designer furniture

Probably the most exacting work I've done to date. I was given "carte blanche" for this pair of sliding doors so I had a fun time designing both sides. The abstract collage really pushed me as the Doors had to be a mirror opposite so alignment was critical of the veneers. High gloss epoxy finish which is tricky to photograph. The other side was exacting too but really much more fun, so I'll be doing more of this I think. Clients very happy, thrilled, in fact, so I'll be doing more for them next year. BTW, the handles aren't shown as the couple didn't know which way round they wanted them.

Six arched coffee table. This is the Big sister to the four arched table I made for my clients a few years ago. They were so pleased with that one they commissioned me to make this one. As you can see, its not just an original table hand made with a glass top, but also a source of entertainment for a pair of Maine C**n cats. If its cool for cats thats fine by me.

Mesa central de seis arcos. Esta es la segunda mesa para acompañar la primera con cuatro arcos que hice para mis clientes hace unos años. Estuvieron tan encantados con la primera que me pidieron esta versión. Como veas, no es tan solo una mesa muy original, hecho a mano con una encimera de cristal, pero también un entrenamiento para sus gatas.

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A door for my kitchen. Me and my Big mouth. We put in a new kitchen a couple of years ago and I carelessly said to my dear wife, "how about I design and make a decente door for the kitchen?" And in the twinkling of an eye, she said yes!. So here I am, two years later actually making it during my holidays. Its my signature collage style of colourful veneers which I enjoy playing with and its actually been glued down now. The other side is gentler on the eye which I'll show in the next post.

Una puerta para mi cocina. Abri mi boca demasiado a veces. Hemos reformado la cocina hace un par de años y le dije a mi mujer si me deja diseñar una nueva puerta 🚪. "Que sí!" Me dijo. Entonces aquí estoy dos años más tarde fabricándose durante mis vacaciones. El diseño es mi estilo de momento, un collage de chapas muy diversas. La otra cara está más suave a la vista que os enseñaré próximamente.

12 horas y 45 años. Esta significa que tardé tan solo 12 horas en su diseño y elaboración, tras 45 años de experiencia, práctica, equivocaciones para hacerlo así. La caja es una gira por el mundo con las maderas y chapas en su elaboración. Los costados son de Sri Lanka, la madera es Padauk y he cortado, cepillado, colas de milano diseñados, marcados y cortados en 2 horas 45 minutos. La tapa es una alegría de colores de países distintos : las chapas son de Canadá, México, Brasil, África, Alemania, Francia y Estados Unidos. Adentro la caja está forrado con sicomoro de Inglaterra. El acabado es goma laca, la única terminación que profundiza los colores y nos da un brillo espectacular.

David Savage designed these ,the first pieces I made for him when I started at his studios in March 1997. I won the position to be his sole maker from over a hundred applicants and we went on to make some really beautiful work. It was a truly mind expanding experience for me to watch a world class designer produce his designs and then discuss the production process. The separation of roles was extremely important and valuable lessons were learned by both of us. One I remember distinctly is that the designer in your head must not be bullied by the maker in your head! The maker wants to make things as easily as possible but this means that the design may suffer. Both have equal importance and must work together in order to produce work of outstanding quality.

Cutlery cabinet, made over 28 years ago using cherry and maple with ebony details. The top three drawers are for the cutlery and behind the doors a couple of shelves for the table cloths and napkins. Finished with Danish oil, the client lovingly waxed it EVERY saturday morning, so a year or so later when I went to visit, the colour of the cherry was rich and warm with almost a high gloss.

Armario para guardar el cubertería, que hice hace 28 años. Elaborado principalmente de cerezo y arce con tiradores de ébano. Los cajones guardan los cubiertos y detrás de las puertas, unas baldas para manteles y servilletas. Acabado con aceite danés, mi cliente aplicaba cera de abeja cada sábado por la mañana con mucho cariño entonces un año después cuando fui a visitar, el color de la madera fue una maravilla con un brillo espléndido.

Architect designed shelving and cabinetry for their home office. The timber and door panels made to match existing furnishings. Shelf lighting was my recommendation, fitted onto dimmer switch. Smooth fitting this last week with my Erasmus assistant from Berlin, Marie, a well trained cabinetmaker who is also widely travelled and speaks impeccable english and spanish.

Mobiliario diseñado por su propio oficina, las maderas y rejillas para las puertas para combinar con muebles ya existentes. Montaje sin problema gracias a Marie, mi becaria Erasmus hasta el final de marzo. Su formación en Berlín ha sido muy bueno y ella muy competente. Ella ha viajado mucho y habla inglés y español de alta nivel.

Last day and the structure is done and detailed. I've surprised myself with what has been accomplished this week with fantástico support from everyone especially Warren, who made this adventure happen.
The chair will be upholstered with a fine leather and the next stage will be the colour range. Timber colour as well as other material combinations are another fun part of the process. Watch this space for future updates!

El último día de este desafío y todo la estructura está hecha , los detalles también. He sorprendido mi mismo con lo que he cumplido en tan solo cinco días con el fantástico apoyo de todo el mundo especialmente Warren, quien propuso este desafío.
La butaca será tapizado con cuero fino y la etapa siguiente será la selección de combinación de materiales que es otra parte del proceso de diseño.

Nearly there! In Madrid this week to design and prototype an easy chair for . I'm / we are on day four of a five day course. This usually takes me twenty days on my own, but time restraints for us both mean we have a short window to get it done. The idea is that they want to batch produce a lounge chair so the design has to be good looking and relatively easy to produce. It requires making plenty of templates for them to prepare the next batch. It will be upholstered and very sumptuous!

Casi terminado! Estoy en Madrid está semana para diseñar y fabricar un prototipo de una butaca para . Hemos terminado día cuatro de un curso de cinco días. Este proceso típicamente durá veinte días yo solo en mi taller pero tenemos muchos proyectos en mano entonces tuvimos solo esa oportunidad para apretar las tuercas y hacerlo. La propuesta es diseñar y fabricar una butaca para producir en serie. Entonces la butaca tiene que ser guapa y relativamente fácil de replicarlo. Significa que tengo que producir muchas plantillas para seguir trabajando. Será tapizado en cuero y muy lujoso.

Nela Panuskova from Prague came to stay on a three week Erasmus placement. She's primarily a graphic designer but has done some woodwork at her college. I set her a challenge to design and make a tea tray of her own design. She drew three designs, ( all of them were very good) and this was her favourite. I showed her how to cut the veneers and then she was away! Some woods were very hard ( rosewood) but some others quite easy. I was very impressed at her concentration and especially with the finished product.

A tray- circular. I do make life difficult for myself. You see, I've made lots of rectangular tea trays and we already have an octagonal one at home so I thought I'd try a round one. So I chose the method most difficult, didn't I. Well, "Who dares, wins". I've since thought about a quicker , more efficient method for batch production so I'll prepare the stock as I think these might sell well. Ziricote veneer and ripple maple with gloss epoxy finish.

Una bandeja circular. A veces hago mi vida más difícil que es necesario! Pero me gusta el reto. Hice unas cuantas rectangular y tenemos una octagonal en casa entonces pensé en hacer una redonda. Sin embargo, no es la técnica más apropiado si quiero hacer una producción en serie. Pero voy a preparar las materiales porque creo que venden bien. Lo ves chapa de ziricote y rareza de arce con acabado de epoxy brillo.

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designer furniture updated their phone number.

Perfectly imperfect. This chair is the complete opposite of how i've worked these last 40 odd years. Up until i was given the opportunity to design and make this chair, i've striven for perfection in every aspect of my making. The husband of an old university friend contacted me to make a surprise gift for his wife's birthday. They live in an old country cottage in Wales so wanted a chair to harmonise. I can honestly say I've never had such fun designing and making. I've bowed to tradition in so far as the hair is finished straight from the tool so the marks left bear witness to the human hands that made it. Modern furniture leaves no marks of human endeavour. There's an emotional attachment to this chair so strong that i gulped when closing the lid of the packing case. Its for an old friend too which gave me such an extra lift whilst making and she was thrilled on receiving it! Great end to the year.

Perfectamente imperfecto. Esta silla es el extremo polar de cómo he trabajado estos últimos 40 años. Hasta ahora estaba buscando la perfección en cada proyecto. ES para mí amiga de la universidad: su marido me contactó pidiendo una sorpresa para su cumpleaños y por el hecho que ellos viven en una casa muy vieja, quiere que diseñó una silla para harmonizar con su entorno. Honestamente, no he tenido tanto diversión diseñando y fabricando. Tradicionalmente, las sillas hecho en el campo artesanalmente no estan lijado ni barnizado, y quedan las huellas de cada herramienta utilizada en su fabricación para dar cuenta que un ser humano ha hecho la silla con sus manos. Los muebles comprados hoy en día no muestran ningún trazo de su fabricación.
Hay un vínculo emocional muy fuerte con esta silla para mí vieja amiga y estuve tan triste al cerrar la caja de embalaje. Ella estuvo encantadísima al verlo y tuvimos una videoconferencia para hablar un poco. Un buen fin de Año.

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Farewell and God Speed Pablo! He's gone with his finished bedside table to present to his mother. Its her belated birthday present ( 26 th July - almost Christmas present too by now). Great Guy, great student, he's off to Italy for the next two years on his post doctoral work. In case you're wondering, mine is the table on the left . He chose the really difficult timber, maple. Difficult because it shows up the slightest error in the joinery. Splendid job he made of it.

Hasta la vista Pablo! Ha ido con su proyecto terminado, la mesita de noche para su madre. Será para su cumpleaños - un poco retrasada - el 26 de julio- casi su regalo de navidad, tío !) Ha sido un placer tenerte como alumno. Se va a Italia con una beca para trabajar haciendo un trabajo post-doctoral. Si estuviste en duda, la mesa oscuro es mío, Pablo eligió la madera más difícil, arce. Difícil porque muestra lo más mínimo error en la construcción. Todo una maravilla, bien hecho.

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Accidents at galleries. According to gallery owner, little old lady with handbag knocked it off the shelf. Was horrified at what had happened and burst into tears. Gallery owner had to soothe her and calm her down. I'm left with a box where the lid doesn't fit, edges all banged up and some muppet (sorry Kermit) tried to glue the legs on- badly. Usually the customer pays up, or the gallery has insurance. But my bad luck, neither happened. Gallery now closed, tears obviously work wonders. So I'll try and be "Zen" about It, cut off the legs and make new ones. Didnt like those anyway.... Bah.

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My illustrious student, Pablo, is in the final stages of finishing his bedside table. Its a challenging project that calls for precision marking out, precision work with hand tools and careful finishing- video of that coming shortly. Using a blonde wood like maple shows up the tiniest errors increasing the demands on ones technique. Of course, I didnt say any of this to him to begin; why make it harder psychologically? Unecessary cruelty. After this, Next month he's off to Italy for 2 years to continúe his post-doctoral work in robotics. And doubtless taking time off to play jazz piano. God speed, Pablo.

Mi alumno, Pablo, está en los últimos toques de terminar su mesa de noche. Es un proyecto que exige mucho de uno mismo: precisión en traza las uniones, precisión en cortar a las líneas con herramientas manuales. La madera de arce exige también por su color, porque amplia cada fallo. Por supuesto, no dije nada de eso antes de empezar; ¿ Porque añade un muro psicólogo a su labor? Sería una crueldad innecesario. El mes que viene, se va a Italia para continuar con su trabajo post-doctoral en robótica. Tal vez en su tiempo libre, toca jazz piano. Buen viaje, Pablo.

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Tea tray finished! And what an excellent result! This was first try at working with veneers. It was his own design too. He chose some difficult veneer to work with, Santos Rosewood, as it is so hard and ripple sycamore for the frame. It requires sharp tools, good technique, and concentration. Whats more, he picked up the technique from the get-go- I only had to show him once. I think he will be trying more of this when he goes back to Germany.

Bandeja terminado! Un resultado excelente además. Ha sido su primer intento usando chapas de madera y un diseño propio. El eligió unas chapas bastante difíciles de trabajar, palisandro de Brasil y sicomoro frisee. La técnica requiere herramientas bien afilado, buenos manos y mucho concentración. Sólo tenía que enseñarle la técnica una vez. Creo que va a trabajar más con las chapas cuando vuelva a Alemania.

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Erasmus! I have a Young Man from Stuttgart in Germany in my studio for three weeks. He is and he is doing an apprenticeship in furniture making and carpentry. He has good eyes, careful handling large items, and very willing to learn new techniques. Here he is making a tea tray using spare santos rosewood not having had the opportunity to use veneers like this. More photos when he finishes it
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A tea tray. Curious to say, but I love the freedom of expression I get when creating another tea tray. At present, they are rectangular, but coming shortly is a round one, a square one, and a few more rectangular ones. I'm just having such a lot of fun with all these leftovers from past projects. And whats more, my lady clients love them.

Una bandeja para presentar su desayuno en la cama. Muy curioso, pero a mí me encanta mucho la libertad de expresión elaborando otra bandeja. De momento la mayoría son rectangular, pero medio hecho es una redonda, una cuadra y unas más rectangular. Tengo mucho diversión usando los retales de proyectos pasados. Además a mis clientes mujeres les encantan.

"FAME!- I'M GONNA LAST FOREVER...!"( Sing along..!) Here's a magazine from October 1997 when I worked for David Savage. The desk and chair were the first pieces I made for him. To be honest, when he showed me the drawings,I was terrified never having made anything so exotic before. So it was a voyage of discovery wherein I surprised myself with what I knew and had already experienced on earlier projects of my own.

Portada de una revista de ebanistería británica de octubre 1997 cuando trabajaba para David Savage, un diseñador muy conocido en Reino Unido. Aquel escritorio y silla fueron las primeras muebles que hice para él. Cuando él me enseñó los dibujos , francamente, tenía mucho miedo porque nunca he hecho muebles tan exóticas. Entonces fue un viaje de descubrimiento donde sorprendio mi mismo.

Demi- lune console table. Jet black gloss lacquer with solid stainless steel socks. This went to Los Ángeles as part of a series of pieces made for a luxury residence. Placed on front of a mirrored wall, this would double in depth and be the perfect stand for a flower arrangement.

Student Neil Pendregaust designed and made this stunning jewellery case. The outside shows the rippled sycamore carved to make It appear like a hanging table cloth. The delight continues upon opening to reveal the sumptuous burr walnut interior. A lovely piece.

Alumno Neil Pendregaust diseñaba y fabricaba este maravilloso joyero. Por fuera la madera sicomoro frisee ha sido tallado como una mantel de mesa. El deleite sigue cuando abres para revelar el suntuoso interior de rareza de nogal. Una pieza preciosa.

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Art deco style pair of low tables. Its my absolute favourite era, Parisian Art Deco, so I was really happy to design and make these tables. Macassar ebony, satinwood, birdseye maple. A joy to make for appreciative clients who love the era as much as I do.
Mesas central estilo Art Deco, de mi época favorito. Entonces estaba encantado de diseñar y fabricar esas mesas. Ébano de macassar, limoncillo, ojo de perdiz son las maderas usadas. Elaborado para clientes que adoran la época tonto como yo.

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Oak chest, made from quarter sawn english oak with rope handles , known as "beckets" among sea-faring folk. Made to sit at the foot of her bed to full with whatever she pleases. The base is lunes with cedar of Lebanon, a pleasant scented timber that is nature's moth detterent.

Baúl en roble inglés hecho para mí sobrina política cuando cumplió 18 años. Suficientemente grande para meter las cosas que ella apetece. El interior está forrado con cedro de Líbano, que tiene un olor placentero y evita polillas en su ropa.

Gavin Butcher flew in from the UK and signed on for a one year full time course in furniture making. He also brought his wife Victoria who handily spoke spanish and taught english at the local language school. Gavin was a careful perfectionist making some beautiful pieces, and here are just two of the many completed; a copy of an Edward Barnsley desk chair made using cherry, and an elegant chest of drawers from walnut.

Gavin Butcher llegó desde Inglaterra para formarse en ebanistaría durante un año conmigo. También llegó su mujer, Victoria que trabajaba en un academia de inglés. Gavin fue todo una perfeccionista elaborando unas piezas maravillosas. Aquí, veas su silla de oficina hecho en cerezo, una copia de un diseño por Edward Barnsley y una cajonera fabricado en nogal.

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