TOM ADDY FURNITURE-MAKER

Luxury does not have to mean expensive. I think there is a perception that luxury is something that’s always out of reach, or just a bit too expensive to afford. But I think luxury can be affordable, with an emphasis on quality. When talking about objects like furniture rather than consumables or experiences, I feel that longevity is more important than price.

- Catherine Coyle

I used to be a chef, and if it wasn’t for the antisocial hours I’d probably still be a chef. Furniture-making satisfies my creative ambition in the same way as cheffing did and I think I’m lucky to be able to do it for a job. It also gives me more time to cook for myself and my family. I grew up near Aboyne, just a little further down the Dee valley from where my workshop is now. There is a lot of creativity in the area, much of it inspired by the landscape – I spent a lot of time in the hills as a kid, walking, skiing and mountain-biking, and I suppose the aesthetic quality of the landscape soaks in almost by osmosis. During my time as a chef I developed a love of creating dishes heavily influenced by the provenance and seasonality of ingredients – there was a creativity in my work that has definitely transferred to my furniture.