We are a husband and wife team, Nick and Imogen. We also have 3 children, Ottilie, Teddy and Gus who you may occasionally hear in the background of phone calls (sorry!). Our first staircase renovation was completed way back in the late 00’s, this was before the kids came along and when I (Imogen) was still working as a school teacher in Wimborne, that staircase was in Wimborne and the couple moved a car later and invited us back to do a second staircase renovation in their new home. Back then we were doing a variety of carpentry work, Nick on the tools and myself (Imogen) doing the quotes, books and other admin. Years later, during my first maternity leave we were walking up in the woods behind our home (where all the best ideas happen) when we decided that it would make total sense to focus on a specific niche, set the workshop up to craft our own handrails and create a store of other frequently used items (newel posts, newel caps, oak, polyx oil – all the good stuff), to make work life run smoothly. I was keen for the staircases, Nick loved cabinetry and we happily compromised on staircases and under stairs storage – a match made in heaven.
We got to work, I made our first website myself (the first time I’d ever done that!) we got brilliant business advice from friends and family and we exhibited our products at the Stock Gaylard oak fair. I researched other companies to see who else was doing renovations and refurbishments of staircases and other than 2 national companies, there was no one! I believe we were the first in the Dorset, Hampshire, Somerset, Wiltshire area. The first enquiry to come through to our new work emails was very exciting. Followed quickly by booking the job and gaining our first 5 star review. We were off!
From then we have grown from strength to strength, I left teaching to work on the business full time but only on the condition that I would also be on the tools. So here we both are, on the tools and making staircase parts, off fitting our work in clients houses all over the South West. Very happily for us we have collected many many 5 star reviews, we’ve actually never had a review that was not 5 stars!
Many times we have considered taking on staff but each time we come back to the same thing, we love being a small business, we love have ultimate control over the quality of the finish and we enjoy working together, so it remains just us two. Any time you email or call, you’ll speak to either myself or Nick. We will be the ones working in your home, doing the design visits, making the handrails. A true, old fashioned, family business. I hope the kids will join in too as they get older.
A Carpenter’s Wife Blog
Nick and I share a passion for creativity and design. We have renovated several houses together and as I was regularly drafted in to help with his carpentry work. It was a natural step to go into business together. For many years this was an informal arrangement with me learning on my feet, including CAD, web design, tax and admin. I was itching to get involved practically so it wasn’t long before I joined Nick on-site.
We’re very lucky to enjoy our time working together. My blog is a reflection on what we are doing, what we have learnt and where we are going. It’s nice to keep a written record of our journey together and life in Dorset with three young children.
