Posted in Case Studies / Projects
16th February 2024
Founded in 1991, Rectory has an established reputation for selecting the very best sites throughout London and the Home Counties and constructing homes of outstanding quality and superior specification. The Founder and Executive Chairman of Rectory, Simon Vickers, has had a longstanding relationship with Jonathon and the team at Minoli for nearly 35 years, when Minoli first started supplying porcelain and ceramic tiles to housebuilder Charles Church Ltd in the late 1980s, where Simon was working at the time, as the youngest Managing Director of a major housebuilder.
Since then, and from the initial incorporation of Rectory, Minoli have been the ‘go to’ provider for all their porcelain and ceramic tile needs, advising, helping specify and reliably delivering to Rectory sites throughout Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Surrey, Berkshire, Hertfordshire and Middlesex.
Rectory does not aspire to be a volume house builder but instead focuses on select developments, taking pride in the quality of the homes they build and their standards of customer service, and in that respect, they have shared values and ambitions with Minoli. Whilst open to organic and strategic growth, both firms have recognised that operating at a particular scale allows them to focus on the quality of their products and to provide a level of service considered second to none in their respective fields.
Another similarity is the wider family involvement in both firms. At Rectory, Simon’s wife and Company Director Sarah, leads the interior design function for the business and five of their six children are now very much involved in the activities of various departments – Poppy in sales & marketing, George and Edd in the land department, Charlie as Development Director and Lily in interior design and show homes, alongside Sarah. Likewise, Minoli is a fourth-generation family firm, founded by Luigi Minoli in 1960, then run by his son Peter, today led by Managing Director Jonathon Minoli, with his own children Lucy and Luca now starting their careers within the company.
(L-R) Sarah & Simon Vickers, Jonathon Minoli, Charlie Bethell-Vickers, Poppy Hughes (nee Bethell-Vickers)
The foundation of the Rectory brand, and the hallmark of any Rectory home, is a completely bespoke approach to the design and build process, and unrivalled attention-to-detail throughout each development, which is known as The Rectory Difference. As a privately owned and managed niche developer, Rectory excels at creating stunning developments in highly desirable locations, with beautiful properties that are full of character, that their customers are proud to call home.
Within the Rectory portfolio of developments there are some great examples of this distinguishing focus on individually designed properties that feature porcelain tiles from Minoli’s collections.
Take for instance Hampden House, situated in the picturesque Oxfordshire village or Moreton, surrounded by glorious countryside just minutes from bustling Thame. This remarkable, contemporary, barn-style house features floor to ceiling windows, a stunning glazed balcony from the master bedroom and luxury living in over 4,000 sq. ft of space. In the master ensuite we see how Minoli Marvel Calacatta Extra in porcelain has been expertly laid, in both 30/60 and 60/60 sizes with rectified edges, to create a luxurious, marble-effect finish.
Another delightful development is Winkfield Manor in Ascot, an exclusive collection of 18 stunning homes set in the grounds of where George III’s hunting lodge once stood. Here Rectory Homes have taken the style of the original property as the starting point for the new homes, using a palette of local natural materials, appropriate detailing and traditional silhouettes. A guest ensuite within features Minoli Limestone Beige, in a super-fine Matt porcelain, with a natural stone-effect finish, applied to full height on the walls in the generous shower enclosure.
Our thanks must go to Simon, Sarah and all the team at Rectory for specifying tiles from Minoli’s collections in these perfectly presented properties and you can see more of their current portfolio on their website here: www.rectory.co.uk
We look forward to sharing news of more of their exciting developments in the near future.