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This is a case study of the commission and design of a bespoke walnut office desk. The top was crafted from a single solid slab designed for both beauty and function. It also features an organic leg structure, and textured drawer fronts. Built at the optimal ergonomic height for comfortable computer use, this walnut desk brings together natural character, modern design, and traditional craftsmanship.

Wherever possible, I build bespoke furniture using solid wood construction. From record player cabinets to walnut desks, solid timber offers longevity, repairability, and a depth of character that veneered materials cannot match. While solid wood presents technical challenges, careful design allows furniture to age gracefully, developing a patina that reflects use and life, rather than deteriorating over time.

Wood grain patterns are not decorative effects but visible evidence of fibre direction, growth behaviour, and internal structure. Straight grain, spiral grain, and figured surfaces all arise from how a tree grows and how timber is cut. Understanding these patterns is essential when selecting wood for bespoke furniture, where appearance, stability, and long-term behaviour must be considered together rather than in isolation.

This article explains my mobile sawmill service, turning wind-felled trees into usable boards for bespoke furniture. Using a portable sawmill, I can mill timber on site, helping clients preserve the memory of their own trees. With careful air drying, supported by dehumidifiers in my workshop, the wood is prepared for use in bespoke desks, or other bespoke furniture - creating true heirloom pieces with history and meaning.

Grain direction governs how wood bends, shrinks, and ultimately fails. From radial and tangential movement to reaction wood and internal stress, this part examines how timber behaves once it is cut, assembled, and placed into service.

A bespoke record player cabinet should be as individual as your music collection. Designed to fit your equipment, your space, and your listening habits, it brings order to vinyl record storage and equipment while adding character to your living room. With careful design and craftsmanship, it turns a practical need into a much loved piece of bespoke furniture.

Wood grain is not just decoration but the visible record of how a tree grew. Growth rings, sapwood and heartwood, and fibre direction all influence strength, movement, and long-term stability. For bespoke furniture made from solid timber, understanding grain is essential; it determines how a piece will behave in service, not just how it looks on the surface.

Workmanship is the use of any technique or apparatus in which the quality of the result is not predetermined, but depends on the judgment, dexterity and care which the maker exercises as he works.

Working from home makes the desk the most important piece of furniture in the house. For me, and many of my clients, a bespoke wooden desk is about more than just function — it’s about creating something personal, comfortable and long-lasting. From solid walnut desks with drawers to simple oak designs, I work with clients to design desks that make home working more enjoyable.

As a furniture maker, I often find that people think of wood as an aesthetically pleasing but quite limited material - boards go in, boxes come out. But one of the joys of handmade wooden furniture is the almost limitless range of ways wood can be manipulated, bent, shaped, joined, carved, and sculpted. With the right combination of tools, imagination, and time, timber becomes a highly expressive medium - capable of both delicate curves and architectural strength. Here’s a qu

An in depth discussion of considerations when designing the perfect bespoke HiFi cabinet

Collaborating with the Client on a bespoke HiFi cabinet : Setting the Brief I thought it would be helpful to walk through a recent...

Selection of materials and processes is an integral part of the design process; materials are selected both for practical reasons and for textural contrast. Nowadays, when starting a new design - whether it's crafting a record player stand , a bespoke walnut office desk , or sculptural wall art - furniture makers have a plethora of materials and processes from which to choose. Selecting the most appropriate material now is based on a range of criteria including aesthetic pr

When it comes to making a house a home, few things are as rewarding as commissioning a piece of bespoke furniture. It goes beyond simply filling a space - it creates a lasting connection between you, the maker, and the finished object. Every piece I design is made with purpose, built to fit your life, your home, and your way of working or living. Below I’ll share some of the key reasons to choose bespoke, with examples from past projects. 1. Furniture Designed to Fit Your Spa

This article explores the creative process behind making bespoke Jesmonite wall art inspired by underwater kelp forests. It covers material properties, carving techniques, and casting methods, highlighting how Jesmonite’s versatility brings textured, sculptural pieces to life for living rooms, bedrooms, and gallery walls. Perfect for those interested in craftsmanship, sustainable materials, and unique interior art.

Hard, flexible, robust and with a fine appearance, ash is one of the best and most versatile woods. It is used for myriad purposes -...