Island Life Magazine Ltd December 2009/January 2010 | Page 111

LOCAL BUSINESS life amended when the clients decided to remove a structural wall between the kitchen and dining room. John created double-sided units which complement both rooms, and clad the kitchen walls with painted tongue, groove and bead cladding, extending it through the passage way into the utility room. Decorative window surrounds were built to match. Being responsive to the unplanned design details is one strength of John’s team: making a client’s specific wishes come to fruition is the other. “There is nothing in this kitchen that is standard, even the knobs are hand-turned.” Curves are a feature of this particular kitchen, making it all the more touchy-feely, and central to the theme is a lovely round piece which has its own rounded drawers. John is happy to give credit to his veteran advisor Den, a retired wood worker “who has forgotten more about curved work than I’ll ever know”, and shows me the DIAMONDS wooden frame or jig around which the rounded unit was built. “That is scrap now,” he says – which seems a shame because even the jig has a certain beauty. It’s all about perfection. John describes how he turns up in client’s houses armed with more spirit levels than they’ve ever seen – “but so far we’ve never brought in a kitchen that doesn’t fit the hole.” He is, he says, “a toolaholic”, and even has a wood-drying kiln which speeds up the seasoning process. “I can buy a specific tree, get it cut up, kiln it, and in eight weeks can be making really lovely things from local timber.” The Island’s many lofty Victorian houses could have been built with John’s expertise in mind, for his portfolio embraces the stunningly contemporary associated with large spaces, as well as the classic artisan look. Bathrooms and bedrooms are undertaken with the same meticulousness as kitchens, and once the kitchen is installed, his team is often called back to do the rest. Although the details and surfaces are in wood, John says he also loves using MDF: “People keep their houses too hot – particularly in London – and wood doesn’t like it. MDF takes up the paint and doesn’t move.” For, it can hardly come as a surprise that, as well as having discerning clients here on the Island, Bespoke by Strawson is also in demand in the capital. However, John is happiest to work on the Island. He regularly returns to his workshop after his children are in bed to add the final touches to work in progress. “It’s a good job I love what I’m doing,” he says. The love shows. Bespoke by Strawson, The Workshops, Chapel Lane, Merstone. Tel: 01983 408930 or 07919 412000 Shanklin Jewellers can offer in the styles reliable and comprehensive of diamond knowledge about diamonds. engagement Imogen Starkey is a Diamond rings to suite Member of the Gemmological a range of Association of Great Britain. budgets, with This enables her to colour and the choice clarity grade loose diamonds of diamonds on approval to from their diamond merchant match in with the style of ring, in London. so the customer has a personal This skill keeps the costs to a minimum, as there is no 'middle man' when it comes to choice of colour, clarity and cut of diamond. Shanklin Jewellers is the setting diamonds in jewellery. place to visit for honest and Robin Starkey is the antithesis reliable information about to this dynamic duo; his stone diamonds. This is reflected by setting skills are carried out in Robin's goldsmithing skills in their on-site workshop, where the use of 18carat gold and diamonds and other stones are platinum in his designs and carefully set by Robin to the also their retail range. standard expected of an award winning goldsmith. This is a rare service to be We are opposite the theatre in Shanklin at the top of the High Street and are found in a jewellers today open Tue-Sat 10-5pm. Tel: and such expertise is reflected 01983-863084 Left: 64Ct rough Diamonds Below: G,VS, 1.03ct certificated pear cut diamond, set by Robin Starkey. 111