Bumblebee Paul Hodgkiss Design

When it came to leaving school and choosing between art and woodwork in 1982, I opted for an apprenticeship with the outstanding cabinetmakers, Piers Kettlewell. It was there that highly skilled craftsmen taught me the true way to work with wood. Beyond the actual craft, I increasingly found myself drawn to problem solving and communicating with customers. This inevitably led to self-employment and provided me with the thrilling experience of working out what a customer wants; visualising, drawing and creating the piece to their requirements.

A staircase is where Geometry is essential, it is the perfect place for us to present our art of contrast; precise geometry contrasts with the complete random movement of nature.

Home interiors stunningly brought to life by refurbishment, unique fitted architecture and contemporary furniture ranges. Distilling the design influences in materials and place, we have created a unique range of furniture for home interiors: Cuil, Epinel and Rannoch, each representing our celebration of the natural delights found in elm, oak and other hardwood timbers, allowing natural detail to lead the design process. These design principles are reflected in or staircases, kitchens, bedrooms and living room fittings as well as our furniture ranges.

Paul Hodgkiss Designs is a creative Scottish company that has built a reputation for distinctive hand crafted wood furniture and fittings, interiors brought to life using existing architectural elements, with both commercial and residential customer. Since 1986 Paul has forged a unique and instantly recognisable style and quality in bars, restaurants, hotels, nightclubs, historic buildings, shops and the homes of discerning customers. His organic designs focus on the natural shape, colour and grain of sustainably resourced, Scottish home grown hardwoods such as elm, oak, sycamore, birch, oak, walnut and beech.

That's why all the wood used in our furniture, kitchens and projects, is either wind blown, aged, diseased or woodland managed. Flourishing woodlands and healthy trees are a result of good woodland management. Trees die when they reach the end of their natural life cycle, both rotting away and becoming compost for plants and trees around them, or are taken down when they have lost the strength in their roots and are a danger to surrounding trees or buildings. Disease is all part of nature's complexity rather than the untimely or unfair demise of tree.