A few thoughts and tips on designing furniture, and in particular designing furniture to be built by hand.
Choosing a project for a video build is a tough decision. Picking the first project is even tougher. We didn't want it to be too complex or too simple and we wanted to ensure there was a lot that could be learnt. We had all of this in mind when we opted to build the...
As woodworkers I'm sure that we all see furniture purchasing in a different light to most. There's nothing that makes sense less than knowing that people are happy to spend on a rickety flat pack which won't last two minutes, but can't justify spending for a solid,...
With their elegant lines, angles and smooth curves some chairs look wonderful in a room simply as a piece a sculpture. This isn't one of those chairs. This one is square and very plain, but then that's what attracted me to it. When I first caught sight of it in a...
I love a good chair. You really can't over estimate the need for your own little resting spot; a place to take the weight off, enjoy a good meal, or even detach you from a drab space while you become engrossed in something much more interesting. A chair should be...
As a designer I tend to look at pieces of furniture for their aesthetic first whilst Richard, and I'm sure many of yourselves as well, look at things for how they're made instead. When I first came across a chair similar to the one shown it was a fairly poor example...
One of the make or break decisions of building any piece of furniture can be made right at the end, when you decide how you will finish it. It's quite amazing how that simple decision can completely transform the look of your work so it really isn't something you want...
I'm very pleased to say that the first part of our Wall Cupboard video will be available tomorrow. Helen's been hard at it with the editing and though it's taken a few days longer than expected we're learning fast and really starting to enjoy making these - I'm...
Everything we build is inspired to some extent by what we see, and generally this will be either from nature or from history. Recreating old furniture is common place and often we’ll only aim for a likeness to a particular style without being too concerned about...
The European Woodworking Show is a great place to meet up with some real craftsmen; people who’s crafts genuinely become a part of who they are. Another highlight for me last year was meeting with Willy Rackham, an archery enthusiast and expert at fletching and making...
The nailed together ‘boarded’ furniture of my previous post remained in use for many hundreds of years and it’s this continued popularity that makes us feel that its worth attention even today. Early, surviving chests were built for settings such as a church or castle...
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If you know anything about the way that I work then you'll know that I don't like to faff. I will always do a proper job though, in fact I tend to do things somewhat overkill. But when it comes to the tools and techniques used I'll always find the most basic and...
Design is a balance between function and looks. It won't work if you focus too much on one and ignore the other. But if it involves both art and science, then surely design must be skill that only very few are capable of? The truth is, anyone can do design, and the...
https://youtu.be/NBTqW5t3HGs In our latest series we learn how to build a chair. Chapter One is already live. This series can be purchased by Clicking Here. If you're already a Member then you may need to Login First. Chair building can require specialist tools...