HALIFAX – The handiwork of a Sackville man is being featured in a very special venue on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean: Canada House in London, England.
Bobby Grace has been making furniture for more than 20 years and particularly enjoys crafting furniture in the 18th century style.
There are chairs and bed frames in his Windsor Junction workshop, but he also makes dining tables and dressers along with smaller items such as cutting boards and bread boxes.
Grace turned his passion into a full-time gig four years ago. Recently his unique furniture, crafted out of solid wood and hand-crafted, caught the attention of those responsible for decorating and furnishing Canada’s diplomatic mission in the United Kingdom.
The venue held a grand re-opening last Thursday that featured a special guest: the Queen of England.
WATCH: Canada House re-opens in London
Grace said he got the call, out of the blue, about the special commission last winter.
For the furniture maker, the project was also personal; England is the land of his forefathers.
Grace went to work crafting two English-inspired chairs with a classic Windsor chair seat and a back based on the 18th century Queen Anne style.
He spent more than 60 hours designing and creating the two pieces.
“It was nerve-wracking right from start to finish. It’s on the world stage. It had to be as close to perfect as possible,” he said.
While he hasn’t yet seen the chairs in their new venue, Grace said he hopes to one day. In the meantime, he is simply excited to have lent a hand.
“It’s pretty special to be involved in a project like that, not only for our country but on the world stage,” he said.
“It’s an accomplishment you know.”
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