Lawrence Mackenzie has an enviable skill in that, as a professional upholsterer, he gives a new lease of life to old but timelessly beautiful items of furniture. In his hands, a chair that looks drab and jaded can be transformed to become the focal point in a room. But as well as refurbishing and re-upholstering, Lawrence also creates new furniture and soft furnishings, using only the finest materials and traditional techniques.

Learning to preserve traditional crafts and time-honoured skills is a slow process and Lawrence learned his trade from the best – his father, Big Mac – during a five-year apprenticeship followed by 20 years working for the family business. Lawrence branched out on his own in 1998 when he found suitable premises in Fenton Barns and now covers the Lothians and Scottish Border.

Many of the pieces Lawrence is commissioned with are antique and/or of sentimental value to their owners. "I’m always aware of the importance of personal service when working on a piece of furniture that is special to a customer," he explains. This, along with attention to detail and quality workmanship, is evident in everything Lawrence does – nothing is ever sub-contracted and all work is done in-house.

Demand for Lawrence’s skills comes from diverse sources – the list to date ranges from making fixed wall seating for pubs, clubs, restaurants and commercial premises to re-furbishing and re-upholstering all manner of domestic pieces (chairs, sofas, chaise longue, headboards etc), caravan and boat interiors. "The best part of the job is always seeing the look of delight on a customer’s face when a precious piece of furniture has been transformed," he says.

Used to working closely with clients, Lawrence also offers another option: bespoke craftsmanship, where he will work one-to-one with a client to design and create a uniquely personalised piece of furniture – a wonderful way to mark a special event or occasion such as an anniversary or birthday. These pieces will become the heirlooms and antiques of the future.

Traditional upholstery fillings such as horse-hair and hay are still used, although less often nowadays as these have been superceded by modern materials. Lawrence also makes beautiful soft furnishings, including cushions and loose covers, either from material supplied by the client or sourced by Lawrence, who supplies fabrics from well-known names such as Linwood, The Isle Mill, Sherwood, Moon, Villa Nova and Scutt & Coles. He also undertakes leatherwork and upholstery.

It’s no surprise that most of his work comes from word of mouth recommendations. Estimates are free and Lawrence can arrange for furniture to be uplifted, while smaller items can be brought to the workshop. There’s also a free delivery service.

Expert craftsmanship, reliability, personal service and beautiful results are the hallmarks of Lokal Upholstery. And having recently undertaken work for Luffness Castle, Lawrence’s interest in specialist furniture preservation is a growing side of the business.

Thanks to Lawrence, furniture from the past is being preserved for the future.