Davies. Next to them are Gracie's mum Rhian Williams, a director, and designer Zoe Tsetepis (Image: James Connell/Newsquest)

"Designing kitchens is what I love doing. We have been so heavily supported by everyone. It has been quite emotional. It's exciting not having to say no to anyone.

"I've worked for so many companies in the past and there has been something  we wanted to do and we weren't able to do it for whatever reason. We can do anything people want. It's delivering really high quality to people.

"The cabinets we build are the highest quality and we're not going to charge people an absolute fortune for it. The business is like a family - we just want people to feel really welcome."

Worcester News: CHEF: Tarrant Ablett of Bora gives a demonstration of the Bora Cooktop (and his culinary skills) at the House of Harper launch party at the showroom in The Tything in Worcester CHEF: Tarrant Ablett of Bora gives a demonstration of the Bora Cooktop (and his culinary skills) at the House of Harper launch party at the showroom in The Tything in Worcester (Image: James Connell/Newsquest)

Miss Williams said she had a talented team around her - designer Zoe Tsetepis and 'highly skilled'  joiner Dave O'Hare who makes the cabinets they sell by hand. Still building a client's kitchen during the launch party, he was not able to attend. However, Miss Williams said this was a measure of his dedication as he worked on the finishing touches at the workshop in Coventry.

The cabinets are also hand-painted by Nick Wilkins who was at the showroom at 2am getting everything ready despite just becoming a dad. 

Worcester News: ILLUMINATION: House of Harper in The Tything in Worcester has worked in partnership with Leverint Lighting which has a studio at Top Barn in Holt Heath, near Worcester and another base at Enfield ILLUMINATION: House of Harper in The Tything in Worcester has worked in partnership with Leverint Lighting which has a studio at Top Barn in Holt Heath, near Worcester and another base at Enfield (Image: James Connell/Newsquest)

Although the primary focus is on kitchens, Miss Williams said House of Harper could also provide bespoke designs for offices, bedrooms, boot rooms and utility rooms with items 'made to order'.

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Making the showroom look its best has been something of a collaboration with another Worcestershire-based business - Leverint Lighting, a British manufacturer of lighting based at a design studio in Top Barn. The business has also featured on Grand Designs. 

Director and co-founder of Leverint, Andy Print, 34, was at the launch to see how the company's lighting complemented the designs in the showroom.

Bora chef Tarrant Ablett was also at the launch party, demonstrating the Bora Cooktop which has a downdraft extractor which helps 'open up the kitchen' as an alternative to an overhead extractor.

Using the cooktop, he was preparing for guests lightly grilled asparagus with an oil and balsamic glaze, wild garlic risotto and steaks courtesy of Grid Iron Meat, based in Yorkshire.

Drinks were also served to guests on arrival.