Welcome to a different kind of craftsmanship.
From the elemental oak bench to an intricate oak-framed writing studio, a few basic principles guide my work.
These are not options. They are ways of being. A fisherman told me ‘life goes best with both oars in the water’
And to row you’d better pull on the oars. I’ve waited over a decade to launch a website because I’ve been busy doing work this way, not saying I will do it.
I acknowledge the generosity and imagination of my clients. They come to me with well-formed designs; they come to me with wide-open dreams; they have specific problems to solve in the spaces they live and work; they wish simply to have a tangible, beautiful piece of wooden furniture like no other. We collaborate. This is one of the privileges of my job
Peter was recommended to us from a kind person in the village. We wanted a custom shed build on the side of our house. The end result is amazing and Peter’s attitude throughout was second to none!
In Spring 2015, my partner and I commissioned Peter to construct a garden office at the end of our garden. Together we came up with a design that would maximise the available space, and provide a roomy, inspirational writing environment. Peter recommended an unusual format for the pent roof, so that the gutters and down pipe would be concealed from the side that faced the house and garden. We selected larch cladding for the exterior, galvanised steel for the roof, and birch ply for the interior walls and ceiling. The design’s compound angles depended on precise execution, and Peter accomplished this with considerable expertise. He has a genuine eye for detail. Not only is he a superb framer, but he is equally attentive to applying finishing trim and making sure everything looks sharp. Gradually, over a period of months, a forlorn, under-used corner of the garden gave way to a simple, elegant, light-filled structure. We feel so fortunate now to be able to work in a building that we helped design, and which is so well constructed. None of this would have been possible without Peter’s hard work, his ability to communicate so well with us, and his brilliant craft expertise.
I am writing this at my desk – it’s stylish, it’s enduring and, for reasons I can’t precisely explain, it’s somehow comforting. Perhaps the comfort comes from the love and care Peter puts into everything he makes. Perhaps it’s just a reflection of his skill. Peter can turn his hand to anything. Behind me, is a bookcase he built. On the floor is a meditation stool. He’s built houses. He’s made boats. He’s your first port of call.
Happy anniversary, Walden! It is five years now. It has been five years now working, reading, writing – dare I mention teenage sleepovers – in my beloved garden office built by Peter…and many years to come. Walden, the name is in the title, is inspired by Henry David Thoreau. The idea of having a workspace in the garden came when our kids needed more space in our house. The idea of just walking a few steps, being at home, working from home, yet not being in the house, that is where it started. After some initial research online, looking for prefabricated garden houses, I called Peter and we met – at the pub. Two pints, some initial drawings then and there, a handshake…and we were good to go. Between February and June 2015 Peter built the most amazing, unique, Scandinavian style garden shed I could imagine: Walden. Walden is not just a shed. It is an office all year round. C. 15 square metres, wood, huge windows for daylight, a green roof, standing desk, beautiful bookshelves. Dare I mention the underfloor heating. The project, process and working with Peter was just a joy. Peter’s eye for detail, his suggestions on the way, sourcing material, energy efficiency, figuring out problems (yes, those triple-glazed windows from Denmark were heavy and looked daunting) but it all came together as the perfect place. Thank you so much, Peter.
We have worked with Peter on numerous projects spanning many years and he has at all times exceeded expectations. His work is outstanding and he is a pleasure to do business with.
I can’t recommend Peter highly enough! At every stage – from the initial design to the completed build – Peter knew exactly what we wanted and crafted us the most beautiful oak porch. Reliable, conscientious, and a master craftsman, Peter is always an absolute pleasure to have around.
