The Artisan Bothy

<<>> "Oliver" is a solid piece of history. Designed in an OG style, exact age unknown.
Size: 48" wide x 45" high x 21" deep
... Painted in a child and pet safe 'no VOCs' non toxic cream chalk mineral paint and finished with a protective coat. All my pieces are profesionally refinished. Clean, sand, prime, paint and appropriate finishing coat.
Locks are still intact - but there are no keys.
All handles replaced (essential as originals were mostly broken or damaged).
All drawers have been freed and are now running beautifully.
Each one has been wash painted inside too and then lined with a lovely soft mint green liner.
Top drawers are all very deep (the frontage suggests two shallow drawers but they are not).
This piece has absolutely oodles of storage. Plenty of room for your winter woollies!
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While Jentique "Jenny" is curing I set about deciding on my next two projects. Time to take a couple of things out of the stockroom and plan their makeover.
A day of extremes.
Firstly it's a wee matching set of Stag Minstrel. Small chest with matching bedside. Super solid. all handles will be replaced. Perfect for a little girls room or even a holiday guest room. This one is up for grabs if you want to influence it's direction.
... Then at the other end of the scale it's this mahoosive chest of drawers. Absolutely jam packed with storage. This one already has a plan (driven by a number of surface issues). It also currently has a "first refusal" reserve on it. If released I will let you know ;)
#Tuesdaytasks
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This.
Research tells me these can fetch a several hundred £££ in:
1. Tip top original condition (not even close)... 2. Teak (oh, I wish. More like varnished veneer on composite board in some places) 3. A London store (😂)
I have no doubt 'Jenny' is going to test me. She has been stored in an outbuilding and is not, outwardly, in good shape. But she will be.
Cleaned yesterday, filler today, sander tomorrow. She needs time to adjust to her life indoors
#privatecommission #retro
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From plain to plaid.
A sneaky peek at the story so far......
These are back where they belong.
... Stage three begins today.
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Stage two. More chairs! Eight in total. . The pads are off. . Now for the staple extraction....

The first of the "big project" has just arrived.
So that's me away to the Bothy to start a plan of action, and hopefully the first pattern cutting.
16 items in all (before we even start talking about painted pieces).
... I may be gone some time.... ;)
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SOLD!
Delighted to say this is now away to its new home. And I know it will be loved as it joins lots of lovely traditional furniture, in a home office.
Mr Smith and I still love our polished wood furniture. Indeed our shared office is more gentleman's library than modern day office fittings. The only thing we no longer do (to this extent) is file paper.
... We did have quite a chuckle at the amount of "stuff" we had simply never got around to destroying. Even documents from the purchase (and sale) of cars we haven't owned for over 20 years.
The record for the oldest piece of paper was.... .
. . 1994 . . And so has survived two house moves. I love a bit of history :)
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I can't wait to start working with this beautiful fabric.
#stunning #thecoloursofscotland

Now I know filing cabinets may not be the in thing, these days. But some folk, groups, businesses do still have paper records. And with good old GDPR requiring some records to be locked away - this might just be the thing you need.
Looking just like a nice piece of furniture, yet with a practical use too. It would look lovely in any office, or even just a home setting.
And it could be yours for £80 (including delivery within 30 miles of Glenlivet)
... Spec:
Size 77cm high x 56cm deep x 51cm wide Two drawers (both lockable independently - great for GDPR security).
Depth of drawers (to the filing runners) = 24cm Takes A4 documentation
Solid construction with dovetail jointed drawers
Muted olive green faux leather top.
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It's important to have an interest away from work - even if your work is something you love, and doesn't always feel like a job. Not just to enable us to renew our energy, but it also helps to step away and come back with some new inspiration. Photography (and writing) are mine.
That's me, home now from a wonderful trip to Chobe river (Botswana/Namibia). A totally immersive photography experience. In a beautiful continent of colour.
One of our 'pros' said something about my r...efinishing work requiring an eye for creativity. Colour, textures, composition. And I guess it's true. I was an event stylist for 13 years which needed the same skill. So a creative hobby makes sense, doesn't it?
I will be back in the studio next Monday, ready for a new season of projects. The next couple of months see me on a very different commission. A big project for a prestigious client. Strictly confidential....until they do their own big reveal.
Meanwhile... I hope you enjoy a pootle around mine and Mr Smith's wee hobby.
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Well it was my biggest road trip yet. Here to Kilmarnock, supper, a comfy bed and home today.
And a happy customer it seems.
It matters not that I enjoy seeing the smiles on all my clients' faces, I still feel a tad "will they love it" butterflies.
... No need. Lyndsey Greer Phillips loved them all. And she can't wait to put the worlds to rights on her super padded dining chairs over a supper or two...or twenty.
#lovemytribe
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This week it's all about finishing and packing.
These things can't be rushed.
Tomorrow we load up for a 500 mile-ish round trip to Ayrshire. Me, DC and a lot of carefully packed pieces.
... I leave you with this. The Jali is done. Tomorrow he will be carefully wrapped.
Are we excited, Lyns?
#jali #repurposed
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I think I might be falling in love with upholstery. My client chose her own fabrics. And what a stylish combo. Herringbone tweed paired with a lovely tartan.
The pic doesn't quite do these full justice. Keep your eyes peeled for a reveal of the complete dining set next week.
#sneakypeep #upholstery #relovedfurniture

Upholstery is a bit like a duck.
On top it looks completely in control, aesthetic, graceful.
Underneath? It's crazy.
... I pick up a piece which looks fine on top. Then I look below. How many layers? How many staples? Staples holding down staples?
I don't quite know why a duck came to mind :D

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This jali style mangowood coffee table is getting a makeover for a client this week.
Ironwork all off. Purely cosmetic as the table is structurally solid without it. There are also four metal (again, cosmetic) braces at each leg.
It took two of us to strip with some creative thinking along the way, as you can see. The thinnest putty knife to gradually tease the nail/stud up before increasing the leverage with something larger. Hand made iron nails and studs (62 of the begga...rs) grip this super-hard wood so it needs patience and time so as not to unduly stress or damage the wood.
Holes plugged with dowelling (did I mention 62 of them) and then filled. Left to set and fully harden today while I do some appointments today.
Tomorrow starts the serious stuff.
Like stage one wasn't serious enough 😂🙊
Watch this space...
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What does an avid appreciator of old and interesting furniture do while having herself a wee break in Tallinn?
Well she finds herself an antiques market of course....

A sneaky peek at my brand new branded badges. Love them. And I especially love that I was allowed to watch the initial draft design and trial run. First batch delivered today. Dying to complete a piece now to use it... With LaserFlair
#laserengraved #scottishbusiness #shoplocal #personalbranding #uniquebrand

Getting there Lyndsey Greer Phillips! One more wax coat should do it.
#fullbodyworkout

Upholstery is a bit like a duck.
On top it looks completely in control, aesthetic, graceful.
Underneath? It's crazy.
... I pick up a piece which looks fine on top. Then I look below. How many layers? How many staples? Staples holding down staples?
I don't quite know why a duck came to mind :D

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