(07) 3256 9000 | enquiries@bywaterdesign.com.au

Restoring a Parker Mid Century Coffee Table

A genuine Parker Mid Century coffee table is more than just a piece of furniture , its an Australian design classic.

Built to last, these iconic tables deserve expert care when age wear and tear and everyday use begins to take their toll.

This Parker Coffee table arrived with damaged veneers, surface wear and a tired finish.

Our Restoration process included careful veneer repair, fine sanding and refinishing to return the table to its original beauty, while preserving its mid century authenticity .

Iconic Mid Century restoration.

At Bywater Design , we specialise in Parker furniture and mid century repairs and restoration.

Every restoration is treated with respect for the original craftsmanship , ensuring the piece retains its value ,integrity and timeless appeal

Looking after your Timber Furniture during Winter

As the temperature (finally )drops in Brisbane and we spend more time indoors, winter is a great time to give your furniture a little extra care.

Timber is a natural material that responds to changes in temperature and humidity, so a few simple maintenance habits can help keep your furniture looking beautiful for years to come.

Keep Furniture Away from Direct Heat

While it may be tempting to place furniture close to heaters, fireplaces or direct air-conditioning outlets, sudden temperature changes can dry out timber and potentially cause movement, cracking or warping over time.

Where possible, keep furniture a comfortable distance from direct heat sources and avoid prolonged exposure to hot or dry air.

Protect from Direct Sunlight

Winter sunshine can still be surprisingly harsh. Direct sunlight may fade timber, veneers and finishes over time, particularly on dining tables, sideboards and coffee tables positioned near windows.

Consider closing blinds during the brightest part of the day or rotating decorative pieces occasionally to ensure even ageing.

Regular Dusting and Cleaning

A simple wipe-down every week or two helps remove dust and grime before it builds up.

Use a soft cloth lightly dampened with water. Avoid soaking the surface or using harsh household cleaners, as these can damage the finish.

After wiping, dry the surface with a clean soft cloth.

Apply a Quality Furniture Wax

Winter is an ideal time to nourish and protect your furniture with a good quality furniture wax.

Apply a light coat following the manufacturer’s instructions, allow it to haze, then buff away any excess with a soft cloth. This helps maintain the lustre of the timber while providing an extra layer of protection against everyday wear.

A Little Care Goes a Long Way

Well-crafted timber furniture is built to last generations, and a small amount of seasonal maintenance can make a significant difference to its appearance and longevity.

If you have questions about caring for your furniture, restoring a treasured piece, or refinishing a tired surface, we’re always happy to help.

We love maintaining timber furniture during the cooler months

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Made for the hallway. Made for a lifetime

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Sometimes a piece of furniture arrives in a home and it looks as though it was always meant to be there.

Coastal elegance

 That is exactly what happened with this custom hall table, now living in a beautiful Byron Bay home.

Our client came to us with a specific vision and a specific space, a hallway that deserved something worthy of it.

What she needed was a piece that was narrow enough to sit comfortably against the wall, long enough to make a statement, and characterful enough to hold its own alongside the art, the runner, and the warmth of the space around it.

 We built this hall table from recycled timber, celebrating the natural live edge of the slab and shaping the base by hand to complement the organic quality of the top.

Handcrafted and built for a lifetime

No two pieces of timber are alike, and no two hall tables we make will ever be identical.

That is precisely the point.

 A few days after delivery we received this note from Anne:

 “I just wanted to let you know how much I LOVE the hall table you designed for us. It’s just perfect in our house in Byron Bay. I’m utterly delighted with it.”

 We utterly love receiving messages like that.

Its like it was always there…

 If you have a space that deserves something made specifically for it, we would love to hear about it.

Timeless by Design

 There’s a reason mid century modern never really went away.

 It showed up in the 1950s and 60s as a response to excess — a deliberate stripping back to what furniture actually needed to be.

Clean lines. Honest timber. Forms that earned their shape. And somehow, seventy years on, it still looks right in a contemporary home

. That’s not trend. That’s good design.

Classic style that lives on for ever.

 

At Bywater Design, we’ve been making furniture since 1986, and mid century pieces are among the most requested work that comes through our doors.

Not reproductions of specific designs, but new pieces built in that spirit — the tapered legs, the sculpted timber arms, the way the frame itself becomes part of the aesthetic rather than something to hide.

 Mid century design looks effortless. Making it well takes time and skill

 The joinery has to be precise — these frames rely on the integrity of each connection, with no decorative moldings or fussy details to mask any imperfections. The timber selection matters enormously.

We work with species that have the warmth and character that suits the style: Qld Maple, Silky Oak and Tas Oak to name but a few.

Timbers that respond beautifully to a hand-rubbed oil finish and only get better with age.

 

The shaping is where the craft really shows. Those curved arms and angled legs aren’t just aesthetic choices . They are worked by hand, refined through trial, and finished to our high standard every time


Everyday elegance

 

We work closely with clients on upholstery, because fabric choice can completely shift the character of a piece. The charcoal linen on the two-seater reads calm and contemporary.

A bold geometric print on a pair of armchairs — that’s a different conversation entirely, and both are right depending on the room.

 




 

Mid century furniture fits modern homes because it was never really about a moment in time. It was about restraint. About letting the material speak. About making something that sits well in a space without demanding attention.

 

It also photographs beautifully, which doesn’t hurt — but more importantly, it lives beautifully.

These are pieces that work as hard in a family home as they do in a considered interior design project.

 

Elegance in grey, which works so beautifully with the bright geometric pattern

And because we make each piece to order, nothing is a compromise. The proportions, the timber, the finish, the fabric , all of it is decided in conversation with the person who’s going to live with it.

 

That’s what makes custom work worth it.

It begins with a conversation.

The Red Oak Executive ...

A kidney desk is one of those forms that earns its place ,practical by design but elegant by nature.

We love the curve, its a little different but hey that is our specialty

Made from Red Oak and stained to a deep luxe dark chocolate , this desk is not only practical but is peak sophistication .

Red Oak under a dark stain is something to behold.
The grain opens up, deepens and takes on a weight and richness that no mass manufactured surface comes close to.

This timber rewards the finish.


Every curve considered, every edge defined,

A piece built to anchor the office and outlast everything around it

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Where tradition meets timeless design ...

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Some furniture pieces simply belong in a room . The Casuarina Coffee table is one of them.

Crafted from a solid 32mm top and with traditional edge detail, the Casuarina carries the quiet confidence that only comes from genuine quality.

At 1200 x 600 x 500 H its a generous well considered size, substantial enough to anchor a living room, refined enough to never overwhelm it.

Details that only get better with age

What sets this table apart is the detail beneath the surface.

Tapering legs meet a classic raw brass rail that ages beautifully over time, developing its own character the longer it lives in your home.

Two Timbers and Endless Possibilities

The Casuarina is available in two exceptional timbers

Tasmanian Oak - brings warmth and versatility . Its tones range from soft straw to a light pinkish brown, lending itself beautifully to both classic and contemporary interiors.

New Guinea Rosewood

Golden brown to deep red, with a medium texture and occasionally a highly figured wavy grain - this is a special choice

No two tables are the same - the joy and wonder of bespoke furniture

We offer a curated range of stains to further enhance your decor - from Light Walnut, Dark Walnut, Light Mahogany , Dark Mahogany and the dramatic Ebony Black.

The Casuarina Coffee table isnt just a coffee table - its the beginning of an heirloom.

The clean lines of the Casuarina table - that solid 32mm top speaks for itself.

This Mother's Day , skip the scented candle ...

This year, why not give Mum something a little different—something hands-on, a bit unexpected, and deeply rewarding?

At Bywater Design, we believe creativity is a gift in itself. That’s why our woodworking classes make such a meaningful present. Whether it's our relaxed Half-Day Timber Masterclass or the more in-depth Two-Day Intro to Woodworking, each experience is about more than tools and timber. It’s about making something real—with your hands, your focus, and maybe even your own design.

No experience needed. Just curiosity, good conversation, and the joy of seeing a piece of timber become something beautiful.

Give Mum the chance to try something new. Or better yet—book in together.

Where high gloss meets handcrafted

Finished in a high gloss blue, these elegant side tables bring a clean , sharp edge to the space while still feeling warm alongside their beautiful surrounds …

Adding drama without overpowering, these classic style tables are a great reminder that timber doesnt have to look traditional to feel timeless

Elegance is simplicity

A vision in blue

A sustainable laundry makeover...

We love when our clients have a clear vision and especially one that embraces sustainability using beautiful upcycled materials.

Using old VJ wall lining and Stuart sourcing some beautiful old recycled hoop pine, we have created a beautiful “outdoor” laundry that keeps in theme with this beautiful Queenslander.

A wonderful use of space highlights those fabulous stained glass windows !

A wonderful , sustainable addition to this lovely home.

Plenty of storage for this outdoor kitchen

Sourcing recycled materials is always a good idea

We love a good “before “ pic

Spotted Gum Benches for QUT

We recently built and delivered 6 Spotted Gum workkbenches for Brisbane’s QUT Campus.

 Spotted Gum is one of those timbers we keep coming back to.

It is incredibly durable, naturally resistant to wear and pests, and more than capable of standing up to busy workshop environments for years to come.

With its dense structure and interlocking grain, it’s a solid choice for heavy duty pieces like this.

 It’s not just about strength though.

The colour variation in Spotted Gum is something special, moving from soft greys through to deep chocolate tones, with beautiful natural grain throughout. Every bench has its own character, which we love.

We finished the benches with oil to enhance the timber and add another layer of protection while keeping that natural feel.

 As you can see from our pictures, these benches were no lightweights, weighing in on an impressive 120 kg each these benches were made to last !

Team work



The Many hues of spotted gum

The first day of our March Furniture Making Class...

The first day of our Introduction to Furniture Making Workshop on Saturday, saw 6 very enthusiastic students begin their journey into the wonderful world of woodworking

Our students were given the choice of what they would like to make prior to class; the options including;

coffee table, hall table, sofa table or small desk, using premium solid timbers.

The emphasis being that each student designs a table that is perfect for them , their home and their lifestyle.

Our Introductory class is not cookie cutter based, our students begin flexing their design muscle before they even enter the workshop.

It was a wonderful, productive day where our students left with big grins on their faces, eager for next Saturday when they will complete their beautiful tables.

Converting Furniture

We love when our clients think “outside of the box” and reuse their existing furniture. It makes good sense to repurpose what we already have and transform it into something new, wonderful and most importantly practical

. A great example is this classic silky oak dressing table: a beautiful piece in its own right but, in its previous state, it wasn’t serving a purpose…

So we converted it into a lovely working-from-home desk, repaired what needed attention and gave it a fabulous repolish.

And the mirror , well that is is now a beautiful standalone piece , making a gorgeous addition to the loungeroom.

#lovewhatwedo

Two new beautiful functioal pieces from one existing dressing table

Some restoration Loveliness

The immense satisfaction of restoring beautiful pieces is something we never take for granted. The joy our clients feel when their cherished items are returned in their original and sometimes even improved condition is the highlight of our day.

This lovely oak extended round table arrived needing considerable TLC, so our team carefully and professionally repaired and restored it to its former, wonderful self.

Mid Century Kitchen Restoration love

There’s something special about mid-century kitchen furniture.

 Solid construction. Honest joinery. Good proportions. Built to last.

 These retro kitchen pieces came to us looking well-loved ., but time had taken its toll , with structural damage, worn timber, peeled paint, drawers that became stuck, missing pieces, etc

The list was long but as these pieces were well over 40 years the condition they were in was no big surprise

 Instead of replacing it, the brief was clear: restore it properly.

Respect its era. Stay close to the original colour.

 And that’s where the magic begins..

  Honouring the Original Finish

  When restoring vintage kitchen furniture, colour matters. The wrong tone can strip away character instantly. Too modern and it loses its charm. Too bright and it feels artificial.

 

We carefully matched a soft retro green close to the original palette — subtle, warm, and true to its mid-century roots. It brings back that nostalgic kitchen feel without looking dated.

 The timber top was stripped and refinished to restore warmth and depth, allowing the grain to shine again. Clean, durable, and practical for everyday kitchen use.

  

The Details Make It

  Restoration is never just “a repaint.”

 

It’s surface preparation. It’s stabilising timber. It’s repairing minor damage. It’s sanding back years of wear. It’s selecting the right finish system for durability, especially in the kitchen a high traffice, high production area

 The result? A piece that feels authentic, not overworked.

 

Retro kitchen restorations like this allow you to keep history in your home while refreshing the aesthetic. Sustainable. Character filled.

Built far better than most modern flat-pack alternatives.

  

Because good bones deserve a second life.

 

If you have a retro kitchen cabinet, dresser or timber table that needs attention, we’d love to help bring it back to its original character.

 

Restored with respect. Finished to last.