Custom Wood Furniture

The first decision is tone. Dark, walnut-toned timbers bring depth and are ideal for pieces that should anchor a room — a dining table, a coffee table, a desk. Paler, oak-toned timbers suit larger surfaces such as wall panelling, wardrobes and shelving, where a dark timber could feel heavy.

Many of our interiors use both: dark timber for freestanding furniture and pale timber for the architecture around it. Read our comparison of walnut and oak for a fuller discussion.

On a large tabletop or a run of cabinet doors, the way grain flows matters as much as the species. We sequence surfaces so that pattern continues across joints and doors, rather than changing abruptly.

Finishes range from matt, open-pore oils to satin lacquers. The right finish depends on how the piece will be used — a dining table needs different protection from a wall panel — and we discuss maintenance before specifying.

Species, solid or veneered construction and finish systems are confirmed in writing for each piece; we do not make generic claims that apply to every commission.

Timber is most convincing when it is used with discipline. Rather than a different wood in every room, we usually define one dark and one pale timber for the whole home and use them consistently — the dark for pieces that should hold the eye, the pale for the architecture around them. The result is calm and legible, and every new piece has a clear place in the palette.

See how this works across living rooms, bedrooms and studies in the Garden Residence.