Joinery East Sussex. Architectural Joinery and Carving – Transforming your spaces. Bespoke Designs, Quality Manufacture and Restorations. Heritage Joinery Repair or Make and install new to match. Quality and consideration in every project.
S A Spooner, Joinery East Sussex – About Us
Stephen Spooner began S.A.SPOONER in 1998 after a five-year apprenticeship with James Longley & Co Ltd in West Sussex.
In his time at James Longley, Stephen worked on several large contracts, including the refurbishment of Arundel castle and the restoration of the interiors of Hampton Court Palace after their destruction by fire in 1986.
After redundancy, Stephen worked as a journeyman, travelling between workshops until finally starting his own business with a workshop of his own.
He will take a project from first consultation through manufacture, to final installation – and put traditional quality into every detail.
The woods used, style of work and type of project are based on the customer’s own requirements, and the finished pieces are tailored to their taste, needs and budget.
Whether you need furniture, kitchens, period fittings or a folly – everything is supplied with good old fashioned quality and service.
Gates
A pair of automated driveways gates made of oak to our design. The gates are double board so that they look the same from both sides. The cast metal piers were purchased by the client from an auction prior to manufacture of the gates.
The piers dictated the size of the gates and the hinge positions. The half board and rail design was chosen as the gates’ location is very exposed and the wind pressure high.
Carving
Pietà (Michelangelo)
We were fortunate enough to be asked by one of our existing clients if we could help them by making a carved wood base for this beautiful ‘Pieta Head’ which they were gifting for a wedding anniversary.
The brief was to carve a wood base to mount the ‘Pieta Head’, which was made from reconstituted stone from the Vatican. The base between 12 and 15 inches high; “and nice!”
The idea for the sash carved across the ‘shoulder and front’ of the design, which was carved with the anniversary couple’s names and the anniversary date, was conceived further along the process as the design for the base evolved. Once these initial designs were agreed by the clients, the base was modelled in clay for the clients to view and discuss prior to the final crafting in wood.
The base was hand carved in English walnut and given an oil finish.
Panelling
Room Remodel in Wimbledon
This commission was from the new owners of a house in Wimbledon who wished to remodel the panelling in one of the rooms to serve a different purpose.
The brief was for the installation of a new doorway, a fitted television, an entertainment unit and a hidden cupboard for snooker cues and accessories..
New panelling was made in the best quality pine to match the existing panelling. Careful consideration given to grain matching to ensure best results. The panels were fitted ‘in the white’ (not polished) and polished by others. The panelling has ‘raised and fielded’ panels (recessed edges surrounded by mouldings) – in this case ovolo mouldings, can be best seen when the hidden ‘jib door’ (flush) cupboard is open.
Internal Joinery
Oak fitted door set
At SA Spooner we specialise in the vast number of internal joinery requirements. Using both traditional machine and hand tool methods, over many disciplines, we are able to produce workmanship and projects as diverse and unique as our clients, tailoring our skills to suit your needs.
External Joinery
Blomfield Balustrade – newly made
The Blomfield Balustrade and house was designed by the influential Architect, Sir Reginald Bloomfield in the Queen Anne style, the building was completed in 1905.
The reason for S A Spooner’s involvement and chance of working at this splendid property, stemmed from a devastating fire which started in the Sun room which was directly below the main Loggia.
S A Spooner was commissioned to replace the remaining historic and craft new joinery to match, the complete balustrade including the hand turned spindles and carved handrail were manufactured by us and installed by us.
Fireplaces
Portico Hooded Fireplace – Richmond
SA Spooner’s commission for this project was to replace an historic fire surround which had been stolen from the clients’ home. This was one of many architectural items stolen. Through the insurance process we were asked to cost and make a copy of the missing fireplace. As the clients had not liked the original, it was agreed that the replacement could be of a different design.
The design incorporates columns with Ionic capitals in front of flat pilasters of same design, both with fluting. The curved panelled hood is supported by its smaller turned columns of the Ionic order. The hood and mantle are detailed with moulded cross banding, delivered and fitted by us, and finished with one coat of sealer. The complete surround was allowed to settle prior to colour matching – also by us.
Garden Structures
Steps
Each step is designed with a piece of hand sculpted oak at the front of the step, with the tread of each step individually cast in concrete. The concrete treads were pre-cast in the workshop and taken to the site. Each was then concreted in to position and back filled with earth to blend in with their environment. The hand posts were turned from ‘off heart, fresh cut, 1st quality’ oak.
This was chosen as it does not split during the drying process and therefore better lends itself to the beauty of the work carved into it. The oak used for the curved step fronts was of a lesser grade as they did not warrant the higher grade oak used for the hand posts.
Staircases
Grade 1 Queen Anne Geometrical Staircase
We were lucky enough to be commissioned to produce the missing Queen Anne staircase on a Grade 1 listed, Queen Anne house in London SW1.
The original case had been removed in the 1970’s and the stairwell joisted over to gain extra office space with in the building. Access to the different floors were served by what was originally staff servant stairs at back of house.
In order to gain planning consent, one of the stipulations was reinstall a new staircase as the original.
The architect and client wanted hand-worked craftsmanship, charm and soul.
Furniture
Bookcase
S A Spooner was invited to design and make a contemporary bookcase for existing clients. The brief was completely open other than to fill the space. During our initial meeting with the client’s usage was discussed and a design was formulated. The location was then photographed and measured to draw up the design and complete the paperwork.
The wood we chose for the client is known as ‘brown oak’ which is an English oak tree but is different due to its natural dark chocolate colour. This happens due to the location of growth and mineral content of that location. It can vary from streaky to fully brown..
Our Design incorporates the use of thick section solid timber that tapers down to refined sculpted edges. The whole bookcase has been crafted with the use of dovetail joinery.
Restorations
Gothic Door Restoration
These lovely door sets originally built in 1873 as part of our clients private Grade 1 residence were in need of major restoration. Cosmetically they have aged well, structurally not good. There are a pair of identical sets that face each other within the billiard room and both have the identical historic problem…Gravity !
It would seem that both doors suffered from the same craftsmanship or lack of craftsmanship ….. on inspection the Oak panels were small in size ( more then just expected shrinkage from age ). From the day they were fitted within their manufacture and this shortcoming had gradual long term implications. The day to day operation was assisted by planing material off the bottom of the doors probably without understanding or willing to resolve to underlining issue. The doors only relying on the glue and wedges to hold everything in place… until model heating was installed and reactivated/relaxed the animal glue that the doors were assembled with…. Compounding problems !
Our clients were made aware of the doors’ symptoms and the course of action required. Their removal and openings templated, doors fully boarded whilst in transit, followed by complete careful disassembly and resizing of the panels, correction of the twist with addition of new wedge shaped parts on the bottom.