Timeless heritage lives on
One of Christchurch’s increasingly rare heritage gems is looking stunning once more, having been rebuilt and restored to its original standards. 158 High Street proudly bears its name C.F. Cotter & Co in gold lettering above its key architectural feature: three sets of tall radius or arch windows.
The craftsmen responsible for these beautiful windows and ground floor doors can be found at Christchurch’s own TimberTru. Owner Tony van der Plas says, “this was a particularly enjoyable job because we had to recreate the windows from old photos, because the original windows had been destroyed.”
The windows vary in size, are traditional working “double hung sash” style, and crafted in pine and cedar. The wood has been painted in black for the exterior, and cream for the interior.
“It took about 200 hours of work, but we loved every moment. It is an historic façade, and recreating those authentic heritage details is a passion for us,” says Tony. TimberTru won first prize for these heritage style windows in the local ‘Canterbury Master Joiners Awards 2022’ for ‘Best Window or Door’.
The Cotter’s building windows have been a highlight of a job recently, but the team are also busy with a new replica bay window for a farm house in Prebbleton. Highly skilled at creating beautiful joinery in every style, they have just completed sets of shelving and daybeds in a modernist style, for an architect’s home at Taylors Mistake.
Bespoke and specialist work is their niche. “Probably half of our business is replacing or replicating character wooden windows and doors, and the other half is creating brand new kitchens, bathroom joinery and wardrobes in every style and era you could imagine,” says Tony.
The company’s website photos are a testament to the sheer range of joinery skill the team have under their fingertips.
Clients find their way to TimberTru through word of mouth. Tony and his team are destination joiners for both in the know private clients and builders. “For character homes, where owners are extending, or adding decks and requiring either French doors or bi-folds in wood, we are experts at matching existing windows and doors,” says Tony.
The team are always busy with kitchens, and the choice of materials is not limited to timber, “it’s completely up to you,” says Tony, “veneered timber, plywood, melamine, whatever suits your vision and budget.” The joinery isn’t where the service ends, they can organise benchtops, hardware and complete kitchen installations as well. Whether you are looking for a total renovation job or a small fix, join those in the know and talk to Tony at TimberTru.
Designed with the needs of small to medium businesses in mind, Above Your Space Cotters Lane provides high-quality, contemporary office space in the newly revitalised building placed behind the 1901 restored heritage façade of C F Cotter & Co.
Above Your Space is owned and managed by Stockman Group. The company is well established, having been in operation for decades which means it understands the needs of small to medium size businesses.
“Above has a focus on accommodating the needs of businesses by providing affordable, quality, boutique lock-up offices with the use of all the facilities and services to be expected in an A-grade office,” say principal Shaun Stockman.
“There is the flexibility to grow within our portfolio of offerings as we have a range of offices to accommodate growth.”
Shaun and the Above Your Space team are highly supportive of the businesses who base themselves at any of the Above Your Space offerings and take pride in maintaining all Above Your Space offices and facilities to a very high standard. You can find Shaun and his team in the Stockman Group offices on Level 2, Suite 1, Cotters Lane – 158 High Street.
