feeling festive

we would like to wish all our customers a very merry christmas and a happy new year.

solid oak handmade clocks

Our handmade clocks are popular all year round and we make them in various sizes, shapes, styles and finishes.They offer a focal point that is both attractive and functional.

One of our favourites is this simple, untreated, square solid oak clock.

The character of the wood is all this clock needs to be bold and beautiful. Suitable for hanging on a wall or standing on a shelf or mantle.

Please feel free to pop in to the shop or email us ajbinteriors@hotmail.com for more information on our handmade clocks, exclusive to AJB Interiors. They can be made to order.

home tweet home

We love making these charming, simplistic little birds. Made simply from solid oak and a touch of gingham ribbon these birds make a lovely gift, especially with a personal message from you handwritten on the back.

One bird on it's own looks lovely looped over a doorhandle or hung in a window for all to see. They are great as a stocking filler or as Christmas decorations.

We smooth the rounded edges and leave the wood unpainted because oak, just like these chirpy chaps, is full of character!

Handmade solid oak hanging birds.

Made by AJB Interiors.

£4.40 each

some gift ideas

oak shelving unit

Wall mounted unit by ajb interiors £75

Finding the right shelving unit

As with most items of furniture, you need to make sure that a shelving unit will fit the space you have in mind, so the first thing to do is

measure up!

Whatever you want to use your shelving for, from vases through to books, you should be able to find the shelving unit for you without too much trouble. Find one that will allow you to take a flexible approach to displaying your items - this is your chance to really show off your taste and style.

Once you've chosen your shelving unit the things you would prefer to hide away can be moved to drawers and cupboards and all your favourite things can take pride of place.

Oak shelving unit by ajb interiors £85

Our handmade oak shelving units (example above) are designed and made in our workshop and are available to order in a size, shape or design to suit any space.

We have an oak shelving unit featured in our ebay shop, please click here to view the item.

Why oak?

One of the main benefits of choosing oak furniture is its ability to last. Oak is a hardwood with a tight grain which means its durable and can take almost anything your daily family life can throw at it!

Oak furniture is often considered to be expensive but its enduring quality and sturdiness will stand the test of time. You shouldn't have to replace well made oak furniture unless you want to redecorate your rooms with new items. Owning a few solid oak pieces is an investment that can last a lifetime.

Oak is also a versatile wood and furniture can be simple or elaborate in design making it ideal for all types of furniture from chairs and tables to beds and wardrobes.

The attractive appearance of the wood is down to the grain, which has a subtle variegation, and to its distinctive light golden colour.

Keeping your oak furniture looking good is simple too and you will find oak is one of the easiest types of furniture to care for. Just wipe your oak furniture without using spray or cleaning products and give it a light coat of Danish oil when you feel the wood needs it.

With a small amount of care oak furniture will reward you with a lifetime of use.

What people say about us...

Some recent comments:

Received the tables yesterday, Absolutely spot on both wife and myself happy with tables and would have no hesitation in recommending you to friends. Many Thanks. David, Devon.

Superb little table exactly what I wanted. Steve, Gateshead.

Thanks so much am very happy with [the tables] and pleased you could get them to me so quickly. Donna, Essex.

Beautiful - nicely made; very happy with purchase. Catherine, Edinburgh.

Lovely table - just what I wanted but couldn't find in the shops. Moira, Newcastle.

Lovely little table, exactly what I wanted. Anita, Wiltshire.

Large driftwood mirror

Driftwood creates a dramatic effect and each unique piece of driftwood ensures each hand made piece is individual. Wonderfully aged and weather worn, driftwood hints at long journeys spent at sea.

Our driftwood mirrors are handmade using a strong wood base and selected pieces of Scottish driftwood.

The mirror shown here is available to buy through ebay. CLICK HERE

using mirrors

For many centuries a mirror was considered to be a luxury item with early mirrors tending to be hand held. In Greco-Roman antiquity and throughout the European Middle Ages mirrors were simple, slightly convex disks of metal that reflected light from their highly polished surface.

In late 17th century, mirrors and their frames began to play an increasingly important part in the decoration of rooms. Craftsmen began to produce elaborately carved mirror frames and the tradition soon became established of incorporating a mirror into the space over the mantelpiece, usually known as an overmantel. On the whole, mirror frames reflected the general taste of the time and were often changed to accommodate alterations in taste, frames usually being cheaper and hence more easily replaced than the mirror itself.

Cheaper techniques of mirror production in the 19th century led to another increase in their use. Not only were they incorporated into pieces of furniture, such as wardrobes and sideboards, but they were also used extensively in decorative schemes for public places.By the end of the 18th century, painted decoration became popular on mirrors, the frames being decorated with floral patterns or classical ornaments. At the same time, the French started producing circular mirrors, usually surrounded by a Neoclassical gilt frame that sometimes supported candlesticks, which enjoyed great popularity well into the 19th century.

Mirrors no longer need to be expensive, luxury items today and can be easily added to any room in the house. Both functional and decorative mirrors can be a fun item to work with.

We love the idea of displaying vintage 'looking glasses' together in a group or collection. Mix and match and play by your own rules. Not only is it a great way to showcase a collection but mirrors help to lighten up a room and make it look larger, this works especially well in a small space such as a hallway or landing. If you don't want to spend time collecting mirrors you could go for a statement mirror. Something big and bold that adds a focal point to your room, if you have the space you might want to think about introducing a free standing, full length cheval mirror.

White Furniture

White furniture is timeless and creates light and space in any room. White furniture also makes it very easy to colour

co-ordinate any other accessories in the room.

Here are some of our ideas...

Vintage Look

For a fresh vintage look mix white-painted furniture and vintage-style floral patterned accessories.

Clean white furniture is a perfect contrast with patterned fabric.

Seaside Style

Add a seaside style with satin white furniture. Mix with the blues and greens of the ocean and finish

with fun beach accessories.

Bold and Modern

Be bold and modern by putting white furniture against white walls but on a contrasting floor for a

dramatic effect. Black is stylish and easy to co-ordinate with, but any bright, bold colour will work.

Fresh and Clean

Keep it fresh and clean. Add hints of dark blue in checks and stripes to create a scheme that's pure

Scandinavian style.

Homely

White can be incredibly homely. An all-white room can be given warmth with cream furniture that's

ideal for a rustic, traditional or modern space.

How to use wood in your home

Wood adds depth and texture to a room, its warm tones make a space inviting and homely.

Have fun mixing and matching styles and colours. Don't feel you have to stick to the same wood type throughout - as long as the

different pieces suit each other in terms of scale and style, you can introduce as many woods as you like.

new handmade furniture on ebay

View our furniture for sale through ebay HERE.

ajb interiors

If you've never visited the shop before don't forget to pop in next time you're in Skipton and have a browse.

We are HERE.

new range - special offer

We have introduced a brand new range of oak furniture to the shop. For a limited time we are offering 10% off the marked price as a one off introductory offer. Pop in and have a look.

Where are we?

Just click the link to see how to find us.

http://tinyurl.com/2ctk73j

things to do in the garden...

This rustic, slate chalkboard is the ideal helping hand for any gardener and it looks great too. During the winter months when there is less to do in the garden you can even take it indoors and use the blank side for house hold messages.

vintage style

Time-worn furniture and nostalgic touches create a vintage look in your home or garden. Here are a few ideas to help create an idillic English country charm.

• Start with a palette of creams, pale greens and pinks.
• Miss-match floral patterns to create a sense of summer all year long.
• Lightly distress pots, wooden planters or seed trays with sand paper.
• For that extra country feel add hanging hearts, slate, fresh flowers and potted plants.
• Give tired furniture a new rustic life by painting it matt white and distress.
• Use worn ironwork to add a romantic and elegant touch.

For additional ideas for any room in the house take a look at the housetohome.co.uk website.

let your heart shine

This lovely votive looks great in the home or outside in the garden. In cream or pale vintage green these metal hanging hearts have a cute little door that opens to hold a tealight. The cut outs provide a pretty glow.