When Rhodes Joinery and Building Services Ltd bought a barren old building, once part of a public house, it embarked on a renovation project to create a striking new office and showroom. The building in Elland, West Yorkshire, has been transformed in a 26-week project which has included a full re-roof, the installation of a dormer conversion complete with ensuite and a loft conversion with working Velux Cabrio balcony windows that clients can try out.
“The idea was to create a one-of-a-kind project. We were looking for a building with character and history, in our local town, something to put our own personal input on and we got exactly what we wanted and more,” explained Managing Director Brett Rhodes. They also wanted to retain as many historical features as possible and sandblasted the walls to reveal the red brick underneath, stripped the original beams back to their natural state and sanded and lacquered the original floor to reveal the natural wood. Oak and glass staircases were installed and the company’s joiners designed and created bespoke desks made from wood reclaimed from the floorboards and bespoke shelving made from scaffolding boards.
“Our idea is not to just have another boring and unoriginal office space but to keep as many features as we can and also have a showroom space where anyone is welcome to pop in, take a look around and see the fantastic work that our team is capable of,” said Brett. Some parts of the building have also been left exposed to allow clients to see areas that would normally be covered up such as wiring. “The whole aim of the project has been to give potential clients a better understanding of just how things work and may look in their own home which is something that isn’t really on offer anywhere else,” said Brett.
As well as being one of very few in Britain with a dormer and loft conversion for clients to walk round, visitors to its showroom can view boilers, steel works, kitchens, bespoke wardrobe furniture, plumbing and tiling works, bathrooms, electrical works, roofing works and features such as aluminium bi-fold doors, staircases, glass handrails, floor finishes and decoration all under one roof. “It’s been an amazing journey and hopefully will bear fruit in the next few years,” said Brett.
