Background
in Brief Montpellier Marble was established in Cheltenham in 1997 by Michael Mellor and Eve Iravani. They were inspired by some of the exotic and unusual marble types they had come across and felt their was a gap in the market for fireplaces with a difference.
The company specialises in designing and manufacturing fire surrounds to the highest standard of design in the finest quality marble. They fire surrounds are renowned for their superior finish which can only be achieved by hand carving and polishing techniques.
History
Michael and Eve started Montpellier Marble initially in premises borrowed in Cheltenham to accommodate some test containers they had brought over to the UK to gain feedback. They started the business with a marble desk, a telephone, a single design and a shipment of stock including marble fireplaces and ornaments, many of which were broken. From the onset it became clear that the fire surrounds showed the best prospects, so time and energy was focused into sourcing marble of the highest quality and creating unique, stylish designs inspired by unusual and intriguing sources. In this way the company has developed a niche in the market by creating exquisite, enduring pieces that incorporate distinctive classic and contemporary elements. Demand is such that over the past 7 years the company has grown rapidly, extending the range to 25 designs and currently employing more than 60 people.
Fuelled by the increasing popularity of marble and growing appreciation of the value of hand-crafted products Montpellier has succeeded in breaking into a market dominated by big names, winning several awards along the way.
Stockists
Montpellier Marble has built up a network of over 230 stockists in England, Scotland,Wales and Ireland, cherry picking top retailers to keep the brand exclusive. Click here to find your nearest stockist.
Awards
Montpellier launched their first design at the Hearth & Home show in Harrogate in 1998 – since then they have had great success at the show winning 6 awards in the last 10 years.
This year Montpellier finally secured the coveted "Fireplace of the Year" award at The Hearth and Home 2007 exhibition.