Darren Collins in the showroom at Collinswood Ltd
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A skilled carpenter with a heartfelt passion for his work has launched a company specialising in one-of-a-kind, hand-crafted pieces of furniture.
Collinswood Ltd creates and sells unique and bespoke pieces that harmoniously blend live edge wood and resin inlays at the company’s workshop and showroom in the lovely coastal village of Knott End-on-Sea in Lancashire.
The company also sells pieces online so its customers can be from anywhere in the world, but managing director Darren Collins is keen to engage with people in the immediate surrounding area.
“We market ourselves nationally but we also want local people to visit us to view the products on show and see our workshop, talk about what we do and hopefully place an order,” said Darren, 55, who lives in the village.
Collinswood Ltd creates dining tables, coffee tables, side tables and cabinets, as well as office furniture such as boardroom tables.
Darren Collins at work on another one-of-a-kind piece of furniture
Its first collection – Elements – features meticulously-crafted, limited-edition pieces inspired by Earth, Water, Air and Fire. The Water collection, for example, features live edge wood that resembles the movement of water, with soft and flowing curves, while the resin inlay adds depth and intrigue, with shades of blue and white that evoke the calming and soothing elements of water.
“The wood – including oak, beech, sycamore and ash - all comes from the Lake District and Cumbria and is fallen, not felled, as part of the sustainability ethos of the company,” said Darren.
Collinswood Ltd documents the build for those who have ordered bespoke units, sending customers regular photographs and encouraging them to visit the workshop to see how the work is progressing.
The company champions talented local craftspeople through its Collinswood Collabs initiative. “We have forged alliances with local artisans, displaying their impressive work alongside our own furniture in our showroom and online and, when suitable, integrating their expertise into our bespoke designs,” said Darren.
Meanwhile the Collinswood Repurposed initiative gives a new lease of life to preloved pieces of furniture by infusing them with contemporary style and flair. “By revitalising old furniture, we not only contribute to waste reduction but also preserve the rich stories and cherished memories ingrained in each piece,” said Darren.
He said he was very excited about having set up Collinswood Ltd: “Carpentry has always been my passion, having trained as a City and Guilds cabinet maker and having being involved with craftsmanship for more than 30 years. It felt the right time to do it – and when you do something you enjoy so much it’s not really work.”
Darren Collins with Lancaster and Fleetwood MP Cat Smith during her visit to Collinswood Ltd
Darren grew up in Essex, worked for many years in the Rochdale area and moved to Knott End-on-Sea 18 years ago.
“I love carpentry,” he said. “It’s the smell of the wood and the creativity if affords me to produce one-of-a-kind pieces of art for customers who really appreciate my craftsmanship.
“Our future plans including creating two different new collections each year and launching a memorial table range, in which the ashes of loved ones can be placed in a receptacle, encased in resin, and inset into a piece of furniture.”
The showroom at Barton Square is open Monday-Friday from 9am-5pm and on Saturdays until around 1pm. The company offers part-exchange discounts for customers who might be redecorating and who want to replace furniture created by Collinswood Ltd with a fresh piece. All the company’s own products come with a five-year guarantee.
One of Collinswood Ltd’s first high-profile visitors has been Lancaster and Fleetwood MP Cat Smith, who called into the showroom to wish the team well.
