With the final days of 2025 in sight, we wanted to share our Christmas opening times and a few highlights of 2025.
Open for Business
Our team are busy fulfilling the final orders of the year. We’ll be here to take your call until midday on Tuesday 23rd December. After another successful year, we believe everyone deserves some time with family and friends, so we’ll be returning to the office and workshop on Monday 5th January 2026.
What design and build projects are on your desk for the New Year? We invite you to book an appointment to visit our Buckinghamshire showroom if you are keen to include timber cladding. Discover the variety of finishes that we achieve using the traditional charring technique of yakisugi.
House of the Year 2025
Have you been watching Grand Designs House of the Year 2025? It was a delight for us to see Kevin McCloud narrating the second episode from the stunning Blackbird. This lakeside property was on the shortlist in 2023, yet wasn’t crowned House of the Year. When you see the stylish elegance, you have to wonder why. It is an exceptional piece of architecture, finished to the highest standards and featuring Shou Sugi Ban® timbers. It would certainly be on our wish list!
It was fantastic to see the dominance of timber in many of the shortlisted properties. These include:
- Grey timber cladding on Ferry House
- The charred timber clad geometric shapes of Catching Sun House
- Douglas Fir interior and exterior finishes on Amento
- Retaining the original timber frame and cladding at Jankes Barn
In addition, timber forms a strong internal aesthetic in several properties. These include Niwa House, inspired by Japanese temples and craftsmanship and the grand ceiling design in Haringey Brick Bungalow.
What a showcase of the versatile use of timber in contemporary architecture! It’s inspiring to see how architects continue to innovate and excite with the broad potential of internal and external timber finishes.
Recent Projects Featuring Shou Sugi Ban® Timber Cladding
It’s been another busy year at Exterior Solutions Ltd, and we have been proud to supply Shou Sugi Ban® timbers to a wide range of projects. From garden landscaping to impressive new properties, we love seeing the outcome. Thank you to the architects, building developers and landscape gardeners and self builders who have specified our charred timbers.
One recent project is an expansive new visitor centre and café in the stunning Rother Valley Country Park. Designed by AHR Architects, the project blends a range of materials to create a building full of interest. Fortunately, they specified Dorai Accoya cladding, a stable and durable timber with a dark charred finish.
The final stages of this development are underway to ensure the space can open its doors in 2026. Those who visit can enjoy a cuppa or lunch with beautiful lakeside views.
Community Project in Aylesbury
Another highlight of this year was seeing the completion of a project in our home town. When supplying timbers to projects far and wide, we seldom see the completed build. However, when Millboard cladding was specified for an upgrade to the Queens Park Arts Centre, we were delighted. A former school, located in Aylesbury, this community hub has been sensitively updated with a blend of modern construction materials. It’s on our doorstep, so we could see the results!
Donation to Christmas Wish
Every Christmas, we support the Headmistress of Aylesbury Vale Academy Primary School with her Christmas Wish project. Working with community partners and Councillors, she raises funds to buy festive packages for families in the Berryfields and Coldharbour Parish.
Parcels of food and gifts are packed and delivered by a team of volunteers to households known to need a little extra support at this time of year. The Christmas Wish project has run for several years, and we are pleased that our donation benefits families in our local community.
Aylesbury Vale Academy run a variety of fundraising events throughout the year. As an example, their Christmas Jumper day 2025 will raise money for The Pepper Foundation. This organisation provides hospice-at-home care, play support and family days out for children with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions.
Our Christmas Wish
Our Christmas Wish is that all of our colleagues, clients, suppliers and their families enjoy a fun and relaxing break. Equally, that we all return to a positive, productive and prosperous New Year. Let’s raise a toast to success in 2026!