THERE'S GOOD IN THE WOODWORK

Flat pack furniture and cheap repro imports from the Far East have done for British carpentry what clothing imports from around the world have done for the British clothing manufacturing industry – all but killed it. But happily there are still some skilled carpenters beavering away, and making the sort of quality, hand crafted and well designed furniture that has been made in this country for centuries.

One of the most recent to emerge from the woodwork is Wood Made Good, founded in Glasgow by Paul Fennon because he couldn’t find the  sort of furniture he wanted to buy in the shops.  He has gathered together a team of experienced Scottish cabinet makers, which will design an item for a customer from scratch to create something that’s absolutely unique, make it, and deliver it directly to the customer’s home.

“We can make just about anything,” said Fennon, “and advise customers on the materials, size and finish that would suit them best. It’s very satisfying to be manufacturing at home in Scotland.”

A bespoke piece of furniture will be made in five or six weeks, rather than the 15 week wait for furniture to be imported from China that is the norm for many furniture retailers. And the prices are reasonable  - the wine rack pictured here costs from £298.75 , depending upon wood and details.  In addition to the retail shop in Duke Street, Glasgow, the company will shortly have an online service.

MUST-HAVE FOR BARBECUE ADDICTS

Forget the simple, back-to-nature barbecue.  Now it’s a full-blown kitchen for the garden, providing a gleaming, state-of-the-art, all-singing-all-dancing barbecue, plus full range of up-to-the-minute appliances, including fridges, power burners and bar caddies, the latest luxury for those addicted to outdoor living.

Constructed in heavy-duty stainless steel, with commercial grade burners, griddles and ovens, the kitchen will provide endless hours of fun for the professional or amateur garden cook, and may be seen as the grown-ups equivalent of a wonder Wendy House.

Quite why barbecue entertaining has become so popular we are at a loss to explain, and experience of burnt or raw offerings in a variety of venues gives no guidance. But clearly many men who wouldn’t be seen dead at a kitchen cooker enjoy the remarkable efforts and discomforts entailed in this form of gastronomy, so the outdoor kitchen is likely to be this summer’s hot new garden extension.

The company responsible, FireMagic, has enjoyed considerable success in the US, where it has been a ‘market leader in premium barbecues’.  Launched in the UK in 2005, it has experienced phenomenal growth in sales, says director Craig Ormiston, who is confident the boom will continue this year, whatever the weather. See  www.fire-magic.co.uk for further information.

LUXURY OF FRESH VEG

GREEN concerns mean that more people than ever want to grow their own, and a handy little product just introduced will help those who may only have a patio or balcony for their enterprise.

The Patio-Gro, a three-tiered frame, provides space to grow vegetables, herbs, salads, fruits and even alpines and bulbs, say the makers. It costs £69.95. Go to www.grogardenproducts.co.uk. for full details.