A workshop in Howick, and a love of working with timber

Brett Carstairs Woodworking is a small, hands-on business built around one thing: making things properly out of wood. Brett works with timber because he enjoys it — the smell of a fresh cut, the way a joint pulls tight, the moment a structure finally stands square on its own.

Most of what leaves the workshop is destined for a garden. Swings, pergolas, gazebos, arches, bridges and planters are all built to live outdoors, so they are made with sturdy timber, honest joinery and finishes chosen for weather rather than showroom shine.

Because every garden is different, nothing is mass-produced. Brett will talk through what you have in mind, look at the space and the dimensions you're working with, and build a piece that suits it rather than one that simply fits.

You deal with Brett directly from the first phone call to the finished piece — no salespeople, no call centre. He is based in Howick and works with customers throughout the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands.