Cabinet
Minister
A draughty, deserted old church would be a millstone
around the necks of most young businesses, but for bespoke woodworker
Charles Taylor there really couldn’t be better premises. He says: “We’re
based in this massive former Church of Scotland in Dalkeith. It’s over 6,000
square feet in area and has excellent light and a wonderful, sympathetic
ambience. The size, scale and upkeep of the premises might be a liability
for other businesses, but it’s perfect for us.”
Best known for their work with the National Trust, the
National Galleries of Scotland and Edinburgh architects Benjamin Tindall and
Simpson and Brown, Charles Taylor Woodwork are also renowned for their
expertise in subtly restoring original Victorian and Georgian features,
found typically in Scotland’s well-heeled homes. As a result the old church
is the perfect reflection of the values, hopes and aims of his business,
says Charles. “It’s a sympathetic space in which to carry out the exacting
work we do and the upkeep of the building is perfectly in keeping with the
conservation ethos of the company. With a church full of master craftsmen,
if anyone can look after this building, it’s me.”
Charles set up his business in the mid 1980s at a time
when British homeowners were just beginning to catch the home style bug.
“The 1960s and 1970s were bad decades for traditional woodworkers, but in
the 1980s something happened. The property market boomed and people began to
look seriously at their interiors – not just as an investment for resale,
but also as something worth taking a pride in.”
He says: “We specialise in high-quality domestic woodwork
and architectural joinery. This is the basis of our expertise and anyone
looking to get the details in their home right would be advised to seek our
help.”
Charles’s background is in furniture design and
cabinetmaking. Edinburgh-bred but trained in London, he’s cut his teeth
working on some of the capital’s most seriously stylish houses. He says: “I
was sure that what was happening in London would soon be in demand in
Scotland.” The craftsman returned to Edinburgh just as property prices were
taking off.
“After years of half-hearted DIY and improvements, people
were prioritising their homes in a totally new way, making a real commitment
to getting things right. That chimed with my approach, and since 1985, when
I started this venture, I’ve never looked back.”
Highly regarded as the designer of the staircase within
The Queen’s Gallery at Edinburgh’s Holyrood House, Charles particularly
favours very high quality hardwoods, oaks, elm and sycamore. He also works
with specialist metalworkers and other experts on unusual projects.
He says: “Today I am working on a secret door leading to
a walk-in cupboard hidden within a bookcase. The mechanism that triggers the
lock is concealed within a book. It’s a challenging job for the whole team
of specialists. We’re looking to construct a clever, hidden lock with a nice
smooth action, which can pass off undetected. There just aren’t that many
people around with the skills to do that kind of job successfully.”
With such high-end expertise, most people might conclude
that Charles’s bespoke service is out of their league. However, the
cabinetmaker disagrees: “It’s not elitist, although it is expensive, but for
people looking to do things properly – and add value to their property – we
offer good value for money. Crucially, we build well, so our pieces of work
– there’s little need for aftercare. We’re like the woodworking equivalent
of a Linn stereo – our work is genuinely world class and although there are
cheaper options available, they really aren’t any better options available.”
A Charles Taylor kitchen can cost anything from £30,000
to £80,000, but the company also completes hundreds of small jobs every
year. “We do lots of individual furniture pieces and doors and panelling
jobs in Victorian houses costing £1,000 to £2,000” he says. “I like the mix
of big and small jobs, and in some cases it needn’t be expensive. We’re
doing lots of replacement front doors at the moment – replacing 1970s
eyesores with something in keeping with the owner’s original woodwork.”
However, for most of Charles’s customers, time rather
than money is the issue, so he tries to make the process of working with
clients both inclusive and fun. “We get them involved, they’ll visit our
workshop two to three times before we get underway to get a feel for what we
do, and we welcome feedback and consultation at all times” he says.
“Renovating a house is generally a slow, miserable and frustrating business
– if we can make it more enjoyable for clients then that is a very good
thing.”
Typically, he says, “We’ll be called in to design a
kitchen, but we’ll end up building free-standing furniture pieces, restoring
handrails and replacing doors and windows. In some cases, we’ve been working
with clients at different stages of their renovations for three to four
years.”
When it comes to renovations, the most common mistake
that people make is expecting too much from their companies that are
unequipped to meet their customers’ needs, says Charles. “We understand
quality and what jobs involve. It’s not just about delivering something –
it’s about delivering something that works as it is intended. What we offer
are expertise in design and specification, the highest quality craftsmanship
and, for people with stylish homes, a touch of serious class in look and
design. This is the real stuff.”
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