In this blogpost we are setting down the tools and taking some time to showcase Laurie, one of our team members here at Blackfields Furniture. Laurie has been a key part of Blackfields for the past five years and is now our Team Manager, smoothly bridging the gap between the workshop and the office.
Before joining Blackfields, he built a strong background in architecture before moving to the more hands-on work of traditional joinery. While architecture gave him a solid grounding in design and technical thinking, Laurie found himself wanting something more tangible. He enjoyed working with his hands and, most importantly, seeing a project all the way through from first idea to finished installation.
That combination of skills has made him invaluable to the business. Laurie has used his experience in architectural drawings to become our resident expert in 3D CAD design and rendering, while also bringing his proficiency in traditional bench joinery techniques. This means he is just as comfortable refining designs at a desk as he is working in the workshop, giving him a unique understanding of the full production process.
One of the things Laurie enjoys most about his role is the massive variety of projects he gets to work on. He takes real satisfaction in seeing each job progress from concept to completion, and especially in witnessing the positive impact our work has on clients once everything is installed. A project he is particularly proud of is the front door and entryway storage system we created for Eliza. He sees this as a perfect example of every stage of the process working smoothly, from design and manufacture through to installation, resulting in a striking final piece that transformed a client’s home.
As Team Manager, Laurie is the first point of contact for the entire workshop team. He is deeply committed to developing his management and leadership skills and is currently undertaking a Level 3 Team Leading course. Alongside this, he has been enjoying learning more about the high-level design of production processes, the behind-the-scenes realities of running a business, and the client-facing side of projects. Looking ahead, Laurie is excited to complete his team leading course and to continue refining his management style as our team grows. He also hopes that as he develops his understanding of business management, he can continue to make meaningful contributions to the ongoing growth of the business as a whole.
To those who meet him, Laurie’s favourite fact about himself may come as a surprise. Despite not looking the type, he is a huge fan of heavy drum & bass and house music, even having to convince his wife when they first met that he genuinely loved the genre.
