Cornwall LivingIssue #104
Materially different
Over the past three decades, Out of Wood has built an enviable reputation for maintaining the highest standards of design and craftsmanship.
Opening a new showroom during the height of a recession may not sound like the beginnings of a success story. And yet, in 1991, that’s precisely what Out of Wood founder Clive Martin did, and nearly three decades later, Clive’s enthusiasm for wood working and making a house a home are still very much at the core of this exemplary Cornish business.
But home improvement was not always the path that Clive saw himself following, and in fact during the 1970s, he undertook and completed a degree in politics. But, he tells us: “A growing interest in wood working and the renovation of old cottages led to a change of career and a retraining in joinery. This in turn led to an interest in design, furniture and working in quality hardwoods such as maple, ash, walnut and oak.” In short, Clive had begun shaping the vision of a company, which we now know as Out of Wood.
Fast forward to the ‘80s and Clive had moved to Cornwall. “In its infancy, Out of Wood concentrated on the kitchen door replacement market, with workshop facilities on a farm on the Roseland peninsula. We still enjoy strong links with the area, and many of our present day projects are undertaken in the villages of Portscatho and St Mawes.” It wasn’t until 1991 that Out of Wood moved to their current premises on Frances Street in Truro – a bold move, considering the recession the country was in at the time – but the team must have been doing something right, as even today that showroom is still the centre of operations, with manufacturing undertaken nearby on Threemilestone Industrial Estate.
Whilst the base of operations may have remained the same for nearly three decades, Out of Wood’s offering has only continued to evolve. As well as their own bespoke kitchens Clive and the team also offer a range of ‘off the peg’ kitchens from English manufacturers. A wider spectrum of services is also offered for those looking to improve their homes. This includes bespoke bedrooms that capitalise on every inch of available space, as well as home offices, which are perfect for anybody joining the growing percentage of the UK workforce choosing to work from home.
If it is your dream kitchen that you’re hoping to realise, then fear not – Out of Wood has not forgotten its roots. Not only can Clive and the team design and manufacture your kitchen cabinetry to suit your home – tailoring it to you and the way you intend to use it – they also have an impressive list of suppliers covering every aspect of your kitchen build, meaning you needn’t shop anywhere else. With a list of leading appliance brands, including Neff, Miele and Siemens, sinks and taps in a wide range of styles, and a wealth of premium worktop materials, including granite, quartz and timber, when we say that Out of Wood is a ‘one-stop shop’, that’s precisely what we mean! In fact, Clive further enhanced the Out of Wood service by opening, under licence, a branch of Fired Earth in Truro. This means that you can source those all-important finishing touches from Fired Earth’s fabulous range of tiles, paints, furniture and bathroom products.
So what do actual Out of Wood customers have to say? After all, you can’t just take our word for it! Fortunately, you need only visit the website to find a reel of stellar reviews, some praising the “quality of the workmanship and the design”, others saying how they are “absolutely delighted” with the finished result. “We could not have wished for a better team of people” says one happy client, while another simply says “we love our kitchen!”. With that in mind, if you’re embarking on a home improvement project this New Year and are looking for a full design and installation service that has all bases covered, why not pencil in a trip to the Out of Wood showroom?
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Case study
We couldn’t offer such high praise without offering an example. Pictured above is a fabulous recent example of the quality you can expect from an Out of Wood kitchen. A great idea for flexibility when cooking is to have two ovens built into tall housings, at a height to suit the user. This gives even greater capacity than a range cooker, and with the addition of a microwave and warming drawer, all options will be covered. Adjoining this kitchen is a utility room, fitted with a useful farmhouse sink and Iroko worktops.
Out of Wood
01872 260002