Odd Job Genie

Removal of an old sliding door (all of the external rail and boxing) and installation of a bespoke oak door for a downstairs under-stairs toilet. The old 1930's style architrave was re-created to match the rest of the doorways, new door jam installed and walls were repaired and painted where necessary. The old sliding door was glazed so finally, privacy was restored.

An exercise in interior design and decorating. This clients rental space was painted all one colour and with nearly 4m high ceilings, it felt cold and un-welcoming. I suggested painting the ceiling and creating a bathtub effect by also painting the lower section of the room in the same dark colour which would help lower the ceiling and give a feeling of warmth. One wall was given faux panelling to add some texture and a seating area was zoned off by painting it all dark. The mirrors were also painted to help continue the line of the bathtub effect. The toilet and wash area were all wallpapered in a textured paper to again make the space feel warmer. The overall effect was a major improvement and the client loved it.

Full restoration of an old cast iron garden seat. All the existing wood (which was rotten and falling apart) was removed and new pieces cut and planed to size from pressure treated timber. The cast iron frame was taken back to bare metal and then painted with red oxide prior to three coats of black hammerite. The wood was stained and treated with three coats of yacht varnish. The wood was re-attached with all stainless steel fixings (bolts nuts and washers all SS) and everything was bolted together instead of screws to ensure a super strong structure. I'm confident this bench will now outlive me!

Two bespoke desks with integrated storage ends. These were built from 26mm real Oak veneered MDF. All the cut edges were edge banded with real Oak veneer. The storage units were glued and dowelled together so no visible fixings can be seen. Cable grommets were also installed where necessary. They were finished with a few coats of matt polyurethane varnish for a tough and durable finish.

Bespoke piece of furniture for a garage - workbench with integrated storage. All the carcasses were glued and dowelled together so super strong. Built from moisture resistant MDF (the client was going to paint them ). A couple of double electrical sockets were built in and legs with the largest range in adjustability were sourced due to the steeply sloping floor but they still needed some pads to help level (the plastic legs sat within the pads so once on they weren't going anywhere).

Something a little different. This nature pond had been punctured by a falling branch and so the whole thing was drained (plants and resident invertebrates moved into temporary accommodation ) and then re-lined with sand prior to a new epdm rubber liner installed. The edges were then paved with Indian stone and pebble slopes were added to allow frogs etc to get in and out easily. The plants were re-introduced later once the water had time to vent off tap water chemicals. Note - these pictures show the stone in place after cutting prior to being mortared in and levelled (I forgot to take pics of the final result!)

Installation of some wall panelling to a downstairs toilet, boxing in of consumer unit and boiler pipes and installation of a new vanity unit and sink with boxing in of piping. All primed and painted, ready for the house to go on the market 24 hours later.

Changing the layout of some decking here. Off with the old boards and then adapt the structure to take into account the extension and new bifold doors to the side and adjusting the steps to create a deeper space for relaxing and dining. The timber joists were protected with Walther Strong Decking Tape prior to laying new boards to ensure the longevity of the structure. LED lights were installed into the steps and the whole deck was treated with a couple of coats or oil based preserver/stain and then finished with a coat of decking oil.

This was a big project. A sunken courtyard at the rear of a property had been poorly rendered. To make the space more inviting and safe for grand children, the walls were clad in timber to a height that also created a safety fence around the drop in level. A Gazebo was built to cover the area and then roofed with transparent UV resistant sheeting (you can sit in the sun all day long underneath this and not get burnt). Waterproof power sockets were built into the structure to power electric heaters and led lights which were also installed. The wall was also clad in timber and a gate built. Two thirds of the floor was decked to create a cosy seating area next to the hot tub.

Something a little different! A bespoke Oak HiFi/AV unit with three isolated shelves. The shelves were created from reclaimed old 40mm thick kitchen worktops ( a lot of sanding required to get them back to bare wood ) and the oak legs were all screwed into threads inset into the shelves so it can be completely disassembled or different size legs installed to accommodate different components. All the metalwork (spikes, shoes, thread inserts etc ) is stainless steel. The unit was given a number of coats of Osmo Hard Wax Oil to finish.