Crafting Collaborations
The Craftspeople Behind the Fife Arms
The restoration of the Fife Arms, led by Russell Sage Studio, celebrated the many talented individuals and businesses in the region. The unique and talented team of experts included architects, designers, craftspeople, researchers and artists with deep ties to Scotland. Many of the artisans who worked on the refurbishment of the hotel were from Deeside itself, and their passion and care are woven throughout the fabric of the hotel.
Inspired by the local landscape and Scotland’s unique artistic and cultural heritage, Araminta created the Fife’s house tartan and tweed. She was born and raised in Aberdeenshire, on a small estate next to the River Dee. Her love of tweed and tartan can be traced back to her childhood, with her family tweed and tartan being worn both for the everyday and on special occasions. Araminta studied Fine Art Embroidery at Manchester Metropolitan University before setting up her eponymous studio in 2014.
The drawing room walls are clad in the Fife Arms tartan, while the bespoke tweed decorates the walls of the snug and the bedroom corridors. The textiles also feature throughout the uniforms worn by the Fife Arms team, with several items and accessories available to purchase in the shop.
The Fife Arms Shop
The shop offers a range of thoughtfully selected items, including locally made gifts, books and blankets crafted in the hotel tartan and tweed, so you can take a piece of the Fife Arms home with you.
Tom & Ben Addy
Crathie and London-based Moxon Architects executed a careful, sensitive and refined ‘craft’ restoration of the original listed building. The company is headed up by Ben Addy, who grew up in Aberdeenshire and is a Director of the Cairngorms Trust and a member of the Braemar Mountain Rescue Team.
Tom Addy’s company Tor was the building contractor behind the restoration of the Fife Arms. Based locally, Tom also made, by hand, the oak top of the Flying Stag’s bar. With expertise in working on remote sites, Tor has built a reputation for delivering projects with a high level of craftsmanship despite complex logistical challenges.
Gareth Guy
Owner of the local Horn Shop, Gareth helped source over 500 stag antlers for the antler chandelier in The Fog House. Gareth worked closely with Wild Resources Director, Ben Carter, to ensure that all the horns were naturally cast.
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