Whytock and Reid Household Furniture Designs

25/01/2013

Whytock and Reid were widely known for their work across the whole of Scotland. Their skill in craftsmanship was constantly sought after, especially in some of the country's most renowned country houses. As a painter and decorator for Whytock & Reid for many decades, Eddie McGill knows the company's reach and clientele better than anyone and himself claims, 'We had Scotland to ourselves!'

Whytock and Reid would take commissions of varying scales from clients, from the creation of a single item of furniture to the design of an entire home including the furniture, textiles and china. Their clients included family homes, country houses, businesses such as The Royal Bank of Scotland and even the Royal Family. One of their most notable appointments was to refurnish the Royal Yacht Britannia when it came to Leith.

All proposed designs were bespoke in their construction and painstakingly sketched to include every facet of design and detail. Many of the drawings have attached 'room plans' where the designer has advised where each item of furniture should be placed within the room. Each designer had a different style of presentation, some using watercolour, wash, ink or pencil to illustrate their ideas.