Chiseling Dreams: A Marbelous Chat with Momina Watton, the Founder of Atelier278

Unearthing the Artistry of Bespoke Homeware with Momina Watton, Founder of Atelier278. In a world where home aesthetics have taken center stage, Momina Watton, the visionary behind Atelier278, has emerged as a prominent figure in the realm of bespoke marble homeware. Atelier278’s exquisite creations have garnered a fan base that includes notable names like Rosie Huntington-Whitely, Harriet Westmoreland, and Flavia Stuttgen, all of whom share a deep appreciation for the brand’s unique offerings. We had the privilege of sitting down with Momina to explore her journey from happenstance to the creation of her renowned brand, Atelier278. She takes us through her passion for marble, her commitment to sustainable craftsmanship, and the impact of Instagram on the world of interior design.

 

Tell us about your journey and how you came to founding your brand, Atelier278

Honestly, launching Atelier278 was a happy accident that I could never have predicted. I’d moved in to a new apartment and shortly afterwards, lockdown hit us. We were spending so much more time at home and the details of my surroundings became all the more important. Simultaneously, I had more free time. My usual busy evenings seeing friends or hosting PR events (I worked in PR for 10 years prior to launching the brand) were now free so I spent this time searching for vintage pieces and was especially taken by Italian Marble & Travertine. I found so many beautiful pieces, more than I could keep for myself, so I decided to share these on Instagram. Soon we had the likes of Naomi Smart, Commerce Director at British Vogue, and stylist and tastemaker – Bettina Looney – as our customers.

 

How did you get into creating gorgeous marble accessories and tables?

After spending some time sourcing and selling vintage pieces, I soon realised that many customers had very specific requirements for their home. London apartments especially are tricky and people needed to be clever with the size and design of their table but also wanted the flexibility to choose a material that they would love. Finding the perfect vintage piece really is like hitting the jackpot and has always been my first choice – not only for the charm and character it gives but also from a sustainability perspective – however buying something for the sake of it ends up being a false economy. So I decided to investigate creating Made to Order Marble & Travertine tables, inspired by both the vintage designs I loved as well as more contemporary styles.

 

What was your idea behind your company Atelier278?

I wanted people to be able to create their dream table that would stay with them for years to come and I wanted to make the process easy, accessible and enjoyable. You get to speak to a real person (me!), you can select your dream Marble or Travertine (which we source from Italy) and everything we make is handcrafted here in the UK by our specialists. By producing locally, we hope to keep the art of stone masonry alive whilst cutting out the ridiculous customs charges and delays and also reducing our carbon footprint. It’s a win, win.

 

What is it about marble that captivated you?

The fact that every slab is totally different because of the way nature decided to react over thousand of years. It also fascinates me that the Romano Travertine that we use for our tables today comes from the same quarry as that used for the Trevi Fountain in Rome. Marble and Travertine are both timeless and contemporary – you can’t go wrong.

 

What was your first marble piece that you bought?

A vintage coffee table that I found hidden away in a reclamation yard in Somerset – the owner told me it had been sitting there for 6 months and because of the somewhat haphazard setting, no-one had realised its potential. Vintage sourcing is all about luck and having a vision.

You create bespoke dining and coffee tables for some of the hottest interior accounts and content creators. Why do you think your designs speak to these creators?

Everything I create is what I would want for myself and I’ve been fortunate to find my people through social media. There are a lot of highly designed pieces out there rather than what I had been craving myself – simple design in beautiful materials that will evolve with you. I believe people are cherishing classic design now more than ever.

 

You created a table for Rosie Huntington Whitley. How was this experience for you?

I have always admired Rosie’s interiors and funnily enough, the day she messaged me to enquire about a table was exactly a year to the day that I had shared an inspiration photo from her home on my Instagram. The memory popped up at the same time as her message so it was a real full circle moment and made me reflect on how far I had come. Creating the table was a privilege and it looks dreamy in her home.

 

Let’s talk interiors. What is your favourite piece at the moment?

I have been obsessing over the Antica II Sconce by Ohla Studio in the brushed silver finish. They are made by recycling copper scraps using a pre-Hispanic smithing technique. I love when beautiful design incorporates natural materials whilst keeping traditional crafts alive.

 

What is one interior trend that you wish would die?

Fast furniture! It’s such a false economy and results in landfill waste. I’m a real believer in buying what you genuinely love rather than trend pieces and where possible, buying once but well.

Which is your favourite design you offer and why?

I love our OCTAVIA design as the octagonal columns remind me of Ancient Roman architecture and the chunky emerald cut top really showcases the natural stone. I think pretty consoles are hard to find but I feel this design really is a piece of art in itself.

 

What is it that naturally occurs to give marble that incredible veining?

It still blows my mind that the incredible colours and veining on each slab are the result of crystallised minerals deposited by water that ran through the stone and evaporated – it’s all down to completely natural occurrences and variations in heat pressure. That’s why the unique patterns can’t be replicated and no two blocks are ever the same.

What are some challenges you have navigated as a business owner?

It’s been a real challenge being responsible for absolutely everything. Some days I wonder who is in charge and then realise it’s me! I’ve been really fortunate that our Instagram followers and customers are incredibly supportive. As the business grows, I hope people will continue to realise that it’s just little old me behind the brand and not some big corporation.

What is next for Atelier278?

We have just launched our new website that allows customers to navigate and shop through our standard Made to Order designs in their own time. We worked with Domingo, the most talented creative studio based in Barcelona, on a full rebrand and e-commerce website. It took us 2 whole years to turn around due to the sheer number of customisable options available within each of our designs – there are 531 possible options and that’s not even including our Bespoke offering or accessories! We are also working on expanding our accessories collection. After the success of our Marble & Onyx Chess Sets, I have spent countless months on creating the most glorious Backgammon sets. Each piece is hand cut from Onyx and Marble in intricately inlaid – it’s not been an easy ride but I think we are almost there.

 

How do you think Instagram has impacted interior design?

I think Instagram has made the interiors world a smaller place and allowed people in all corners of the world to come together and discover small businesses, interior designers and makers. I think it has also empowered individuals to take leaps in design that they may previously been scared to do – seeing what other people are doing is always inspiring. The downside of Instagram is that it can instil a fast paced attitude towards trends but I think overall, it’s had a very positive impact on the way we live.

Tell us about your interior style.

My interiors and fashion style have always been similar in that I like classic design with a twist. I think starting with a capsule of well made, timeless neutrals and then layering pieces with more character and colour that can be changed and evolved over time is my favourite way to approach things.

 

Has Instagram helped with the growth of your business?

My business wouldn’t exist without Instagram – it’s how we launched and to this day it’s where the majority of our customers come from. Having come from a background in PR, I truly understand the importance of organic endorsements and I have been incredibly fortunate to have had a number of customers who have a very loyal and genuinely engaged following. When they have bought our pieces and raved about them, their followers have listened. PR and Social Media isn’t about the number of followers you have – it’s about the real connections –  just like real life.

 

As we are a tech website, we would love to know the tech you use on a day to day basis and why you love it.

As we grow, tech is increasingly becoming a larger part of our business. We will soon be launching a Bespoke Consultation package where we can bring to life our customers’ designs in their chosen material and sizes using wonderfully life-like renders. Being able to show a client how their table will look before they take the plunge is an exciting and invaluable resource.