Kevin Stevens is carving a reputation for himself as a furniture maker.

MAXINE GORDON reports

TWELVE months ago, Kevin Stevens's world could not have been more different. He was living in the Manchester area, commuting daily to Shropshire for his work as a conservation architect. He was tired and stressed-out and having recently turned 40 decided there had to be more to life than this. It was time for a change.

Today, Kevin, wife Janet and their two dogs, black lerchers Fin and Tara, live in a whitewashed ramshackle old cottage on the edge of Kirk Hammerton, near Knaresborough, where he is carving out a name for himself as a furniture maker.

Various homes and interiors magazines are clamouring to feature Kevin's work, which infuses old and new by using traditional building methods to create modern-looking furniture made purely from natural materials.

Making things was always a hobby, says Kevin, whose designs have been inspired by the traditional techniques he learned from his career in conservation architecture.

"I picked up many skills such as timber planing, stone carving and masonry. I was always interested in the craft side of things, which I felt went hand in hand with design," he explains.

The results are an interesting and innovative collection of designs, which he believes capture the post-minimalist mood for interiors.

"The look for 2001 is an eclectic blend of natural materials, contemporary styling and hand-crafted pieces," he says, summing up in essence what Kevin F Stevens, furniture designer and maker, is all about.

One highlight of his first collection is a table made of a timber frame with an inset featuring a panel of woven willow, covered with glass. It comes in various sizes: from coffee to dining table.

The unusual design is based on a technique used in medieval building, where walls were built by constructing a timber frame and fitting a woven panel inside before covering it in a plaster of straw and mud.

"I've done all these techniques when I've been working on historic buildings and I just thought these panels were lovely things to look at," explains Kevin. "I thought: why hide it under plaster?"

So unique is Kevin's finished work, he's copywritten the design. Another twist on this theme is his striking wall lamps, which are essentially steel rods with willow woven around them.

A popular design is his simple block, made from oak or elm, which is just a cube of wood, perfect for a small table or lamp stand. Demand for these is such that the cottage is full of them, waiting to dry out and achieve the natural cracks so central to their appeal.

Not surprisingly, drying-out wood and works in progress are everywhere in the three-bedroom house.

Kevin is keen to find a workshop as nearby as possible, so he can begin to separate work from home.

"It is difficult to work from home because of the dogs. It's always tempting to take them out," he admits. Or, I guess, sit in the comfy leather armchair facing a floor-to-ceiling window which faces south over farmland with not a soul in sight. And then there's the distractions of the house itself. It needs a complete overhaul. "We reckon it will take ten years to complete," says Kevin, with a resigned grin. "It will be a very slow job."

But he's not complaining too much. Compared with his old life - well, there is no comparison.

"I'm probably earning about a third of the wage I was on 12 months ago, but my lifestyle is three times better," sums up Kevin.

Of course his financial fortunes could change if the enthusiastic response to his designs spins out into sales and commissions.

He will be exhibiting his work at various shows later this year including the Great Yorkshire Show and the Harrogate Flower Show in the autumn.

Meanwhile, the curious can see his collection at the Arts and Crafts Centre at Thornton-le-Dale, where he has a large exhibit.

Kevin is already putting together ideas for a new range of furniture.

"I have started to introduce stone and I'm looking to introduce metal too: all handcrafted. I've lots of ideas that I'm working through."

Above all, Kevin wants to keep focused on what he's about: making distinctive designs with locally-sourced, natural materials, borrowing the skills from trades long lost.

It is a million miles away from the instant-makeover mentality promoted by home telly DIY programmes such as Changing Rooms, which show you how to make a bookcase while your mate makes a pot of tea.

"I work with timber that will be right for the next 200 years," says Kevin. "I hope people's attitudes are changing and they are starting to appreciate furniture that is solid and you can see how it is made and how it has been worked and not just made by a machine."

Or by Handy Andy.

For more information about Kevin's work and commissions telephone 01423 331 710. Please ring if you can help him find a workshop.