Customer photos

It has been quite some time since we last added to this blog. The start of a New Year seemed like a good time to post an update, but we promptly broke that New Year resolution and, before we knew it, January was already over and now February too is almost at an end!

Traditionally the start of the year is a busy time for us, not that you will hear us complaining! There’s nothing we like more than the buzz of enquiries, orders and production in our beloved little workshop. 

Although enquiries and orders are obviously always wonderful to see, there is one particular type of email that we particularly enjoy. From time to time we receive customer messages along with photographs showing items of our furniture settling nicely into their new home. 

These pictures somehow seem to complete the process perfectly. Usually we will receive an order, sketch out the item, carefully select the timber at the sawmill, handcraft, finish and package the furniture and then, we will either deliver locally or send the item through a courier, never to be heard of (by us) again! This makes it especially nice to hear from happy customers once they have received their new furniture and even better when we are sent an image or two of that furniture in their home. 

In recent weeks we have received some great images that do just that. We're posting them with the hope that they may inspire you to share photos of your own AJB Interiors furniture, we’d absolutely love to see them!

One lovely customer, Wendy in Gloucestershire, recently had a bespoke shelving unit made which, we are sure you’ll agree, looks amazing in her beautiful kitchen. We love her use of coloured baskets to really bring the shelving to life. She emailed us with these great pictures and kind words:

"Thank you so much for the lovely, beautifully made shelf unit. We're really delighted with it and as you can see it fits in perfectly. Just the job!!"

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Joyce posted this image to our Facebook page. That, and the lovely message that went with it, really made our day as these Ercol inspired tables were a particular pleasure to make. We are so pleased with how they look in Joyce’s gorgeous room and they’re ideal for holding these impressive lamps.

"Antony has created 2 excellent lamp tables from my design. The quality is superb. They are exactly what I wanted and I'm very pleased. Many thanks."

If you have an item of our furniture we would love to see a snap of it and here’s how you can share it...

You can email your images to ajbinteriors@hotmail.com 

or send them to us through 

Twitter @ajbinteriors

Facebook AJBInteriors.furniture

Instagram @ajb.interiors

Ordering with us

What do you want? 

It is best to begin with a good initial idea of the size, material, functionality and finish of the piece you are looking for.

How much will it cost? 

An item of furniture that is handmade to your requirements does not have to be more expensive than one that is factory made. The price of a piece will often be determined by the materials used, how complicated the design is and by how long it takes to make and the finish. The furniture we have available online is meant as a guide to costs and style. Of course, if you find an item among them that is exactly what you are looking for we will happily make it for you, but we are equally happy to adjust sizes, styles and materials to create an item of furniture to your specifications. We offer free quotes without obligation to buy. Our aim is to produce an item of furniture that fits your specific requirements exactly and that you are proud to have in your home.

All our furniture is handmade in our workshop in West Yorkshire. As an independent furniture designer-maker we are able to keep our costs low and our quality high. We regularly research other similar products to keep our prices as competitive as we possibly can.

"Furniture that is handmade to your requirements does not have to be more expensive than factory made pieces." 

What will I get? 

The finished item will be based on your individual preferences and requirements, resulting in a piece that is unique to you and that meets your practical needs. More importantly, the item should be a personal piece you enjoy using and that you love having in your home. 

How long will it take to make? 

For ease we often require payment once the order is placed, if this is not possible a deposit payment may be negotiated. Production will then be booked into our work schedule. As each item is made to order we recommend that you allow at least 12 to 14 days for delivery. During busy times this may increase but, likewise, you may receive your order earlier during quieter periods. If you require your furniture within a specific timeframe please let us know before you place your order and we will be able to advise you of our schedule.

How will I receive my order. 

Orders can be collected or delivered if you are local to our workshop but most of our furniture is carefully packaged and sent, ready-made, by courier. Please contact us if you require more information about delivery.

Can I return an item? 

We will do everything possible to agree your item’s specifications before production. Please make sure that the details you provide are correct as we are unfortunately unable to offer returns or exchanges on our furniture. Please also double check the shipping address you supply as we are redirecting parcels is often difficult and can incur additional costs.

bookcase

March 3rd is World Book Day and we couldn't resist joining in and posting our #shelfie!

P.S If you're looking for somewhere to store your beloved books let us know! 

small space living

We have a thing about small furniture at the moment. We are in the process of moving into a smaller (but perfectly formed) new home and it’s got our creative minds working! 

We believe that living in a smaller home shouldn't mean you have to make do with less but it does pay to be smart about how you organise the space you do have. There are plenty of tricks to help 'open up' your living space which don't need to involve heavy duty power tools, tearing down walls or costly renovation!

Well designed furniture can help with storage and save space when it’s at a premium.

Folding dining tables can be used as needed and then easily reduce in size to be stored when not in use, for example. Tall furniture, such as floor to ceiling shelving, wardrobes or cupboards, can help utilise the height of a room rather than taking up valuable floor space.

We are often asked to 

design and create furniture 

that fits a very specific 

space or function. 

If you have a space in your home that you would like to make good use of but just can’t find the perfect item of furniture to fit you could consider having something made for you. We are often asked to design and create furniture that fits a specific space or purpose. Cutting a space so an item fits snuggly round a skirting board, creating a hole through a media unit for unsightly wires or producing small unobtrusive corner tables are almost weekly requests.

      

Image source 

Using some of the experience Antony has gained over his many years as a furniture maker we are sharing just a few of our ideas for small space living:

Choose multipurpose furniture. Items of furniture which are dual purpose will save space while being a useful addition to a room. A sofa bed or a wall shelf that pulls out on hinges to become a desk are possible ideas.

Create space. Try movable shelves or cupboards. Shelves that can be adjusted in a bookcase, for example, create space for a variety of items and can be changed easily to suit an alternative purpose quickly and easily. Fitting castors to the bottom of your furniture will enable you to move items around easily if you decide to change the layout of your home. Furniture that is slightly raised also gives the illusion of more space as you can see the floor beneath.

Reduce clutter. Buy furniture that fits your individual storage needs. Organise your belongings on shelves or away in drawers. Create a specific home for any items that are usually left scattered around such as papers and magazines, books, tv remotes or DVDs.

Bespoke furniture. Have furniture custom made to make use of any particularly awkward spaces.

• Thin shelves to prop books on rather than a standard bookcase can be cut to any length and can be made narrow enough to store books in the 'dead space' behind a door.
• A clever coffee table that offers extra extra shelving below the table top. You could also use a cushion to make a sturdy coffee table into a large stool when you need extra seating.
• Use small shelves at each side of your bed to eliminate the need for bedside units. These can be painted to match your walls and created to fit even the smallest space.
• A custom console table that is made as narrow as your room requires will provide an additional surface without the need for depth.
• A nest of tables gives you the option of having extra surface space when you need it.

Have furniture custom made 

to make use of any particularly 

awkward spaces in your home.

Furniture by AJB Interiors

Make good use of space. If storage space is an issue, you can utilise areas such as under your bed, under stairs or on top of a wardrobe. You can buy a bed with built-in storage or use containers. Custom made drawers will fit exactly and look attractive if visible. The addition of castors will make heavy drawers easy to access. Drawers under a bed are an ideal place for storing bulkier items such as spare duvets, winter coats and shoes. 

Make your furniture 
work for you. 
However big or small your home, you have more room than you think!

oak round top tables

Our new round tables are made from solid oak which makes them strong, durable, versatile and a great functional addition to any living area. 

A 30cm diameter round table top on 4 straight legs, the perfect size for resting a large glass of wine or a piping hot cup of tea! Designed to tuck away into a corner or by the side of a sofa when not in use. 

These tables have an oil finish and are produced using traditional furniture making techniques.

Small table: Height: 40cm x Width: 30cm

Medium table: Height: 55cm x Width: 30cm

Large table: Height: 70cm x Width: 30cm

handmade large oak stool

Our handmade oak stool is an ideal addition to any room in the home where seating is needed. 

Hand-crafted to withstand modern family life.

Height: 70 cm

Width: 40 cm

Depth 30 cm

Christmas Deliveries

The festive season is fast approaching. It is our favourite but busiest time of the year.

If you would like to place an order for an item of furniture to be in your home ready for Christmas please order before the 1st of December. 

Although we will still happily take orders after this date we can not guarantee that furniture ordered after the 30th of November will be with you before Christmas.

thank you

Oak drop leaf dining table

This beautiful, made-to-order oiled oak dining table is making its way to a customer as I type!

The table displays all the individual characteristics and charm of any handmade oak furniture.

The knots, grain and colour variations make each table completely unique.

Our furniture is always delivered ready assembled which not only adds to the durability of the piece but also means that as soon as your table arrives you can serve dinner!

oak furniture care

The benefits of oak furniture

One of the main benefits of choosing oak furniture is its ability to last. Oak is a hardwood with a tight grain which means it is 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 through daily use and owning solid oak furniture is an investment that can last a lifetime.

As well as being strong and durable oak is a lovely warm wood. The attractive appearance of oak is down to the grain, which has a subtle variegation, and to its distinctive light golden colour.

As a natural product the texture of the wood surface can vary and is made up of characteristic knots, grain, pattern and colour variations that give the oak its natural beauty and charm.

The individual nature of the wood ensures no two items of furniture are ever exactly the same. Every single item is unique.

Caring for your oak furniture

Keeping your oak furniture looking good is very simple and you will find oak is one of the easiest types of furniture to care for.

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

As you would imagine, we love wood and we hand select all the timber we use to make our furniture.

Unless requested, we finish our oak with oil. We feel this adds protection to the furniture without taking away from the natural beauty of the wood.

To clean your oiled furniture just dust or wipe it down without using spray or cleaning products and give it a light coat of Danish or Teak Oil when you feel the wood needs it. This might be when the colour begins to look a little tired from natural light or when you feel the wood has dried a little due to the heat in your home. This may need to be done every 6 to 12 months.

These oils are readily available in most DIY shops.

An oiled finish provides your furniture with a light water resistant surface but spills should be soaked up as soon as possible and then dried off with a clean cloth. As all of our table tops are made from solid oak, should you damage the surface of your furniture with a burn, scratch or stain you should be able to remove the damage with light sanding and a reapplication of oil.

Mats and table covers are always a good idea for cups or plates.

ajb interiors shop online

We have now launched our shiny new online shop where you can see examples of our furniture and you can buy online!

If you fancy a browse you will find it here

www.ajb-interiors.com/shop

Shops Away!

All our furniture is made-to-order so, if you would like an item of furniture that you can't find elsewhere, get in touch and we will happily talk it through with you and give you a quote without obligation.

full steam ahead

After a very busy month of moving, sweeping, painting and general tinkering we now have our new premises up and running and we are raring to go!

We have refreshed our ebay furniture and home accessories listings with a new look and also have a lovely new booklet showing some examples of our recent furniture and home accessories.


take a closer look

Our ebay listings can be viewed HERE and paper copies of our booklet can be sent to you by post or emailed on request.

Handmade bench / stool

This small, solid oak bench was designed and made to fit with a customer's existing dining table. It is the perfect little 'pull-out' for extra seating. This bench could be made to any size or finish , making it ideal as extra seating around a dining table. It could easily push under the table and out of the way when not in use.


Perfect for those Christmas get togethers!

kitchen makeover

A kitchen is often one of the most expensive rooms of your home to makeover. Appliances, tiles, and granite can all add up to an eye-watering cost! But freshening up your kitchen needn't cost a fortune. If the basics of your kitchen are sound you can make some simple changes to bring new life into your kitchen.

We created brand new, handmade, made-to-measure replacement doors and drawer fronts in solid oak for this kitchen. The result is a fresh, new looking kitchen at a fraction of the cost.

Click HERE to enlarge image.

If you would like a quote for us to create drawer fronts, doors, shelving, furniture or fascias for your kitchen please get in touch. We would be more than happy to talk it over with you.

driftwood lamp

Light up your life with one of our natural driftwood table lamps.
Handmade using 100% natural driftwood our table lamps give a touch of nature to any interior, with a soft glow that highlights the natural shapes and colours of the wood.

Wonderfully aged and weather worn, driftwood hints at long journeys spent at sea and makes each of our lamps beautiful and unique.

Prices start at just £40.

This lamp is currently for sale on ebay.

Our lamps are made using natural Scottish driftwood. We do not use moulded resin, bleach or treat the wood. We believe the beauty of driftwood is the way nature has formed it. We also sell driftwood mirrors, frames and candle holders.

Please get in touch for more information.

Exclusive to ajb interiors

We have recently introduced a new range of prints to the shop and have, so far, been overwhelmed by how popular they have been with our customers. They are exclusive to ajb interiors and many of them are one off designs.

There are various styles, frames and sizes available in the shop and prices start at just £18. We hope to add new designs to the range regularly.

Prints created by a local illustrator and framed by AJB Interiors.

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.