With a combined 30 years of experience in the building and fit out industry, Melissa Potente, managing director of Inndecs, and her two siblings, Joe and Hannah, have recently launched Cotswold-based renovations specialist, Meliora.
SoGlos finds out how things are going in the residential and conservation sector — and what exciting plans are on the horizon.
What inspired you to found Meliora, on top of your commercial refurbishment firm, Inndecs?
In the commercial building sector, it is compulsory to provide things like an itemised bill of quants, schedule of works, cost analysis, variation orders, hand over and warranty packs. We wanted to bring this same level of service to the residential market.
What does Meliora do and what does it offer that other Gloucestershire renovation firms don’t?
Meliora offers our clients a complete turn key solution for their build projects. Working with the most talented architects and designers in the local area to provide a complete project team from start to finish. Our clients can be safe in the knowledge that they will receive the highest level of service and quality workmanship, on time and on budget.
How does the full service work, from start to finish, for a client?
Our superior service offers the professional project management of a project, with client updates throughout. This ensures the project runs smoothly with minimal involvement from the client, so that they can relax with peace of mind that their project is in safe hands.
We also offer an easy quotation process, saving time but also providing the client with transparency that helps them make informed decisions about the project, to suit their budgets.
We look at cost analysis and honest communications, meaning no hidden costs. Following the quotation process, budget clarity means that our client has a comprehensive understanding of expenses from the beginning through to the end of their project.
We have the flexibility to meet our clients every need, including the ability to problem solve, address issues quickly and to adapt to any project changes quickly and efficiently.
And at the end of the project we also do a deep clean, handing the client's home back to them clean and tidy so that they can get on and enjoy it!
We also finish on time, every time! We are so confident in this promise that we guarantee it. If, for any reason the completion deadline has not been met, then our client will receive a weekend's stay in a hotel with our compliments.
And once the project is complete, the journey doesn’t end there. Handover packs are provided upon completion of each project with details regarding warranty periods, leaving our clients with complete peace of mind at end.
Have the Cotswolds’ unique characteristics influenced renovation ideas for projects that Meliora takes on?
The Cotswolds is full of beautiful and historic buildings. We have years of experience of working on buildings like these, where they require sensitive restoration and working closely with local authorities and conservation officers.
What have been your favourite projects to work on so far, and why?
We have recently been working at 15th-century manor house in Bisley, creating a scullery for our client. The house is absolutely beautiful and steeped in history. It is linked to the Bisley Boy tale, a local legend involving Queen Elizabeth I that was immortalised by Bram Stoker in his non-fiction book, Famous Imposters.
How do you address sustainability in projects, and in the company as a whole?
We work with local refuse companies that actively recycle as much of our waste as possible. We also try to repurpose things like kitchens and furniture to local charities where possible. We also switched some of our company vehicles to electric last year and we hope to change the vans to electric over the next couple of years as the charging infrastructure improves.
What are your long-term goals for the company in the next five to ten years?
We want to grow the business and increase our capacity to take on more exciting projects! We will do this through increasing our staff numbers and continuing to build on our relationships with local architects and designers.
Are there any potential partnerships, collaborations or plans on the horizon that you’re excited about?
We are super excited about a potential collaboration with one of the most sought-after and successful designers in the Cotswolds — watch this space!
