90 | JOINERY SB Joinery PROUDLY SUPPORTING SB JOINERY 160 Somme Parade, Aramoho, Whanganui 4540 06 343 7500 www.furnique.co.nz office@furnique.co.nz “adding value to your business” Congratulations to Scott and his team! 70 years of building quality commercial and residential projects across New Zealand. www.holmes.co.nz T T Kelly Deeks Supreme award caps off celebrations The entire project was crafted by hand. A decade after opening the doors of a modest workshop in Pahiatua, SB Joinery has earned the highest honour in New Zealand’s joinery industry, taking out the Supreme Award at the 2026 Master Joiners Excellence Awards. The family-owned business also won Best Specialty Bar or Fitment for a handcrafted hospitality project that showcased the expertise the four-person team has built over the past 10 years. Managing director Scotty Beales says the recognition came as a complete surprise. “We thought our night was over after the category awards,” Scotty says. “We were sitting back relaxing when they started describing the Supreme Award project. I thought, ‘hang on, that sounds familiar,’ and then they called our name. It was a total shock. There were some incredible projects there.” The award-winning project, designed by longtime collaborator Alistair Cox Architecture, transformed a compact 3sqm room into an elegant timber gin bar featuring sweeping curves, handcrafted cabinetry, custom wall panelling, and a circular timber ceiling frame with an antique mirror insert. Although small in size, the project demanded exceptional precision. “There were very few straight lines,” Scotty says. “Everything was curved. The curved ceiling mirror had to line up perfectly with the centre of the room and every other piece of joinery worked from that point.” Adding to the achievement was the fact the entire project was crafted by hand before SB Joinery invested in CNC machinery. “When we built it, we didn’t own a CNC machine. Everything was handmade. That’s always been our point of difference. We still do a huge amount of timber and veneer work by hand because that’s what our clients value.” Scotty says opportunities to complete projects of this calibre are rare. “This sort of work doesn’t come across your bench very often. It was a privilege to be part of and a really rewarding project because every detail mattered.” The award also marks an important milestone for the business, which celebrates its tenth anniversary this year. SB Joinery began in Scotty’s home shed before moving into half of a shared workshop. As demand grew the company purchased its current premises, doubling the factory footprint and creating dedicated machining and assembly spaces. Today the business remains intentionally small, employing Scotty, his qualified cabinetmaker brother, and two younger tradesmen. “I don’t want to get any bigger,” Scotty says. “We’ve built great relationships with architects, designers, builders, and clients over the last 10 years. I don’t want to take on more work if it means letting down the people who’ve supported us from the beginning.” Scotty has maintained strong relationships with architects and designers in Wellington, leading to a steady stream of specialist projects. Recent investment in a CNC machine will improve efficiency by handling repetitive tasks while allowing the team to continue focusing on handcrafted work. Winning New Zealand’s highest joinery honour has already attracted attention from across the country. “This award belongs to our whole team and everyone who has backed us over the years,” Scotty says. “To receive this recognition in our tenth year is something we’re incredibly proud of.”
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