Mogens Lassen Scandinavian 3 legged Stool Restoration

We are currently in the midst of restoring some wonderful mid century Scandinavian furniture.

The clean aesthetic lines , the blonde timbers the ease of design are synonymous with this era of furniture design.

The 3 legged stool designed by Mogens Lassen in 1942 was inspired by the stool used by shoemakers, functional and simplistic in design, it evolved into an elegant 3 legged stool smooth of surface and understated in design.

3 legged stool by Mogens Lassen read for restoratation

The restoration process involved carefully removing the white paint, regluing the legs, sanding and re-polishing to bring out the beauty of the natural grain.

Beautifully restored 3 legged stool by Danish Designer Mogens Lassen

Restored to enhance its classic lines this Mid centruy Oak stool was designed my Mogens Lassen in 1942

Re purposing old furniture

We love makeovers!! Instead of throwing this silky oak dresser to the curb, a Brisbane client came to us to organize a stunning modification.

We repaired, modified to house new copper sinks and repolished to the match the existing decor.

The results are nothing short of amazing and the best thing is that we have re purposed a wonderful piece of furniture where it will now go on for many years to come

Silky Oak Bathroom vanity

Silky Oak Bathroom Vanity

Restoration of an old Locker

There is so much satisfaction gleamed from restoring a wonderful piece of furniture to its former glory.

For both the restorer and the recipient

This old timber locker was in dire need of some TLC.

Locker just begging to be restored

Using time honored traditional woodworking techniques and hard work

this locker was transformed into something wonderful yet highly practical for this busy family...

restoration of locker

IMG_3091

restoring old locker

Chair Restoration...

One of the most hardworking items of furniture ... the humble chair sometimes just needs a bit of TLC. With our restoration and upholstery services, we bring old, neglected, broken chairs back to life

fuchsia upholstery makes these restored dining chairs pop

Subtle cream colours give a sophisticated lift to these elegant chairs

a touch of glamour to the dining room with these restored and reupholstered chairs

October 2015 Surfboard Making Class

The October Surfboard Making Class was a wonderful success. A great bunch of guys shaped, planed, sanded their way into making their own individual boards all ready to be fibreglassed and then hit the water.

Our sincere thanks to our wonderful workshop manager Dave and Surf Technician Michael for their ongoing support...

Hollow Wooden Surfboard Class Brisbane

board class 15

wooden surfboard class brisbane qld

wooden surfboard class brisbane

Hollow Wooden Surfboards at Mitchell Ogilvie

Our Wonderful Collaboration with Mitchell Ogilvie for their Summer Range in Brisbane CBD.  

wooden surfboard display

hollow wooden surfboard

The Entertainment Unit - The focal point of the Loungeroom

The Entertainment Unit,  often the focal hub of the living room . The Entertainment Unit must be multi functioning, not only providing storage for the TV, Stereo and other media components, but it must also provide the perfect viewing platform , blend and harmonize with the existing decor but not overpower the room and allow for the myriad of seating requirements each home needs.

By choosing to custom make your entertainment unit, you are investing in not just a quality piece of furniture that will outlast mass produced inferior products but infesting in your lifestyle, but in your home, making your viewing and listening experiences a richer experience.

High on Function and Style this Art Deco inspired Entertainment Unit is a classic style statement

Coastal Classic Entertainment Unit rides the waves of style

Sleek and sophisticated add some bold colours for dramatic flair

Casual understated yet chic this entertainment unit enhances its surrounds.

Wooden Surfboard Classes for 2015

Stuart Bywater Design Bywater Design is proud to offer the following  styles of wooden surfboard making classes to their 2015 Learning calendar

2 DAY SHAPING CLASS

Weekend of October 17th and 18th 2015  

Each day from 9am-4pm

This 2 day shaping class is where all the assembly work is done for you.

You come in and shape your board to your individual requirements, rail shaping and fin placement, and it is ready for glassing after the two days.

Of course Bywater Design offers you the choice of timber, deck patterns, and various board sizes from our catalogue so you are still getting the timber board of your dreams; just the messy assembly work is done for you.

4 DAY MAKING CLASS

 October 15 - 18 2015

Each day from 9am-4pm

Full assembly and gluing of frame,  shaping board, fin placement, and sanding (ready to glass).

For more information or to secure your position please contact us

wooden surfboard classes brisbane

wooden surboard classes

The Global Surfer and Making a Hollow Wooden Surfboard

We were thrilled to be able to give a global traveller and avid Surfer 'E' the opportunity to make his own hollow wooden surfboard. During the week, E who in his words, has no woodworking experience apart from sharpening a pencil, learnt basic woodworking skills such as sharpening  a hand plane, shaping, sanding of his board and fin placement.  We then went on to fully glass the board.

But don't just take our word for it ... Have a look at our very first YouTube

Qld Maple Display and Storage Unit

The Qld Maple Display and Storage Unit is the the final  accompaniment to the stunning Qld Maple Desk and Entertainment Unit , just previously made for one of our wonderful clients.

With subtle curved sides , mirror back and glass shelves, this classic yet highly functional cabinet will provide wonderful storage solutions yet highlight all the wonderful accoutrements that will be contained inside.

A stunning Makeover -English Oak Sideboard Restoration

There is so much satisfaction gleamed from restoring a wonderful piece of furniture to its former glory. This quaint English Oak Sideboard was in dire need of some attention.

Using traditional techniques, this exquisite piece of history will now take pride of place in the family home and will be enjoyed for many years to come

Queensland Maple Desk and SideBoard

A very happy client took ownership of her new Qld Maple Desk and TV Unit. Featuring Curved legs, arched rails, these classic designs will work beautifully into the new build home.

All custom made furniture from Stuart Bywater Design includes dovetailed drawers and soft close runners.  One of the many advantages of choosing a custom made product.  The quality inclusions add to the longevity of our furniture, ensuring peace of mind and backed by our 20 year guarantee on custom made pieces, you can be assured of value and quality.

Caring for your furniture in Winter...

Winter is a wonderful time in Brisbane, hot chocolates, comfort food,  doona weather but with a drop in temperature there is also a  rapid decline in humidity. With these changes, timber furniture can dry out and possibly split in various places...

You can avoid this by using a suitable furniture wax to promote and keep moisture in the grain.  Simply wax on with a clean dry cloth  and  then wax off any excess, doing this a few times during winter will noticeably enhance your furniture and keep it in pristine condition.

If you are unsure of which wax to use, or you would like to purchase some of our furniture wax please call us on

PH:  3256 9000 or e;  enquiries@bywaterdesign.com.au  and we would love to help you .

Silver Ash Chest of Drawers

The original Chest of Drawers as seen below was made in 1995. Constructed from resalvaged Qld Maple and English Oak, this stunning chest of drawers comprises of 106 hand made cut dovetails...

The English Oak legs were made from a deceased tree in Canberra, the oak was then sandblasted for a weathered effect.

The drawers ran on brass rails and there were no sides or back to the cabinet , except for the N profile.

The structure was held together with the top and bottom drawers attached to the N profile legs.

Fast forward to 2015 and here is the 21st century version of the chest of drawers...

Dovetailed drawers throughout

Hand shaped bowed front

same style as the original but with the luxury of full extension and soft close runners.

Restoration of Art Deco Nest of Tables

A wonderful client recently brought in her grandmothers beloved nest of tables .  They were in pieces and in dire need of TLC. Dating around 1920 these are a wonderful example of the Art Deco .

We painstakingly  restored these glorious pieces where they will be enjoyed for many generations to come...

Satlfest Surf Festival 2015

2015 and   Bywater Design has hit the ground running.  Restoration and Polishing up a storm and classes have begun in earnest and are running to full capacity. We are proud and happy of our enthusiastic students who make each weeknight a pleasure for Stuart and Dave to teach.  

We are proud this weekend to be involved in the inaugural Saltfest Surf Festival at Kirra Beach Coolangatta.

The Festival on March 1 will have an exciting array of Surfboards, surfwear, art, music delicious food and beverages, and more.  We would love you to come and say hi, in this beautiful part of the world.  A glorious way to spend a Sunny Sunday.

For more information head over to Saltfest Surf Festival

The New Surfboard Fad...

Well we have known for quite a while about the sustainability, the versatility, the many advantages of Creating your own Wooden Surfboard. The Sydney Morning Herald this week has highlighted these very things, that make Bywater Surfboards a wise and ecological choice for creating your perfect surfboard and riding experience...

For further information on our Wooden Surfboards, our classes or if you would like a custom made surfboard, please do not hesitate contact us

Article Source; The Sydney Morning Herald Feb 1 2015

Bywater Design Student Work - December 2014

We are so proud of our hardworking ever enthusiastic woodworking Students. Throughout the year they embark on designing and making their own projects.

They are all wonderfully varied and the finished product shows the skills and techniques that they have learned throughout the year.

Peter has been working on these beautiful chairs through out the year, and with Davids expert guidance he has created these stunning chairs , made from jarrah and Qld Maple.

These are a credit to both Peter and David and will be a beautiful accompaniment to the Table Peter completed before hand.

In Store Demonstration At Carba Tec - this Saturday December 13

Come and be a part of the fun discovering new skills when Stuart Demonstrates the Art of Surfboard Shaping...

Just a taste of what happens in our Hollow Wooden Surfboard Classes.

For more information...Just scroll over to the Classes page or drop us an Email

January 2015 Hollow Wooden Surfboard Classes and Paulownia Timber Sales

Very proud students with their finished wooden boards. Winter 2014

In only  a few short months, Bywater Design will be offering their summer class of Hollow Wooden Surfboard Making.

In 8 easy classes, you will be able to design and make your own hollow surfboard, with the timber of your choosing in only 8 nights.

All ready for glassing or polishing.

Classes will commence in February  2015.

So for more information please contact us at; surf@bywaterdesign.com.au  and we will send you an information pack on all the details.

PAULOWNIA TIMBER SALES

As part of our ongoing commitment to our clients and students, Bywater Design now proudly offers the sale of Paulownia Timber.

Dressed and packed all ready for your hollow wooden board kit.

We offer the following timber lengths and specifications;

Lengths of 2.4 or 3 meters

200*8 rough sawn  = $7.20 Lm

200*6 dressed 2 faces = $8.20 Lm

195*6 DAR = $9.20 Lm    as per photo

Panels made to order

585*5, 4 or 3mm  = $40 Lm

150*38 Rough sawn  = $16.90 Lm

Other sizes can be ordered  POA.

For timber orders or for further information please contact us ; timber@bywaterdesign.com.au