Children’s Home in the North East
Tough Furniture were proud to collaborate with Able Construction on a landmark £1 million project to remodel and refurbish one of Newcastle City Council’s residential children’s homes. The scheme set out to transform the property into a warm, stable and nurturing environment where children and young people can feel truly at home.
In partnership with P&HS Architects and Newcastle City Council, Tough Furniture contributed specialist expertise in the design, manufacture and installation of robust yet welcoming bespoke furniture. Our team worked closely with all stakeholders to ensure every piece complemented the home’s therapeutic aims wile meeting the highest standards of safety, durability and aesthetics.
Creating Warm, Welcoming Spaces
In Phase One of the project, Tough Furniture delivered bespoke fully fitted furniture for four children’s bedrooms and two staff bedrooms. Each children’s room was equipped with a custom-designed unit incorporating a wardrobe, open shelving storage and a practical desk area, providing ample storage and a dedicate space for study or personal activities.
A warm cream finish was selected for the furniture, complemented by an oak desktop that adds a natural contrast and enhances the overall sense of warmth and homeliness within the rooms.
Phase Two of the project focused on the communal areas of the home, where Tough Furniture supplied a further range of bespoke pieces for the living room, dining room, games room and lobby. These high-use spaces were fitted with wall-to-wall cabinetry, open shelving, storage units and a full media wall, all finished in a complementary mix of cream and oak to maintain a warm, cohesive aesthetic throughout the home.
For the lobby area, we provided wall-to-wall bench seating complete with padded cushions to enhance comfort and create an inviting first impression. All the furniture was finished with anti-pick mastic to ensure durability and safety in a residential care setting.
Tough Furniture co-ordinated delivery and installation in close collaboration with the main Contractor, Able Construction, ensuring a smooth and efficient fit-out process.
Agility in action
Tough Furniture takes a sub-assembly approach to projects of this scale and complexity. This method allows each furniture module to undergo rigorous quality control by our in-house specialists before leaving our premises. It also gives us the flexibility to respond quickly and efficiently to any post-installation modifications required on site.
Following the installation of the bedroom furniture, the client carried out a detailed review and requested a modification: replacing the fixed shelving on one side of each wardrobe with a hanging rail. Thanks to our sub-assembly process, we were able to manufacture and swap out the required components swiftly, ensuring minimal disruption to the home’s daily routines.
During the same review, the client also identified that the originally specified anthracite shelving brackets did not achieve the desired aesthetic. Our team responded promptly, supplying alternative brackets that better complemented the warm, homely palette used throughout the home.
Commitment to improving the lives of “looked after” children
Newcastle City Council set out to modernise the existing property to better meet the needs of the children and young people who call it home. The brief required furniture that could balance long-term durability with a warm, domestic feel creating spaces that are safe, comfortable and supportive of everyday living.
This children’s home forms part of the council’s wider commitment to providing in-city residential care for “looked-after” children, enabling them to stay closer to their families, friends and schools. The design intentionally mirrors the atmosphere of a standard family home while still delivering the high-level of support required in a therapeutic environment.
Tough Furniture is delighted to have played a meaningful role in realising this vision. Through thoughtful design, robust craftmanship and responsive collaboration, we helped create a homely, resilient and welcoming space where young people can feel secure and supported.
