How we get your job moving
Tell us what needs doing
Send photos, sizes or rough plans so we can understand the job and your options early.
We measure and price it
We plan the work, show practical examples and provide a free, no-obligation quotation.
We complete the joinery
We carry out the work with care in occupied properties and keep communication open.
Joinery for rooms, roofs, gardens and repairs
Almost three decades of joinery experience
With almost three decades of experience under his belt, Ian Sutherland's Creative Joinery Services is a business customers keep coming back to, and for good reason.
Ian, based in Aberdeenshire, has done it all, from custom repairs to site-specific installations in medical environments. His wide experience and problem-solving attitude keep him building on his existing skills and developing new ones with each new project.
Ian says:
“That varied work keeps my full range of skills active. Whether I'm repairing something that already exists, restoring older work, custom-making something completely new or being involved in a larger build, each project requires a different combination of skills, experience and problem-solving.”
His love of woodworking finds its roots in school, where Ian became fascinated by all the possibilities wood offered as a source of creativity. He took up woodturning and was instantly hooked.
Ian recalls:
“I enjoyed learning about the different types of timber, appreciating their individual characteristics and seeing how something quite simple could be worked and shaped into a finished product. There was something very satisfying about starting with the raw material and seeing what you could create from it.”
Building Experience Across Different Projects
From school, Ian worked as a joiner, building up years of experience across a wide range of projects, including schools, kit houses, hospitals, an oil and gas terminal, historic buildings and a large construction site in Aberdeenshire.
This variety of environments meant Ian was able to adapt his skills to different challenges and consistently work to high standards of quality and safety.
As work on the construction site slowed down, Ian felt the time was right to establish his own company, affording him the freedom to take on a greater variety of projects.
Building a Business Around Craftsmanship
Family life was also an important factor, and with greater flexibility came the option to spend more time with his wife and their dog while continuing to do the work he enjoyed.
He says:
“Family is very important to me, and working for myself gives me the flexibility to spend more time with my wife and our dog while building a business doing something I'm passionate about. Having my own company also gives me the opportunity to use the varied skill set I've developed throughout my career. I can take an architect's design, understand what they and the customer want to achieve, and use my practical experience and craftsmanship to bring that vision to life.”
Ian takes particular satisfaction in the problem-solving element of his work, where every project presents a different challenge and allows him to draw on his experience, whether on a new build or bringing something back to life.
Ian explained that his aim with the business was simply to provide quality craftsmanship coupled with a professional service at affordable pricing.
No matter the size, every job receives the same level of care and commitment:
“I want customers to be delighted with the finished result, and I want to be proud to put my name to it,” says Ian.
Corrie McCue
TrustPilot
Excellent service and price – would highly recommended. I have booked again for a second job already.
Quality, professionalism and reliability
Ian's values are reflected in his decision to become an accredited member of the Guild of Master Craftsmen:
“Being accredited by the Guild is important to me because its values reflect the way I believe a business should operate. It's about quality workmanship, professionalism, reliability and treating customers fairly. The accreditation gives customers additional confidence that these aren't just things I talk about; they're standards I work to on every job.”
It is these high standards that mean he mainly works alone but will bring in a trusted circle of other trades for larger jobs.
Ian explains:
“It's important to me that anyone I bring onto a project works to the same high standards I expect from myself. These are tradespeople whose work I know and trust, so I'm confident having them involved in a customer's project. This also means I can take on more substantial and varied projects rather than being limited purely to the joinery element. When different trades are required, I can work alongside people I trust and help make sure all the different elements of the project come together properly.”
Over the years, Ian has enjoyed working on a huge variety of projects, but two that he feels most proud of couldn't be more different.
The first is a kit house made by Ian from start to finish, demonstrating the full range of his practical and problem-solving skills.
The second is working at a historic castle for the National Trust for Scotland. This ongoing project requires careful craftsmanship on parts of the property that have stood for at least a century and will be a testament to his work for many more years to come.
“These projects are completely different, but that's what I enjoy about my trade. Whether I'm building something from the ground up, repairing, replacing, rebuilding, custom-making or restoring, the variety keeps my skills active and allows me to apply my experience to very different challenges,” says Ian.
Why dealing with us feels more straightforward
Made for your exact space
We measure properly so awkward openings, slopes and old details do not get guessed at.
Small jobs to full refits
We fix damaged timber, fit one-off features and carry larger property joinery projects.
Clear from start to finish
We keep advice, pricing and progress updates plain, practical and easy to follow.