Andrew O’Neill

Fine lines Lytham Interior Work

 

I recently caught up with Andrew of Fine Lines. I’m always interested, (some say nosy) in why people do what they do and how did they end up in their current jobs/businesses. Have to say there is more than a little bit of job envy with Andrew and his business, on the basis they get to see inside some of the local area’s most desirable properties!

Including studying Fine Art, it’s about 18 years.

It IS really difficult to say as there have been so many.  Obviously, the work we have done locally on listed buildings and the many we have won awards for, but there are those smaller seemingly simple jobs that end up presenting different challenges such as specialist wallpaper or odd sized rooms.

We try to take something from most things we do in relation to job satisfaction. There is also the fact that we are multi skilled which adds other challenging and exciting aspects to our jobs, especially in light of the repairs works we do. When we start a job it almost 90% not what we end up doing, there is always more than originally specified..

The work we were invited initially to quote for at Lytham Hall came directly from Peter Anthony, General Manager, and the Heritage Trust were eager to use local trades people.   Obviously, we were thrilled to be given a chance to work on such an beautiful building and historical landmark. They were very specific about the standard and quality of work required in line with it being a Grade I listed building and also a heritage site.  They were delighted with the work, so much so we are currently undertaking a second project there.

The colours for the works were copied from remains of historic paints used on the property. This was assisted by a long-established heritage specialist in building materials and substrates. (How interesting)

We have been members of the Painting and Decorating Association for many years and usually enter a job into their annual National Trophy Awards competition.  We have been fortunate enough to have won an award every single year to date since 2009 which has been commended or highly commended by the judges from ‘The Clerks of Works’ London. They travel the length and breadth of the country looking at all the applications every year and shortlist the entries to attend the award ceremony in London.  Nearly all of our competition wins have been for local jobs carried out in Lytham and the Fylde Coast.  We have also picked up finalist prizes in the Nectar National Business of The Year Awards and the Johnston’s Paint Trophies Painter of the Year Awards.  This obviously is very satisfying for the team  and myself as it recognizes the hard work and service we try to offer our customers. (WOW, praise indeed)

Well like every other small independent business,  2020 has been challenging for us, but on a positive note,  we have learned to adapt to the changing circumstances as they have presented themselves.  Fortunately we have been able to continue working within safe practice.  The fact that we have membership with Alcumus, probably one of the most stringent health and safety accreditation’s to have in the UK, has stood us in good stead in relation to customer and employee safety.

For us the future is to continue providing as best service as we can, especially locally. The businesses focus has been primarily on local work in the past ten years. We find that we are able to best concentrate and manage our services this way and not spread or dilute ourselves too thinly covering vast distances.  We are, after all, an established and well respected Lytham business offering our services to both domestic and commercial customers on a wide range of properties from bedsits to grade one listed buildings across the Fylde.

We also intend on extending more widely our eco friendly service by using more water based paints and eco-friendly alternatives rather than main stream materials which many are solvent based. It’s better for our customers and better for the planet! It was an ethos we follow and have been members of the Eco Decorators Association for almost 15 years