Amanda and Mark Habis-Rittinger have turned their mutual passion for design into a burgeoning interiors business

Amid the Georgian crescents and eclectic mix of shops in central Bath is a relatively new addition to the scene. Set on a side street adjacent to the main shopping area is an intriguing interiors shop called The Inspired Maker. It's the brainchild of designers Amanda and Mark Habis-Rittinger, who opened for business in 2003. “Because it still feels so new to us we do live and breathe the shop,” says Amanda. “Even when we're trying to take time off, we invariably find ourselves talking about work.”

Inside is a mix of old and new pieces of furniture plus lamps, mirrors and objets d'art – some sourced at antiques fairs or abroad, others made to new designs drawn up by the couple. “There's no rhyme or reason as to what sells better between the new pieces or the older items, so we try to stock a balance of the two. We shy away from the term antiques as we don't know a great deal about them,” says Mark. What they do both possess, however, is an excellent eye for spotting pieces of furniture in a sale room or auction house which others might ignore. “Mark is fantastic at finding chairs or retro sideboards that just need a little TLC,” says Amanda. “We'll always have some work done to the older pieces, whether it's a little restoration or reupholstering in modern fabrics.” Once given a new lease of life, items are put on display in the shop's stylish interior, and it's never long before they're snapped up.

“We try to keep our stock fairly exclusive – there's no point repeating what people can find elsewhere,” says Mark. With this in mind, they have developed their own range of furnishings designed by themselves or local craftspeople and artists. “We want to offer products that suit the architecture of the city,” says Amanda. The shop is closed on Monday and Tuesday, which is when they visit exhibitions or catch up with work in progress in local studios. “We're always looking for new designers. We might spot something in a gallery, and follow up the lead, or discover someone producing wonderful mirrors or cabinetry from a shed in their garden,” says Mark. Their love of Bath is as evident as their mutual passion for the business. “We adore the city,” says Amanda. “Living here is like being in a film set. Bath is such a visually stimulating environment to live in and the architecture here is simply stunning.” Even Dotty the Border Terrier has taken to city life. “She misses the rabbits where we lived before in Wiltshire, but the squirrels in Victoria Park are fair game.”

The couple's next project is to renovate the two storeys above the shop where they are currently living or, as Mark says, “camping''. “The flat had been let to students and it needs a total revamp: new bathrooms, kitchen, wiring, you name it.”

With the renovations, the shop, and plans to expand their bespoke furnishings, Amanda and Mark have plenty to keep them busy. “We're lucky as in general we do agree on most things,” says Mark. “There's no doubt that we pool our strengths in most of the things we do,” says Amanda. “We'd always wanted to work together, and I'm thrilled we both enjoy it so much.”

The Inspired Maker, 4 Bladud Buildings, Bath BA1 5LS, (01225) 460055; www.theinspiredmaker.co.uk.

WORDS JENNY HASTIE
PHOTOGRAPHS SIMON BROWN
NOVEMBER 2006