News
Landrover
The works Landrover is still going strong after 20+ years and is a great work horse for joinery and surveying work on Highland Estates.
May 2025
Restoration of Memorial Panel
This memorial panel dated back to 1732 in the former Newton Parish Church. It was received in many distressed pieces and the Church of Scotland asked for the restoration and re-instatement. We restored the panel in our workshop and re-instated with a new backing to strengthen the structure. It was quite a logistical challenge as the panel was a very significant weight and had to be manoeuvred into place over fixed pews.
April 2025
Balustrade Renovation
This castellated house was a former hotel and is being renovated to become a private home. Our role, working to the main contractor, was to restore the badly damaged but beautiful balustrade to the main staircase. An enjoyable project as there are few staircases of this quality with such ornate carving in Scotland.
March 2025
Library Security Work
A private Highland house which is used for functions required a discrete form of security for the books in 4 bookcases within the library. The client was delighted with my innovative but practical solution of lockable brass security rods.
February 2025
Restoration of Japenese Style Door
It was an honour to restore this incredibly beautiful door with images of birds & flowers from Knockderry Castle. The recreation of the lost ivory pieces in synthetic ivory was carried out by the skilled carver Ian Broadbent based in York.
More information on Instagram @ knockderrycastle
January 2025
Replacement of Exterior Handrail
This project for the National Trust of Scotland at New Hailes House was very complex with so many different angles. It required on-site carving and sophisticated machining of the parts.
December 2024
Design of Kitchen Dresser
Enjoying working with a very discerning and knowledgeable private client to design a dresser for his kitchen with integral sink, salvaged teak, historic glass and bespoke hardware.
November 2024
Vestry Door Conservation
The St Michael’s Church asked us to restore a decayed door with rusted and inappropriate hardware. The repair was transformative and the client was delighted.
November 2024
Restoration of Oak Pilasters
These oak pilasters, suffering from water and rot damage, were located in the arch to a bay window at Knockderry Castle. The pilasters were removed to our workshop for restoration. It was an interesting challenge to retain the original colour and texture for the client and obtain the rich warmth of the wood at the end of the restoration.
More information on Instagram @ knockderrycastle
October 2024
Refurbishment of staircase & handrail
This staircase was designed and installed by us 20 years ago for a private client in Edinburgh. It was most pleasing to see how well it has lasted the test of time and it looked as good as new after re-polishing.
September 2024
Norwegian Woodwork
A great holiday to Norway which, of course, involved looking at their woodwork. The carvings in the old Stave churches was inspiring.
August 2024
Mantlepiece Restoration
This early Victorian mantelpiece for Knockderry Castle is a tour de force of carved imagery. Our role was to restore the mantelpiece which included replacement of missing carvings, repairing splits and re-polishing.
More information on Instagram @ knockderrycastle
May 2024
Workshop Clock
Essential to have a clock chiming on the hour to mark coffee and lunchtime. The boom of the West Church clock striking the hour cannot be replicated but I am delighted with my new workshop clock which is a family heirloom. Roll on coffee time!
March 2024
Cellar Doors for Cove Harbour Trust
A very unusual job to restore one door and replace another, in a tunnel close to the sea, to avoid rot and any breaking & entry. The working conditions on site were difficult but I was pleased with our very robust solution.
December 2023
Enjoying Work
New office area has space for laptop, Radio4, all my reference books and even the dog!
November 2023
Relocation & Restoration of Period Bookcases
The Church of Scotland Headquarters in Edinburgh were creating a library in a new location within their building and we were commissioned to carry out the relocation and restoration of their existing bookcases.
October 2023
New Workshop Fully Operational
Delighted to have the new workshop in Eskbank all set up with wiring and extraction for the majority of my machinery from the West Church. I am proud to still have one of the best resourced cabinetmaking workshops in Scotland.
September 2023
Oak Headboard & Wardrobe
A rewarding project for a long standing customer who wanted a curved fronted oak wardrobe and headboard designed in an arts & crafts style. I was particularly pleased with the design detail of the burr elm handles to the wardrobe.
June 2023
Bespoke Desk in Oak
A real pleasure to design a unique piece of furniture with this client who wanted to use oak from his Estate. This was a modern piece designed to fit in a historic room and to give views out of 2 windows as well as being moveable. A good solution to a challenging brief!
June 2023
Goodbye West Church
The end of an era with the sale of the West Church to Orrocco. It has been a fantastic workshop for the last 30 years but it is also exciting to be starting afresh with the aim of a better work life balance.
February 2023
Bar & Display Cabinet for Whisky Distiller
I designed and built this cabinet to meet the interior designer’s requirements. It was a complex design as it incorporated burr elm panels, Caithness slab counter, integrated lighting, a fridge, and baize lined drawers with individual niches for varying sizes of glass. I am delighted with the final design which sits well in its historic setting.
January 2023