A businessman who turns pallets into garden furniture has received the order of his life. 

Old Town couple Andrej Katatic, 36, and his wife, Rayanne, 36, run The Pallet Studio and early last year they were contacted by a representative from the Commonwealth Games who wanted to feature Andrej's work at the event. 

"The email came out of the blue; I didn't believe it was real at first. It was amazing to even have our recycled furniture considered for the Commonwealth Games," Andrej said.

Now, after confirming the order in December 2021, Andrej is at the tailend of months of hard work making 33 small garden sets - 66 benches and 33 tables - for the sporting showpiece which is set to take place in Birmingham later this year. 

"It's been challenging as I am building it on my own, but I have got into a rhythm and am making the items in batches and have created a production line. So one day I will just do sanding, one day I will just do varnishing etc.

"My workshop is based at Escape to the Fields, a glamping site in Broad Town, and there is a small herd of alpacas, pygmy goats and sheep who help break up the day. I am on track to have the order finished by the end of April."

This Is Wiltshire: Andrej hard at work in the studioAndrej hard at work in the studio

The couple started The Pallet Studio during lockdown in 2020 and together they've een the business grow thanks to orders from customers and pubs across Swindon and Wiltshire.

With a focus on recycling and reuse, the company buys pallets, although many are donated or collected. They are then dismantled, sanded, heat treated and varnished to ensure they are transformed.

Offcuts are donated for firewood or make them into something else like art canvases or shelves.

"Seeing my furniture at an international event will be an amazing privilege and recognition of all the hard work my wife and I have put into building the business and confirmation that people believe in our products," Andrej said. 

"The furniture fitting company started talking to me in April 2021, the agent came down to the workshop to check and view the products and we've exchanged lots of of emails, so it's been a long but really rewarding process "

Find more information at: The Pallet Studio: www.palletstudio.co.uk thepalletstudiouk@gmail.com

Escape to the Fields: www.escapetothefields.com