Planning & Prioritising Work as a Joiner 

With the team working, I boot up the PC, check emails, and create a key task list for the day. Balancing time between the workshop floor and office work is critical, so I assess how much time I can dedicate to hands-on joinery while ensuring essential admin, quotes, and design work are completed.

A large part of the morning is usually spent preparing cut lists and detailed joinery drawings for upcoming projects. This helps ensure the workshop team has all the information they need to proceed efficiently.

It’s quite unbelievable how much design work, general ‘admin’ and non-joinery type work goes into our projects. Rarely, a project doesn’t require at least one whole day of this type of work. I’m learning to anticipate this, but do need to acknowledge that this is a huge part of the work involved in a project, and start to charge clients for this properly. Currently, I factor in a small amount of time for the design phase, but in reality, this is a long way from the true cost of this time. 

By cost, I mean purely the time this work takes- but if I were to talk about the VALUE of this work, we’d be talking about expertise, experience from previous projects and consultations, and the true importance of our design work in achieving our client’s goals. We transform spaces, and the way people enjoy their houses- ‘just making furniture’ can’t do this, it’s everything else that makes this intentional that provides the value.

Investing in Productivity and Efficiency

Lately, a big focus has been on improving workshop productivity and reducing errors. Not huge errors, but when we are aiming for the best possible finish, having to redo work to achieve this is frustrating and costly- both in terms of the time we are spending on an element, but also the emotional cost. It’s important as makers, that we can work effectively and get things right the first time to ensure we enjoy the process of creating something.

This week, we built a new platform and levelled floor area to make dry-assembling projects easier-removing the need for additional levelling adjustments.

Another initiative has been the introduction of Toolbox Talks, where we take time to educate the team on tools and techniques. This week, Rachel chose the cordless drill, so I led a session covering its functions, safety, PPE, operation, and storage. Mark then replicated my method by teaching the team how to use the Ecodrill, which is used for drilling hinge holes in doors. These sessions are helping to upskill the team and create standardised processes. I also think that teaching others is the best way to gain personal competence and confidence- it’s amazing how explaining and demonstrating how to do something, to somebody else- helps you consolidate the knowledge you already have and might have taken for granted.

Production and Spraying: Hands-On Work

With designs in motion, I often spend a good part of the day in the spray booth, ensuring a flawless finish on bespoke furniture. This week, we completed another batch of specialised cabinets for a regular client while also progressing a shaker-style wardrobe project. Preparation and execution is key, and taking the time to get the finish just right is something we never compromise on.

Closing Thoughts

Each day in the workshop is a balance of creativity, technical expertise, and leadership. 

Whether it’s refining workflows, training the team, or working on a complex spray finish, no two days are the same. As we continue to invest in better processes and skill development, the quality of our work and the efficiency of our workshop keeps improving.

I struggle with the balance of ‘making’ in the workshop, and running the business, but am improving every week- I am currently ‘time-poor’ and looking forward to the time when I can enjoy both sides fully and feel like I have enough time to get lost in the more interesting passion projects!

If you’re considering a bespoke project, know that a huge amount of thought, planning, and craftsmanship goes into every piece we create. We’re good to work with! Follow along for more insights into our workshop life by checking out our Instagram.