A professional photo shoot was organised at the end of July and the results can be seen in our new brochure, due for publication at the end of Summer 2009.

For details of the special Henry exhibition at Hampton Court Palace, visit www.hrp.org.uk/hamptoncourtpalace

After holding on to a photograph of a much-admired antique for over a decade, our client commissioned a very fine pair of oak wainscot chairs.

The brief was to recreate a pair of chairs as close to the original as possible. Jerry Fisher, head of design for Stuart Interiors, was able to produce accurate scale drawings from the photograph. Paying particular attention to detail to the original turnings, carved detail and beautiful inlay, our craftsmen were able to create the fine pair of oak chairs pictured right and below.

"The chairs arrived a short while ago. They look fantastic, very authentic and spot on with the original. They will be greatly enjoyed by current and future generations of my family. Please
pass my thanks and congratulations on the skilled work to all who worked on them". PW

If you would like to talk to us about commissioning a piece of oak furniture, please contact us for advice and a quotation.

The original picture of the antique can be seen below.

Above: The picture of the original antique oak chair

Below: Recreating the inlay

Above: Recreating the inlay

Below: The new pair of oak arm chairs

Above: The new pair of oak arm chairs

Below: Recreating the hand-carved oak detail

Above: the new entrance hall with Tudor arched doorways and turned oak staircase

This commission for a family home in Oxfordshire involved the complete redesign of rooms on the ground floor. After recently purchasing the property, our client wanted an appropriately impressive entrance hall and felt the existing modern panelling did not make the grade.

Working with the client, we moved forward with this C16th inspired parchemin design for the dado-height panelling, combined with elegant Tudor arches for the doorways. We also replaced the tired staircase with a classic C16th design.

Above: the entrance hall before the re-design, with the old staircase on the left

Below: detail of the C16th style oak staircase with parchemin panelling behind

Below: parchemin panelled solid oak doors featured throughout

Above: The Great Hall

Work at Hampton Court Palace is nearing completion and we visit to check on progress. Historic Royal Palaces called upon our expertise to design the special fabrics which now adorn the Processional Routes of Henry VIII's royal appartments. We also see the furniture we have designed and made for Henry VIII's Great Hall, Council Chamber and Great Watching Chamber. Visitors will soon be able to experience the true splendor of life in the Tudor Court.

Hampton Court Palace

Work in progress photos are below:

Above: one of the designs developed for the palace after extensive research and investigation

The silk designs we have spent so long developing for James V's Renaissance Palace at Stirling Castle are finally coming off the loom and we visit the weaving mill for quality control checks. It is an exciting day for all involved, especially Vivienne Swatridge (pictured below), our textiles specialist, who has overseen this project since its initial conception. Congratulations Vivienne! Stirling Castle

Above: The Weaver checks the loom

Below: The Dyer's workshop - in preparation for the weaving of the next specially designed silk

Llancaiach Fawr.

Above: The Great Bed Chamber

The past few weeks have seen us putting the finishing touches to the interiors of Ordsall Hall, a magnificent Tudor house in Salford which has undergone major restoration over the past few years. Stuart Interiors were asked to design and make the oak furniture and period fabrics now on display throughout the house.

Soon to celebrate re-opening to the public, the Hall depicts life as it would have been in Tudor England and is designed as an interactive museum with costume cupboards to explore and hands-on recreations of room settings.

Ordsall Hall

Above & Below: The Great Hall

Above: The Great Hall

Below: The Star Chamber, tester bed and backstool

A recent commission for a Somerset house involved transforming an original C17th room into an oak panelled snug. This project was special due to our clients recently celebrating a momentous wedding anniversary. Inspiration for the carved oak fireplace came from the original C17th fireplace in the hotel they were married in, those many moons ago.

"We are so pleased with our new/old snug. We were most impressed with the service from enquiry through concept and design to the installation and completion of the project ahead of time. The carvings really are the cherry on top". RI

After a visit to clients in Ely, we were delighted to have the opportunity of re-visiting Oliver Cromwell's House. The house has been re-created to show how Cromwell's family would have lived in the C17th and Stuart Interiors were commissioned to design and make the oak furniture on display.

Oliver Cromwell's House

A fine pair of lions, hand carved in oak, now sit guarding our client's staircase.