It's all in the Detail

Words by Hannah Tapping

Combining traditional joinery skills and techniques with modern technology for period and contemporary projects.

Bespoke Timber Joinery’s time-served craftsmen have the experience and attention to detail to turn any vision into a reality. Based in North Devon, the team manufacture products from their own designs and drawings, so each is bespoke. From internal and external doors including timber bi-folds, to mouldings such as skirtings and architrave, as well as countless other joinery items including window shutters, cabinetry and staircases Bespoke Timber Joinery is able to adapt to reflect precise requirements, budget and style.

The highest standard of workmanship is combined with a professional approach and friendly service. Private clients, architects, contractors, organisations and business owners alike are welcome to sit down and talk through their requirements in order to find the best solution. I spoke to Workshop Manager Stephen Beckley to find out more about the business.

What would you say sets bespoke timber craftsmanship apart from mass-produced alternatives, particularly in high-end residential or hospitality projects?

Our attention to detail for sure. We will never compete with companies who produce large scale joinery items of the same ilk, and neither would we want to. Our joinery items are unique to a project and to our clients with every project being different. That is the appeal to us as a company. We are customer focused and take great pride in the level of service and commitment to a given project. Our satisfaction is derived from the end product and the fact that our work is purely bespoke.

Can you walk me through your design-to-installation process and how you collaborate with interior designers and contractors at each stage?

We are typically approached with an idea, a vision, of something the client is looking to achieve. This usually takes the form of a plan view together with a sketch. We then chat through this with all parties to get a better understanding of the materials they envisage using, the colours etc. We also like to get a better understanding of the purpose of the piece, its functionality and how this will be used. A wardrobe, for example, can simply house a hanging rail or it can be made to serve a multitude of things. The choices are endless from shoe and belt storage to the type of lighting and how this is to work. The options are limitless. 

Once we get a better understanding, we draw up an initial design taking all the factors into account. This is then discussed further, tweaked (sometimes a few times) and finally approved ready for sign off and manufacture. We pride ourselves on producing detailed design which is easily interpreted and clear. This is very important for all parties and helps us ensure that the end results are exactly what the client desired.

Which timber species do you most frequently work with and how do you balance aesthetics, sustainability and durability?

The choice of timbers depends on the purpose of the piece. Sometimes the onus is on durability or on aesthetics or both. Typically, we work with sapele, iroko, accoya, tricoya, oaks, idigbo, tulip but we also work with teak, mahogany, walnut, cedar, larch, Douglas fir, ash, beech, cherry, maple and meranti… the list is endless. We also work with veneers and many different types of sheet materials, dependent on what it is we are looking to produce and the vision of the client. All timbers and manmade products perform differently in different environments so it is important that the right choice of material prevails otherwise, there can be issues long term. It is through the early design and collaboration process that these kinds of decisions are made. Often, we produce finished samples of the product to provide the client with something they can physically touch and see.

What are some of the most ambitious or distinctive projects you’ve completed recently and what made them stand out?

We recently undertook a large-scale replacement of a veranda on a Grade II-listed house in Somerset. The existing veranda had to be taken down completely and the new one had to be made to mirror the old. The attention to detail was extraordinary and a challenge that we embraced fully. The result was magnificent and the client full of praise, so much so that they commissioned us to refurbish the entire house. 

At the other end of the spectrum, we supply and fit cabinetry work on numerous new builds across Devon and Cornwall, ranging from bespoke bedroom furniture such as dressers, changing rooms and wardrobes to media units, boot room fit-outs, kitchens and utility rooms. We are blessed that we have the skills to produce all manner of joinery related items and have the confidence and know-how to do it well.

How do you ensure your joinery solutions align with evolving architectural trends and modern construction methods?

I think this a natural progression given the varied type of projects we work on. While fashions do change, fundamentally, the process is the same albeit the manufacturing of certain elements may have changed over the years. We are often looking ahead and understand the expectations of clients better than most. As a result, we are always seeking ways to improve our efficiency and service without detracting from our focus to be the best we can. We use the latest CAD design and estimating software as well as having modern woodworking machinery and our own spray shop.

What is your approach to sustainability, both in timber sourcing and in your workshop practices?

We hate waste and look to utilise as much of our material where we can. Our waste from manufacturing is sensibly discarded and, where we are able, it can be used for other things. All our timber is bought in from FSC certified suppliers, showing our commitment to the environment and forest management. All our paints are water based and we have state of the art extraction to ensure that both manufacturing and painting are carried out sensibly and correctly. We procure locally where we can, and look to minimise deliveries by buying in bulk thus reducing CO₂ emissions and packaging disposal.

What advice would you give to designers or architects seeking to incorporate bespoke timber features into their next project?

Call us! We are always happy to provide initial feedback to a proposed scheme and supply some budget costs to start the wheels turning. Joinery, whether in natural timber or in man-made form, can and does totally enhance a project. Every year the bar is raised in terms of designer and client requirements and vision for a project. From intricate detailing to the combination of materials and colours, the scope is everchanging. Luckily, we are involved first hand with so many unique projects we can often suggest ideas that are often not thought about.

Working throughout the South West, Bespoke Timber Joinery has completed bespoke projects across Cornwall and other coastal locations such as Saunton and Croyde. Workshop visits are welcomed by appointment.

bespoketimberjc.co.uk