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

Beautiful New Items in the Gallery

In our continual quest to provide thoughtfully considered and carefully crafted homewares, we are excited to announce the addition of a beautiful new collection of handcrafted keepsake boxes to the Gallery.

Made right here in our Brisbane Workshop using sustainably sourced, recycled Australian timbers, these unique, one-of-a-kind boxes make the perfect gift or a charming and meaningful addition to your own home.

Available in a variety of sizes and adorned with stunning coloured linings, each keepsake box is designed to capture your eye and heart.

We warmly invite you to come and explore our collection in the gallery and treat yourself to a wonderful “shop local and ethical” moment that celebrates craftsmanship and sustainability.

Prices start from a very reasonable $110

A Pop of Blue ... A fresh upholstery choice

These classic European Beech chairs have long been a cherished staple in our client’s home. After many years of regular use and the inevitable wear and tear, it was definitely time for a thoughtful update.

The most important aspect of this restoration was the essential reglue process.

A proper reglue, performed by a professional using high-quality commercial adhesives, will significantly prolong the life of the chair by at least 10 to 15 years.

This ensures the chair remains structurally sound, safe, and comfortable for the user.

As for the upholstery, our client desired a real wow factor, and since her favourite colour is blue, she chose this beautiful rich jewel blue which really pops against that blonde hue of the beech.

A gorgeous fresh makeover for these chairs

Welcoming Elegance ...

When you step into a home, the first piece of furniture you often see sets the tone.

A hall table isnt just a landing spot for keys or a vase of flowers, - or the junkmail, hats and sunnies ( I could go on!) its an invitation, a reflection of the home’s character.

This handcrafted table made from Tasmanian Blackwood, Victorian Ash and Red Cedar brings a sense of warmth and welcome with a timeless glow that suits both modern spaces and more traditional interiors.

This one of a kind ( we dont do mass production runs) is available now at the gallery

Any why yes of course we can deliver for you

Priced at a very reasonable $1000 - it will be your next family heirloom

To make this a beautiful additon to your home please get in touch

NEW DATE JUST ADDED - HOMEWARES CLASS OCTOBER 18

Drum roll please ……..

The Timber Masterclass homewares workshop is back for another date

October 18 Saturday from 8 - 1 come and join in the fun and learning with a wonderful morning spent learning all about woodwork and creating something beautiful for yourself

This relaxed yet productive workshop is perfect for beginners and those looking to build their confidence with tools and timber.

You will design and carve your own timber salt and pepper shakers, round , square or oval - your design and your finish

This is just perfect for anyone looking to gain confidence with tools , shaping , finishes and just getting a good grounding for the wonderful world of woodworking

We only have a few positions , so we do urge you to enrol asap !!

Here’s to more crafting and less screen time

"Its our favourite room now" The Restoration our client loves

There’s something special about pieces that have lived a life , the ones that have seen sunlit mornings, shared cups of tea quiet moments and family chatter.

This woven cane lounge was just that.

Time had taken its toll but it still held its charm and was ready for a refresh.

We were thrilled to bring it back to life in the workshop

Carefully restored , rattan repaired and a beautiful repolish and the best part ?

“The loung looks amazing , its become our favourite room in the house - thank you !”

Thats why we love what we do

Lets make some sawdust

As we are well into the last half of the year ( shock horror !! ) our final Introduction to Furniture Making Workhshop is fast approaching - and we have only two positions available.

 

If you’ve been thinking about learning how to build something with your own two hands, this is your chance to finish the year with a bang (and a beautiful handcrafted table to show for it).

 Over two creative Saturdays, you’ll shape, sand, glue and craft a solid timber hall or coffee table —with professional expert guidance from our team

In a real workshop.

With real professionals who will teach and guide you the safe and proper way - meaning you will have an excellent foundation on which to build your woodworking career/ obsession with .

You dont need any experience - just a willingness to learn and have a lot of fun along the way !

If this sounds like your vibe - then we are your tribe.

  All materials, timber, tools and delicious morning and afternoon tea are included.

Small class equals Big satisfaction.

 If you’re ready to swap screen time for sawdust, then please lets chat asap !

 



 


Bringing this English Oak Cabinet back to life

 Some pieces hold more than just things—they hold stories.

This elegant English Oak leadlight cabinet had weathered years of use, watermarks, and a touch of mould, but beneath it all, its bones were still beautiful.

 We began the restoration by carefully dismantling the cabinet and removing the delicate leadlight panels from the doors. These stunning glass features were sent off to be professionally repaired, so they could shine once more in their rightful place.

 Back in the workshop, we removed the old finish, gently sanded the oak until it was clean and smooth, and carefully lifted out the watermarks without disturbing the timber’s integrity

. Inside, we treated and removed mould, ensuring the cabinet wasn’t just beautiful—but healthy too.

 A new lock was sourced and fitted to restore both function and charm. Once the leadlights returned, we reassembled the doors and stained the entire cabinet to its original rich hue. A hand-applied semigloss polish brought the grain to life and gave the cabinet its warm, natural glow once again.

 Restoring furniture like this is more than a process—it’s a privilege. It’s about honouring craftsmanship, preserving character, and allowing a piece to continue its story for generations to come.

Lets take it outside - Timber furniture that plays well outside

There’s something undeniably special about custom made timber furniture. (Yes, okay, we are biased — but please read on!)

Beyond the obvious charm of owning a piece built just for you, it’s truly about craftsmanship, sustainability, and creating something that stands the test of time — both in terms of quality and timeless style.

This philosophy extends naturally to outdoor furniture as well. As a nation that loves the outdoor lifestyle, long summer days, balmy nights, and the quiet magic of watching a sunrise—it simply makes good sense to have something created specifically to encapsulate and accommodate all that time spent outdoors

. Custom outdoor pieces allow you to fully embrace and enhance your lifestyle in a way that mass-produced options simply can’t match.

Just like interior furniture, outdoor custom-made furniture offers endless possibilities in design and style.

From the rustic charm of a rugged camphor laurel bench with its earthy tones and natural textures, to a high-gloss outdoor bench seat featuring intricate carved fretwork, there’s a perfect balance that can be struck.

This includes not only aesthetic appeal but also considerations like your budget and lifestyle needs.

When we craft outdoor furniture, we carefully take into account exactly where it will live. For instance, the finish on a table designed for an enclosed verandah will differ greatly from the finish on a lounge set by the pool, ensuring durability and longevity.

This is the true joy of custom making — you receive exactly what you want and need, tailored perfectly to your home and outdoor environment..







 




Restoring for Churchie

Once again, we are truly delighted to be involved in the furniture restoration process at Churchie (Anglican Church Grammar School in Brisbane)

. Over the past few weeks during the school holidays, we have been diligently repairing and restoring to ensure that all of the beautiful timber work is in optimum condition for of Term 3.

The elegant and classic Darnell Doors, crafted from Silky Oak, are over 80 years old. Constantly exposed to the harsh afternoon sun, these doors require careful attention and maintenance to address the damaging effects of UV exposure, as well as to preserve and prolong their stunning high-gloss finish.

We carefully took the doors back to our workshop, where we meticulously removed the old finish and then sanded them down until the timber was perfectly smooth to the touch

We then applied a rich stain followed by a beautiful polish to enhance the natural beauty of the wood grain.

To further protect and preserve the doors' exquisite appearance, we treated them with a marine-grade epoxy finish, ensuring they remain stunning for years to come.

A stunning finish for these iconic doors.

Discover the wonderful world of Woodworking with us

If you’ve ever had a hankering to make something for yourself, learn a new skill, or get creative by engaging the left side of your brain, then it’s the perfect time to indulge in some well-deserved “me” time.

Join us for our immersive two-day introduction to woodworking class happening on July 19 and 25.

This hands-on course is all about diving right into crafting your very own table—whether it’s an entrance table, a coffee table, or a small desk. You will take the lead as both the designer and the maker, bringing your vision to life.

Throughout the class, we will carefully guide you through every step of the process, from initial design concepts to full construction, followed by sanding and finishing touches. By the end of the two days, you’ll not only walk away with a beautifully crafted piece that is uniquely yours but also gain a wealth of woodworking skills that will serve you for a lifetime.

We have only two positions left in our Winter Woodworking Workshop, so please get in touch now to secure your position in our very popular Brisbane Class

Restoring a Marble Washstand

We have waved our magic wand once again (well, not literally—but our dedicated and hardworking professional team certainly knows all the right moves) and carefully restored this rather elegant Marble Washstand.

This classic piece was in need of extensive repairs, particularly to the damaged and missing veneers that really detracted from the overall beauty of the item

Next, we meticulously repaired the drawers, ensuring they now glide effortlessly with every use. There is nothing more frustrating than stuck drawers, which can ultimately cause additional strain and damage to the rest of the piece over time

. After completing all the necessary repairs, we finished the washstand with a rich cedar stain and a beautiful semi-gloss finish, perfectly enhancing all those exquisite traditional features

. A truly gorgeous final result for our June restoration project.

Braving the elements for our Winter Surfboard Making Workshop

It was certainly a brisk and invigorating start to our June Hollow Wooden Surfboard Making Workshop…

The fine, cold mornings, paired perfectly with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee, were just the right combination to ramp up the energy and enthusiasm of our dedicated surfboard making legends.

From Thursday through to Sunday (inclusive) our keen woodworkers diligently glued, sanded, and carefully shaped their way toward surfboard nirvana, crafting stunning, beautifully hollow wooden surfboards with skill and passion.

We are absolutely stoked about the beautiful outcome of these boards, and now they are in the glassing booth, patiently waiting for Stuart to weave his magic .

A second life in colour

A colour makeover can breathe new life into tired cane and timber furniture.

Whether its a bold black transformation , or a new crisp white look , or a dramatic royal blue the right finish can completely transform both the furniture and the entire look of the room.

From dated to modern, a new pop of colour can bring the wow factor back into the home.

Often the simplest of moves can have a dramatic impact giving new vibes for minimum outlay

We have chosen a few examples below of how a fresh exciting coat of paint can really change your world.

Be bold, be bright !

From worn to wonderful - breathing new life into a cedar table

 

There’s something special about a beautiful cedar table — the rich tones, the delicate grain, the timeless presence it brings to a space. But even the most cherished pieces sometimes need a little love to shine again.

 Recently in the workshop, we took on the restoration of this classic cedar table circa 1950..s that had seen better days.

 We began by carefully reglueing the tabletop and underframe, ensuring the structure was strong and stable once more

. Then came the removal of the old, tired finish — stripping it back to reveal the raw cedar beneath. A thorough sanding followed, smoothing out the surface and preparing it for a fresh start.

 Next, we applied a stain to bring back that traditional cedar color — warm, rich, and full of character. Finally, the magic touch: a semi-gloss polish that enhanced the timber’s natural glow without overpowering it, leaving the table looking elegant, revived, and ready for its next chapter.

 Restorations like this remind us why we love what we do. It’s not just about fixing furniture; it’s about honoring craftsmanship, preserving history, and giving beloved pieces a second life.

Honouring the past - The Restoration of 100 yr old chairs ...

These Melbourne Chair Co. chairs, crafted around 1910, are truly a work of art — each one beautifully handcrafted with intricate details of emus and foliage carved into the backs over a century ago.

Time had certainly left its mark on these stunning pieces, and they arrived at our workshop in need of some serious tender loving care.

 We were thrilled to take on the challenge of restoring them to their former glory. The restoration process involved a full reglue to strengthen the frames, careful repairs to the delicate rattan, and crafting a new slat back that seamlessly matched the original design.

Once structurally sound, we turned our attention to the finish, removing the old layers and polishing the timber to achieve a rich black semi-gloss that truly brings out the depth and beauty of the details.

 What a remarkable transformation it’s been — and such a joy to give these magnificent chairs another chapter in their long story.

What a beautiful transformation for these gorgeous chairs

Restoring Retro Charm , A charming 1930's revival

We can’t stop loving on our iconic retro kitchen restoration!

These iconic pieces from the 1930s have been well loved, well used, and naturally showed the signs of time and wear. But now, it was finally time to breathe some fresh life back into them.

 

With great care, we sourced the original colours to ensure every detail stayed true to the era’s charm. We then carefully repaired, restored, and repolished the surfaces, paying close attention to preserving the character while giving them a renewed, vibrant finish.

 

There’s something truly special about bringing history forward — blending nostalgia with craftsmanship to make sure these treasures keep shining for years to come.

LAST CALL; ONE SPOT LEFT FOR 2025 IN OUR SURFBOARD MAKING WORKHSOP

Only one spot left for 2025

Yes, we are just half way through the year and already we have had a massive repsonse to our Hollow Wooden Surfboard Making workshops and as a consequence we have only ONE position left for the rest of this year.

Only one spot left for our October 9 - 12 Surfboard Making Workshop.

Four days in the workshop - shaping your very own hollow wooden surfboard from start to finish: its hand on , all in and something youll be proud of for life.

If youve been thinking about it , now is the time

Get in touch now to secure your spot before it goes