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Lee's Custom Woodwork & Design Ltd

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Lee's Custom Woodwork & Design Ltd

27/08/2026

Introducing the fabulous Swainstons Soda Bar
Handmade by me hand painted by the legend that is Ron Carroll !
Ron created a beautiful hand painted sign and actually stained the whole bar to make sure it was flawless, INCLUDING a green jade marble effect finish on the the bar top 👌(more pics coming)🥤🍭

Serving old-school sodas, floats, matchas, iced coffees and I’m sure plenty more, all served by Ferry View ! 😍

This is another brilliant addition to the Swainstons brand, following their appearance on BBC Dragons Den! last week where they only went and bagged themselves a Dragon! 🐉👏

I absolutely love working with John and Sean (the pictures probably make that pretty obvious 😂). It’s like being a kid in a candy shop… just a slightly older kid! 😳🤣

These two are absolutely amazing at what they do and always seem to be thinking of the next thing they can do to make the shop even better and give their customers more. 🥰

That level of customer service and attention to detail is seriously hard to come by these days, but Swainstons just seem to keep raising the bar and finding new ways to make the experience better.

Keep an eye out for next week’s posts too, where I’ll be showing you a bit more of the build process behind the Soda Bar. 🛠️👀

I was also fortunate enough to take on John’s son Harrison for some carpentry work experience during the project, so there’ll be plenty more pictures of that to come too! 🔨👏

Another fantastic project, another fantastic local business, and another one I’m very proud to have been involved with. ❤️
Www.leescustomwoodwork.com

25/08/2026

Space to work with — rough design & concept drawing ✏️

This was the space I had to work with at Mr Swainstons when they asked me back for another project at their fabulous Fowler Street store!

What used to be a spiral staircase from the previous tenants was destined for a new lease of life… becoming the new Swainstons Soda Bar! 🥤

Serving all your old favourites alongside some lovely new creations from Ferry View , plus ice coffees — perfect for the new seating area and this lovely weather we’ve been having! ☀️

For the design, I wanted to keep things traditional and in keeping with the Mr Swainstons brand and it wouldn't be a Swainstons design without little john and sean in there too 😄. Lots of detail, dark stains and traditional features, including an old-style bookcase ladder, to create that warm, cosy study feel tucked into the corner of the shop.

From a rough concept drawing to the finished piece, this one was a proper transformation!

Make sure you check out Thursday’s post to see the making of it and, of course, the completed Swainstons Soda Bar! 😁
Www.leescustomwoodwork.com

20/08/2026

LOCAL BUSINESS APPRECIATION POST 👏

Better late than never, eh? 😄

I usually post on a Thursday around 6pm-ish, but tonight was a little different as I was invited along to celebrate the HUGE investment in Mr Swainstons following their appearance on Dragons' Den! 👏

I absolutely love seeing another local business doing so well here in South Shields, and I genuinely couldn’t be prouder of you both and everything you’ve accomplished! ❤️

Thank you so much for involving me in helping you guys create your dream. It’s been brilliant watching it all come together, and you should both be incredibly proud tonight.

I URGE anyone who hasn’t already been down to check out Mr Swainston’s to pop down tomorrow… and pay particular attention to Sean’s potential hangover! 😄🥂🍷

There’s more to come next week from Mr Swainston’s, as I share a little something I’ve been working on inside… 😁

Congratulations again guys — you absolutely deserve it! 👏
Www.leescustomwoodwork.com

18/08/2026

So yeah… onto the next course I suppose! 😄🤓

As many of you know, I do love a good project, and as part of my bigger plan to keep developing the business and adding more strings to my bow, it’s time for the next step!

The plan for the future? Bigger projects, larger renovations and ultimately taking on more of the project management side of things too.

I genuinely believe that having a good project manager involved in a larger build or renovation can be worth its weight in gold.

It’s about bringing everyone together and making sure the whole team is working towards the same end goal. Planning ahead, coordinating trades, making sure jobs happen in the right order, keeping materials and deliveries organised, staying on top of quality and finish, dealing with problems before they become bigger problems… and generally keeping the whole project moving in the right direction.

It’s that bigger-picture approach that really interests me.

So, after completing my Interior Design Diploma, I’m now diving into another lot of coursework and working towards my NVQ Level 6 in Site Management 🤯

I completed my CITB MAP test a few weeks ago and have now received my provisional CSCS card, ready to complete the qualification and work towards getting my Black Manager’s Card.

And this isn’t just about collecting qualifications for the sake of it. The plan is to actually put them into practice.

That process has already started with the fabulous Jennie from Just Let Your Soul Grow, Community Garden, who has given me the opportunity to get involved with the Thompson Road / HISCA build, which is coming very soon! 👀

For me, it’s all about continually learning, developing the business and being able to offer clients more as the projects get bigger and more involved.

Hopefully this doesn’t come across as me bragging — that’s genuinely not the intention. I just enjoy sharing the journey, the things I’m learning and where I’m hoping to take the business.

And if it encourages someone else, especially someone a little further down the road, to keep learning, add a few more strings to their bow and have a go at something new, then even better. 💪

So… here we go a

13/08/2026

It’s in the detail 👌

Added a dark-tint mirror to this floating drawer set I installed a little while ago, giving it some added character and a subtle feature detail.

It’s often these little touches that can make a world of difference — adding something extra without taking away from the overall design. It just feels perfectly placed. 👌

Credit to the owners, Neil and Rebecca, who have a real keen eye for detail in their gorgeous home 😍

And yes… the home envy is still strong with this one! 😄

11/08/2026

Continuing with Design Work Tuesday. 🎨🏖️

I’ve been lucky enough to be asked to work on some design concepts for the upcoming beach huts at Sandhaven beach , and I’m absolutely loving it!

I started by creating a detailed template of the commercial huts, giving me a foundation to explore different layouts, styles and design concepts for clients.

This is my second commission so far — a concept for a double office space, with the design centred around symmetry, balance and a clean, considered layout.

The aim was to create a space that feels cohesive and intentional, with the furniture, storage and key features all working together while maintaining a strong visual balance throughout.

It’s been great taking the initial concept and bringing it to life through 3D modelling and visualisation, and there’s plenty more to come over the next few weeks as I develop different ideas.

Make sure you give the page a follow too 👉 Sandhaven Village 🌊
Www.leescustomwoodwork.com

06/08/2026

Finished photos seem to be the theme recently... so why not keep them coming! 😄

I received these amazing photos from Jess of one of the two alcove unit sets i built a few months back. The house is finally finished, and it's gone from being a reno project to feeling like a proper home. 🏡

I absolutely LOVE reno projects. There's something so satisfying about seeing everything come together, and it's exactly the kind of work I want to keep doing.

I'm always looking to keep learning too, so now that I've completed my Diploma in Interior Design, it's time for the next challenge...

🎯 The goal: Achieve my CSCS Black Card by completing qualifications in Site and Project Management, allowing me to take on full home renovations and larger projects while keeping great design and attention to detail at the heart of everything I do.

Watch this space... more learning, more projects, and hopefully even bigger transformations coming soon! 😄
Www.leescustomwoodwork.com

04/08/2026

From Concept to Completion
-Every successful build starts with a clear vision.

The journey from initial design concept to the finished piece. The first image shows the design stage, where dimensions, proportions, storage solutions, and overall aesthetics are carefully planned. The second image is the completed build, brought to life as intended.

Taking the time to create detailed designs before a project begins helps eliminate guesswork, ensures the client knows exactly what they're getting, and allows every detail to be refined and tweaked before the first cut is made.

Whether it's bespoke furniture, fitted storage, cabinetry, commercial joinery, or custom one-off pieces, I offer a full design-to-build service.
I also provide design work for other tradespeople, joinery companies, and businesses looking to present concepts professionally before manufacture or even just visuals to help see the vision.

If you have an idea you'd like to bring to life, or you're a business looking for design support, feel free to get in touch
Www.leescustomwoodwork.com

30/07/2026

After Photos!! 📸

Absolutely love receiving these, so keep them coming. especially if I haven’t shared them before! 😍

I honestly couldn’t believe these were the wardrobes from last week. The painter must have been itching to get stuck in, but what an incredible job they’ve done! ☺️

The transformation is stunning, and the finished look creates such a warm, inviting feel in what is already a beautiful bedroom. It's always amazing to see how the final touches bring everything together. 👌✨
Www.leescustomwoodwork.com

23/07/2026

Really enjoyed building these wardrobes over the last week 😁

And here's a surprise for my customers... their final bill came in £550 LESS than the original quote!

What?! A tradesman charging less than quoted? Surely not... 😅

When I was first contacted about this job, the customer sent over the measurements. Because of the distance, I quoted using my usual price-per-metre method for wardrobes.

Once I arrived on site and had a proper look, we chatted through a few options. Originally, the wardrobes were going to run further across the wall, but with the ceiling dropping down at the end, I felt it wouldn't give the clean finish they were hoping for.

Rather than build something that wasn't quite right, I suggested a better layout, which meant using less material and taking less time. So I deducted the difference from the quote.

For me, it's simple: I'd rather do what's right for the customer than charge for work that isn't needed.

The end result looks fantastic, and the customers are over the moon with it 😊 I can't wait to see them painted and watch this renovation turn into a beautiful home.

Not every tradesman is just chasing the biggest invoice. Some of us genuinely care about the quality of our work, being honest with our customers, and leaving people with something they're proud to have in their home.
Www.leescustomwoodwork.com

Address

7 Beach Road
South Shields
NE332QA

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

+447824905668

Website

http://www.leescustomwoodwork.com/

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