•MY COUNTRY BUSINESS
Furniture makers Paul and Maria Le Mesurier design and make each piece by hand
Working from an outbuilding on the picturesque Uppark Estate, a National Trust property in the heart of rural West Sussex, Paul Le Mesurier has realised his dream of working with wood. Following a successful career as an osteopath, Paul decided to take a year’s sabbatical in 2011 and embarked on a traditional boatbuilding course in Lowestoft.
The decision coincided with his chance meeting of Maria. After a whirlwind year travelling to see each other at weekends, the couple married. ‘I returned to osteopathy to make ends meet and we lived in a small converted farm building in Rogate,’ says Paul. ‘With a growing family – three children from Maria’s first marriage (Alfred, 16, Pearl, 15, and Gio, 11) and two together (Dolly, six and Rocky, three) – we quickly ran out of space.’ A fortuitous house swap followed. Maria’s mother was keen to downsize and so the family moved to her converted stable block on the nearby Uppark Estate.
With its rambling layout and capacious rooms, The Stables provided the catalyst for their furniture business. ‘We had been looking for simple wooden furniture to use at home and, unable to source any we liked, we decided to design our own. I sketched the ideas and Paul turned them into a reality,’ says Maria. Harnessed by a desire for simplicity and authenticity in all aspects of life, the couple wanted each design to ‘serve a purpose, look great, withstand the rigours of everyday use and make you feel happy. We don’t believe in having things for the sake of it,’ says Maria.
The couple developed prototypes for their home honed from rough sawn ash and walnut wood, starting with a kitchen island, dining table and benches, desk, peg rails, boot rails, side tables and coffee tables. ‘Our business is rooted in our connection with nature and a desire for simplicity,’ says Paul. The result is pieces that are elegant and minimalist, without being precious, that work in both classic and contemporary settings.
Fast forward eight years and what started as a home project has since turned into a business to watch. Maria, an interior stylist, opened a personal Instagram account, posting images of the couple’s home, furniture and lifestyle aesthetic. She quickly became inundated with enquiries from >
❝ THE IMMENSE SATISFACTION OF SENDING OUT A COMPLETED ORDER. KNOWING THAT SOMEONE HAS FAITH IN OUR DESIGNS PERSONAL❞ FEELS VERY
prospective buyers. ‘We recognised an opportunity to harness this interest and 14 months ago I closed my osteopathy practice to launch Woodedit,’ says Paul.
‘It feels liberating to put my woodworking skills to full use and having the headspace to create is very rewarding. There are no investors and no back-up funds – we cannot afford to carry large stocks, so wood is supplied locally by a trusted merchant once orders are placed. Twelve months in, we continue to do everything ourselves. Maria is all about the aesthetic; my focus is the making and business management. Our trust and belief in each other is enormous. It has to be to work. Going from sole trader to a limited company has been a steep learning curve, but previous business experience has helped. Planning is key, too. Being the only maker, order lead times can take four to six weeks, but customers are happy to wait, knowing the pieces are handmade. Our designs are lifetime investments, but also affordable choices – that was important to us.’
Paul’s workshop, a weathered, blackpainted outbuilding that came with their home, is a short stroll across the central courtyard. The smell of freshly sawn wood and finishing oils creates an intoxicating welcome. Tools are displayed on patinarich, crumbling plaster walls, along with many standalone pieces of cutting and finishing machinery. ‘It was all saved for and accumulated over the last eight years – we wanted to avoid any prohibitive start-up costs,’ says Paul. ‘It is great having a separate space in which to be creative – although for Maria, work on Woodedit does cross over at home. I have learnt to be mindful of the fact that she is also juggling our five children and her own separate styling, writing and buying projects (including the amazing seagrass animal heads that she imports). Establishing set design meetings has been important.’
The choice of ash and walnut woods adds a premium feel, while carefully sanded finishes and gentle strokes of oil (a bespoke Woodedit mix) enhance the beauty further, allowing the colour and grain to shine. ‘I am passionate about the finish. It is something that cannot be rushed,’ says Paul. ‘Recently, we have created new designs to make use of our offcuts – chopping boards, candlesticks and boot jacks. It is important to us that everything is used. We are also planning ideas for an outdoor range and some new interior pieces for next spring. Starting Woodedit was a huge leap of faith, but it is so rewarding knowing that our designs are being appreciated and that we are carving a future for our family.’
Woodedit, 0800 066 5411, woodedit.co.uk, @woodedituk, @marialemesurier
Regular meetings help keep the workload in check