What can one say? Oak is always beautiful.
The "Democratic Table" was commissioned to regularly seat two or three people and about twelve for dinner parties and more for new year's eve; there was to be no 'head of the table' and preferably, it was to have no legs. It was also to be made from timber sourced in an environmentally friendly fashion, and once made, the customers were going to look for a house that would match the table. Several solutions were considered but the agreed design was an oval, 7' long and 5' wide. We compromised on the number of legs - and had one! I am informed that the customers did in deed buy a house to match the table, but I have yet to see it in its new home.
This table was commissioned by a Dutch couple who were going to take it back to the Netherlands. The motorbike in the last picture shows someone else's creativity but the table makes a nice background for it.
This "Statement Table" was specified almost totally by my clients; my only contribution to the design was to curve the long rail slightly which does change the feel of the piece (see the second picture). I did confess to not liking this table until we placed it in the room for which it was designed and in that plain room it looks most appropriate. So much so that it later became the inpiration for another piece, the "Statement Desk".
This desk was made from an oak tree that had fallen down years before. My commission was to make a desk for an accountant. My first design was quite very formal with two big columns of drawers. The client knew he didn't like it, but he didn't have any more ideas as to what he did want; I tried something very different and it was accepted.
The customer orignially requested that I make a dressing table but on reflection decided that she really wanted a filing cabinet and a chest of drawers with a mirror! The filing cabinet has a safety mechanism that only allows one drawer to open at once.
The request was for bookshelves to cover that wall with cupboards underneath. I presented three designs and this one was chosen.
This lecturn was commissioned by our local Junior School in memory of the previous head teacher. The school's logo is based on an oak tree so this was reflected in the shape of the lecturn sides.
Another need for more book storage! The two pictures show the comparison between the CAD drawing and the final piece installed.
This was made for my wonderful In-Laws in British Oak, long before I ever dreamed of going professional. Maybe my heart and hands knew before my head caught up!
These are actually a pair of pear tables although we didn't get a good photograph of them together. The original plan was to have two larger coffee tables but the pear tree was very contorted and only gave short lengths of straight board. This design made good use of what was avaiable once it had dried. Note how the oil makes a bigger difference to the colour of the wood with pear than other timbers. As with virtually all my work, these were not stained.
This table is one of a matching pair of refectory tables made from two oak trees belonging to the clients; one was already dead and the other could be spared from their beautiful woodland. The tables are intended to become family heirlooms.
I was requested a TV stand with drawers for DVDs with the wood a particular colour. This cherry matched their requirements beautifully. Unfortunately, I have not had chance to photograph it in its intended resting place.
The challenge was that the customers asked me to shorten the long rail under the table (i.e. bring the legs closer together) AFTER I had completed the rails but before glueing the frame together. The pictures show cutting a very shallow diagonal slice out of the centre section of the rail and regluing with biscuit joints. The pencil cross shows where the join is on the wood before it was oiled. The final two pictures show the customers looking for the join!
This table and stools was commissioned by The Peal O' Bells pub in Holt. They are made in character oak and the landlord says "They are always the first choice that customers sit on".
