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.
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