Completed Projects

Following a successful exhibition at the Harbour Cottage in Kirkcudbright I had an e-mail from a lady with the title 'MOUSE HOUSE'.

She wanted a display unit for her felt creatures.

The process in pictures:

The timber is some oak burr which has been planed & cut so that they fit to make a corner unit. The space for a stairway has been cut out and the supporting 'pillar' for the stairway placed at the back.

The plan is to have a light fitted at the top to light down through the stairway..

Everything has been sanded through the grits, down to 240. But I expect it will have further sanding as we go.

The next challenge is to make the steps for the stairs, then try it roughly in situ before putting it all together.

A visit to the customer has confirmed the final measurements and the assembly can be started.

Stairs made and placed in position. Forma made to fit in the base so that the stairs can be taken away if not needed.

Finished in the workshop

Finished in Situ. Very happy customer

Finished - Index Modular Cabinet

25 draw Golden oak Index modular Cabinet Unit.
Solid Oak throughout, even down to the draw stops.
Approximately 107cm high x 100cm wide x 39cm deep.

Initial investigations indicate the piece could be 1920s/30s……
Each draw has a brass label holder in a fine ‘Art Deco’ style.
The pull tabs have the makers initials, K&J embossed upon them.

The piece can readily – without tools – be arranged in five or fewer sub units.
It is very adaptable and versatile.
A section could be used on a counter top whilst the other sections could be a coffee table or just as they are, stacked in a suitable room for use with CD’s, DVD’s or even bottles of wine.

More than 50 hours have been lovingly, empathetically, invested in this piece; mostly by highly skilled staff.
This truly is a piece of original craftsmanship and now restored to its former glory for those that appreciate quality in all it’s guises.

Please contact us if you are interested in a viewing.

Project History:

Index filing cabinet had been used as a tool box in someones rather damp workshop.

Work has started on this modular filing cabinet. All the draw furniture has been removed, cleaned and polished.

The non-original plywood bottom & partitions removed. Everything has been sanded down and its had it's first coat of Danish oil.

This is the next phase. All lightly sanded and a 2nd coat of Danish oil added.

Back in September 2016 we were contacted by a company in Glasgow looking for someone to turn 3 large conical legs.

Dimensions were provided and once we had confirmed that our lathe would take the size required, the Forma's were organised for delivery.

Here are the before and after photos:

The pictures above are of the forma being centred for mounting on the lathe And the 3 Legs in situ at the London Design Museum.

We were provide with a template, which we produced a copy of so that we could break it down into.

The first phase of work was done on the work bench with a chainsaw and then on the lathe with a Lancerlot blade. (Disc Chainsaw)

To get rid of the majority of the excess wood.

Then the real work of turning began. 6 weeks later we had all 3 legs back on the pallets, finished in a danish oil and polished.

Here is the process in pictures:

The Pictures below were taken by Customers/Friends Visiting The London Design Museum in January 2017

• Inception:

Back in mid- 2012 We were approached by Threave Gardens, to see what could be done to save the National Trust student built Mushroom Shelter.

The original roof made of heather and steel was in a poor state with dying heather and rusty metalwork. The bench underneath made of ply and metal was not much better.

The assessment highlighted the unsafe nature of the roof and so the rotten timber along with the heather was removed.

• The Design Stage. November 2013 – March 2014:

Late in 2013, We were given the go ahead to refurbish the shelter.

After another year exposed to the elements, the metalwork on both the roof and the bench had deteriorated. It was apparent that the existing metalwork would not be strong enough, in its rusty state, or that it would support the new wood and shingle.

A new roof was commissioned and outline plans were draw up.

• Off site build stage. March – April 2014:The bench had been removed to the workshop where the process of refurbishment began.

The old ply was discarded and several 2 inch thick elm planks were cut to size on the metal frame.

The pictures below show the Work In Progress in the workshop and the finished bench in situ.

• Off site build stage. March – April 2014: Continued with the metal framework for the roof.

• On site build stage. April – 2nd June 2014:

The site was cleared and prepared with the removal of the old metalwork. The new roof structure was welded and concreted securely.

Then the final task of putting together this enormous timber ‘jigsaw puzzle’ began.

The entire wooden framework had been prepared, the marine ply and sterling board cut to rough size and painted, and rows 1 to 14 of cedar shingles cut to appropriate angle/size and bundled for transport to site.

The work was completed with the addition of a Large Turned Mushroom on the top and the Grand Opening of the Mushroom Shelter was arranged.