Born between London and Madrid, where we were living at the time, we travelled between the two cities to visit each other and develop our collections, sourcing many of our first pieces in Spain, where there are an incredible number of makers who often don’t even have up-to-date websites and do business on WhatsApp or in person.
Meet the maker
Meet Claire & Rose, Founders Of Inspiring Late Afternoon
Behind every piece at Late Afternoon is a story of passion, craftsmanship, and friendship. Join us as we chat with Claire & Rose about the heart and soul behind their inspiring brand and find the perfect classics and heirloom-worthy pieces to add to your wedding gift list.
Read time:
7 minutes
Looking for beautiful décor that adds a vibrant touch to your table and home all year round? Enter the world of Late Afternoon, where timeless design meets exceptional quality and craftsmanship.
The brainchild of Claire and Rose, Late Afternoon was born between London and Madrid amidst the challenges of a global pandemic and the joys of new motherhood. United by a shared passion for unique homeware, the duo launched their brand with a mission to curate a collection of classics and heirlooms-to-be that not only look great — but also tell a story. Whether you're looking for a statement tableware piece or everyday home essentials, Late Afternoon has something to suit every taste - helping you create a space that reflects your unique style and brings you joy for years to come.
Read on to find out the inspiring story behind this mood-boosting brand and explore the curated collection of Later Afternoon gifts, along with Rose & Claire's tips on curating your list with unique wedding presents that you will love forever.
How did Late Afternoon start?
Late Afternoon was launched in 2020 by us, Claire and Rose, two childhood friends, to provide quality, interesting homewares for those looking to craft a home with personality. Having struggled to find pieces that sat between unattainable luxury and cheap high street homogeny, we decided to curate our own range, and Late Afternoon was born.
BROWSE LATE AFTERNOON
Where do you take inspiration from?
Travel remains one of the most rejuvenating experiences for sparking ideas and collecting inspiration. The barrio of Madrid that Rose lived in is a riot of colour, from pistachio and terracotta walls to the bright blue sky above the narrow streets, and this heavily influenced Late Afternoon’s look and feel from the start.
“We’re always collecting colour inspiration out and about that winds its way onto our brand inspiration boards, snapping quick photos of buildings, scraps of fabric, and tiled floors.”
We also find plenty of inspiration in antique and vintage forms, from retro cafe interiors to car boot bric a brac. Claire is always dredging up vintage treasures at markets or online, and their decorative flourishes or timeless shapes are a source of inspiration. Grey minimalism is not the Late Afternoon way!
What's your favourite product to date?
Our Large Platters are a brilliant product and are always one of the most popular pieces, across all 4 colours, all year round. They’re just the right size for serving pretty much anything, from a salad to a roast chicken, and they even look spectacularly hung on the wall. They’re also dishwasher safe, which is boring but important.
What are your future plans for Late Afternoon?
We’ve been focussing on building strong foundations for the future after a whirlwind first three years that have surpassed all our hopes. We’re going to be releasing some really brilliant new pieces this coming year.
We’ve also been spending a lot of time considering which pieces for the home to focus on next, where we can improve on the market offering while honouring our production values. We have big plans to bring new products in new categories for us.
What is your favourite room in your house and why?
Rose: My kitchen was the first room I really ever designed, so I still appreciate it every day. I did everything except build it, from measuring and drawing to sourcing finishes and navigating the challenges created by the ‘bijou’ scale of the floorplan and the budget, but I’m really pleased with the outcome! I learnt a lot about the texture of materials being important and mixing old and new, alongside low-cost and upmarket elements. We uncovered amazing original pine shutters behind the chipboard around the window, which were stripped of magnolia gloss paint (3 full days work) and, along with the high ceiling, made the room look very elegant.
Claire: My bedroom was the first room in my home I designed and my favourite place to wind down at the end of the day. Blessed by two south-facing windows that provide amazing light, the room blends warm pinks with green fabrics and antique lighting. Of course, my favourite thing is the very large bed, which I had upholstered in a timeless Fermoie fabric and lovely crisp white linens and a lovely thick mattress topper. It’s like sleeping in a luxury hotel room.
Who are your favourite interior designers?
This is so mood-dependent. But today we would say India Madhavi for the colour, Rose Uniacke for the texture, and Maria Speake at Retrouvius for the use of reclaimed and interesting materials to design truly creative interiors. Our favourite up-and-coming London studios are Lonika Chande and Studio George for their joyful, colourful interiors with just enough edge.
Do you have any advice for couples on setting up their wedding list?
First and foremost, think about what realistically reflects your lifestyle and interests. You might aspire to be a home baker, but if you actually only make a cake once every 5 years, maybe reconsider the top-of-the range dough mixer. Invest in a really special set of dinner plates that you will actually use every day instead!
“We’re big believers that having very special everyday items—plates, glasses, and cutlery, for example—brings so much daily pleasure, and a wedding list is a fantastic opportunity to upgrade those items.”
What is it about the Wedding Present Company that stands out to you?
The selection of pieces and brands is excellent. You get one chance (usually) to build a wedding list, and it’s so much more pleasurable for you and your guests if there are really lovely and special pieces available, as there are at The Wedding Present Company.
What do you like buying as wedding presents?
There’s no better wedding present than something for the home. It speaks of all the stories that the couple will create there together, and it’s so lovely to think of your gift woven into that. What we like to do is to add a personal touch to the present. So if you’re buying a set of cocktail tumblers, why not add a bottle of a special spirit to go with it, or handwrite the recipe of your favourite cocktails and include them with the card? It shows you really care, and the couple will remember it.
Which Late Afternoon product makes the best wedding present?
It’s hard to beat a set of Terrazzo tumblers paired with the matching Terrazzo jug. They are so chic, and the feel of them in your hand is completely amazing. The jug can be used for pouring drinks and as a vase for flowers, which means it will be used constantly, while the tumblers are in daily use in our houses from morning until evening. Once you’ve used them for your water or Friday night Negroni, you’ll wonder why you didn’t upgrade all those years ago. Oh, and they go in the dishwasher up to 50! Perfect.
Explore our curated range of beautiful Late Afternoon homeware online, featuring hand-painted tableware and unique home decor that make perfect additions to any gift list, or book your appointment in our London showroom to explore the brand's collection and thousands of unique wedding gifts in person.
Whether you have a question about Late Afternoon products, need help with creating your wedding gift list, or simply want to discuss your gift list ideas, our Wedding List Advisors and team are always happy to help.
