Tucked away in our archive is a sales ledger dating back to the 1860s. Leaf through its pages and you'll find handwritten invoices for plumbing repairs carried out at Meldrum House by Laings. Today, that ledger is proudly displayed on our history timeline, a brilliant reminder of the deep roots shared by two long-standing Aberdeenshire businesses.
More than 150 years later, that early working relationship has evolved into a long-standing commercial partnership. In more recent years, Laings has collaborated with Meldrum House across four distinct phases covering 51 rooms, including the transformation of the Stable Block, the Bridal Suites, the Estate Rooms and most recently, the Manor Rooms as part of the Monogram Collective under new owner Apex Hospitality Group.
Our collaboration has naturally grown with every phase of Meldrum House.
The Stable Block, Bridal Suites, & Estate Rooms: Over the course of nine years, Laings partnered on all three of these renovation projects, delivering a comprehensive design and supply package throughout. Working hand-in-hand with the hotel’s owners, interior designers and architects we developed highly detailed technical packs. This gave the onsite contractors everything required for a flawless and efficient installation.
The Manor Rooms: Main contractor Craigmile Joinery appointed Laings to deliver the new shower rooms within the Manor Rooms. This shifted our responsibility to include the full design, supply and project management of the installation, alongside bespoke joinery work within the bedrooms.
Despite the unpredictable Scottish winter weather, careful planning and daily communication ensured the Manor Rooms were completed exactly on schedule. This demonstrated our ability to integrate seamlessly into a wider contractor team while taking full ownership of our part of the project.
“What we value most about working with Laings is the confidence that comes from knowing they understand the brief and take ownership of their work. There’s a real sense of collaboration throughout the process, with the team willing to work through challenges and find practical solutions. That makes a significant difference on a project like this, where there are so many moving parts.”
- Karl Mitchell Product Development Director, Monogram Collective
The brief for the latest phase was clear: align the unique, historic charm of Meldrum House with the premium standards of the Monogram Collective growing portfolio.
To understand the expected style, workmanship and finish our team met with the main contractor and Monogram to tour the recently completed Pine Trees property. Experiencing their design language firsthand allowed us to survey every room at Meldrum House with a clear understanding of the standard expected. We delivered a detailed proposal based on the interior designer’s schedule, with a clear supply and installation program.
Refurbishing a luxury hotel means balancing completely different environments simultaneously. Laings was invited to tender for a brand-new kitchen within the Chain Lodge, a self-contained luxury lodge at the hotel entrance designed for groups of up to ten guests.
Taking the brief from the Monogram Collective, our designers created a stylish, high-functioning kitchen that feels entirely at home within the character of the lodge. For the Chain Lodge, our scope covered the full turnkey experience: survey, design, supply and project-managed installation, all delivered strictly on time.
In the luxury hospitality sector, stunning aesthetics are only half the battle. Every finish has to withstand constant guest use, frequent housekeeping, quick room turnarounds and years of wear without compromising on quality or appearance. It's about creating spaces that feel luxurious on day one and continue to perform long afterwards.
The design direction for the bedrooms and bathrooms was led by the Monogram Collective interior designers and architects, ensuring the spaces remained consistent with the wider collection while still feeling appropriate for the unique character of Meldrum House.
Balancing these demands across bedrooms, bathrooms, and a bespoke kitchen is exactly the kind of challenge our commercial team is experienced in delivering. We carefully specify commercial-grade products that deliver the appearance of residential luxury while offering the durability required in a busy hotel environment.
Few commercial partnerships span more than a century, let alone 150 years. From handwritten plumbing ledgers in the 1860s to high-end, project-managed bedroom and kitchen installations in 2026, the relationship between Laings and Meldrum House continues to demonstrate what's possible when two local businesses build a partnership on trust and shared values.
“There’s a real sense of history behind the relationship between Meldrum House and Laings, but what matters most is that it’s still a partnership that works today. We share a commitment to quality, to doing things properly and to protecting the character of this special property. It’s been fantastic to see that relationship continue to evolve, and we look forward to writing the next chapter together.”
- Karl Mitchell Product Development Director, Monogram Collective
