Projects
Here are some recent projects with details of the design approach and the wood I used. Please get in touch if you have a project you would like to discuss.
Chest of drawers
The English oak for the drawers and top of this chest came from the same tree as the cot below. The drawers feature hand cut through dovetails and cedar of Lebanon bases, a traditional way of deterring moths and which gives the contents a beautiful aromatic smell. The clean, simple lines of the painted frame accentuate the beautiful quarter sawn oak drawer fronts. This mix of traditional and contemporary is reflected in the use of recessed finger pulls in place of handles.
Dressing table
This dressing table is made of English ash with oak details. It has a pair of traditionally made half-blind dovetail drawers with cedar of Lebanon bases and hand carved ash handles. The adjustable mirror is secured by hand turned oak knobs. Subtle curves and gently tapered legs give it simple, understated lightness and elegance. A traditional finish of tung oil and beeswax enhances the natural beauty of the ash.
Cot
The wood for this cot came from an oak tree that blew down in a storm near my house. After planking and air drying the timber, the challenge became how best to showcase the natural beauty of the wood. I used the beautiful grain pattern from the quarter sawn boards in the largest sections in the head and foot board. The base of the cot can be moved to three different heights. It is constructed using traditional through mortise and tenon joints secured using English walnut wedges, also from timber recovered from a tree that was felled in the area.
Garden table
This traditional garden table has removable legs for easy transportation and storage. It is made of English oak with yew details. Oak’s natural durability makes it an ideal choice for outdoor furniture. I prefer not to oil outdoor furniture and allow the action of sun and rain to weather it naturally. In the case of oak this gradually leads to an elegant silvery brown patina. This approach necessitates careful design to aid drainage and protect against decay.
Hi-Fi / AV cabinet
The brief for this project was to use traditional materials and techniques to create a beautiful piece of contemporary furniture to store all of the clients’ music and AV equipment. A key design consideration was to allow all of the components to be connected while keeping cables out of the way and ensure that the equipment did not overheat. The cabinet is made of English oak with hand carved English walnut handles and latch.
