Caroline Pattenden hears how former accountant Iain Stirling made the leap from corporate to creative when he founded Chapelhill Fine Furniture
From unique Creepie stools to a beautiful Thistle Oak Table, Iain Stirling is a furniture maker besotted with the process. Whether designing in his studio or perfecting his woodworking skills, it’s no wonder his company, Chapelhill Fine Furniture, is garnering such a positive reputation among his customers.
Having launched the business just three years ago, Iain’s journey into furniture making is not a conventional one. With a background in financial services, an industry he worked in for nearly 20 years, Iain saw a rare opportunity to try something he had always wanted to do and seized the moment. He explains: ‘About three years ago I took the opportunity to leave the job I was in through redundancy and that allowed me to take the Professional course at the Chippendale International School of Furniture. You only live once, and I would rather do something I really wanted to do with my life than look back in five years’ time and regret not doing it. I took that opportunity.’
Supportive education
Through the first-class training and support at the Chippendale School, Iain was able to set up Chapelhill Fine Furniture, based in East Lothian, Scotland. He rents a space in the school’s incubator studios which provide access to all the woodworking machinery and tools he might need and where he can work alongside other makers. This supported approach to setting up his business remains in place for three years after graduation, but Iain is sure he will carry on working in a shared space, enjoying the company of others and swapping ideas.
Design and production are not the only skills Iain has had to master and as well as creating his products, he has had to learn how to find customers and work out what marketing works best for the business. Getting to grips with social media has definitely helped and Chapelhill Fine Furniture’s Instagram feed is packed full of beautiful images, while word-of-mouth recommendations are certainly getting his name in front of the right people – people Iain is turning into loyal customers. He is aware that his clients have a desire to create something beautiful and bespoke for their homes, whether they be large or small pieces.
He has also been approached by interior designers hoping to create a ‘look’, but it’s crafting one-off pieces for individuals and their homes that really gives Iain the most satisfaction. He says: ‘I really do love making bespoke pieces of furniture for people. My customers also love that they can be involved in the design process and end up with a unique piece made just for them.’
Despite having left the corporate world behind him, Iain is disciplined in his approach to work, keeping a typical 9 to 5 schedule that has him busy with a mix of designing, making and admin. Iain said: ‘An element of my work is visiting people’s houses where I can chat with them about what they’re looking for, but the majority of my time is spent in the workshop ordering materials and building furniture.’ The studio is a space that Iain loves and there he can access tutors and chat to fellow makers, lending a hand if necessary and asking the same on larger projects.
The thistle oak
And while marketing and finding the next commission are challenges that Iain, like most small business owners, faces, it’s a role he wouldn’t change for the world. Through his new career path, his work has brought unique designs to homes, created one-off pieces you can’t buy anywhere else and helped raise money for charities like Maggie’s, an organisation providing support and advice for cancer sufferers. But if you were to ask Iain about which piece of work he is most proud, he would tell you it’s the stunning Thistle Oak Table.
In his own words, this piece was a labour of love. The table was designed and crafted by Iain as a challenge to himself and with an artistic element that he is not often able to incorporate. With handmade joints, exposed joinery and beautifully hand-cut thistle shapes in each side of the table, this was the personal challenge that embodies everything Iain loves about his new career – care, love and detail. It’s possibly also why Iain, not normally one for romanticism, felt the finished table really had its own soul.
Creepies
A Creepie Stool is a traditional piece of vernacular Scottish furniture, which is a low stool made from leftover scraps of wood. Iain began making these from various scraps and offcuts and they have now become a signature part of his collection, with their own dedicated section on his website. They give him the chance to experiment with different decorative effects and details, while also giving customers an accessible entry into the world of bespoke furniture.
Outside works
After pouring himself into every creation, including those little Creepie stools, Iain unwinds at home with his wife and two teenage children. He also plays squash and enjoys cycling, but what he really loves is hill walking in the incredible countryside around his Scottish home. It’s not everyone that can walk away from the security of a professional career and start from scratch, but Iain’s proved it can be done with great success. Though the venture is still young, Iain’s furniture-making skills and passion for his craft will no doubt make Chapelhill Fine Furniture a business for the future.
www.chapelhillfinefurniture.co.uk | Instagram: @chapelhillfinefurniture
PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF IAIN STIRLING, UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED