Made for the hallway. Made for a lifetime

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.

Where tradition meets timeless design ...

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.

How shiny can a table be ?

That is a question we often ask ourselves in the workshop. But before we delve into all things glossy, we wish you a very Happy 2026! We’re back after a refreshing break and ready to embark on another rewarding year of making beautiful furniture, restoring treasured pieces, and sharing our love of all things woodwork with our passionate students. Now, back to these wonderful glossy tables: these classic, elegant pieces will make a striking statement in our client’s bedroom with their vivid blue colour and rich, full gloss .

There is a confident, assured boldness in their simple, refined design.

Shiny shiny shiny, high gloss thanks to Stuart

"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

A very special Jewellery Box

With its rich dark chocolate hues, Ebony timber is a visual delight . An exotic hardwood that we have used for the top of our very special jewellery box.

Its beautiful patina and grain are the feature of the box lid making a wonderful first impression .

Coupled with rosewood, we have designed and made a classic keepsake

The beautiful richness of Ebony

A visual delight

With its many details our special Jewellery Box has a myriad of storage options for rings, necklaces , bracelets and other special tresures that will keep them safe and free from dust and other elements.

With its many and varied compartments, there is a place for every special keepsake.

Little things matter, our attention to detail is second to none

An exercise in craftsmanship our jewellery /keepsake box would be a beautiful addition to your home

Retro Style Stereo Cabinet

We always value the joy of providing our clients with special heirlooms and this project is a beautiful example of that.

Having kept the turntable that his father has used through his childhood, our client desired a cabinet that would house his precious keepsake and also function as a stereo cabinet that could be used for all the family to enjoy …

The concept was simple; classic clean lines and showcasing the beauty of solid timber .

Stuart designed a crisp clean cabinet featuring the gorgeous Zebrano timber on the doors and New Guinea Rosewood for the rest of the cabinet.

The stunning grain in Zebrano for highlights

Elegant beauty

What a gorgeous contrast is the New Guinea Rosewood

Beauty in the detail

Featuring a designated area for the turntable, that oh so important vinyl collection and room for the other stereo components including easy cable access at the back, this custom made stereo cabinet now takes pride of place in our client’s home.

We hope many an hour will be spent listening to happy vibes with the family.

One of life’s greatest joys !

Designing custom made stools

Our lumbar support Bar Stools have brought breakfast to a whole new comfortable level for our clients.
Made from American Ash , Stuart designed these for maximum back support and to blend in with the clients existing dining chairs.
Upholstered in a blonde vinyl to withstand kitchen use these stools were a joy for Stuart to design and make.

Prepping for the shaping of the legs

Fine tuning

The beautiful finished product

Taking pride of place in their new home

Furniture Restoration

It has been an absolute joy to complete some beautiful restoration projects over the last few months.

We love providing a source of joy to our clients when they receive their recently restored piece of yesteryear.

Needing some love

Beautiful end result

Beautiful silky oak table restored

This gorgeous 1920’s Silky Oak Dining Suite with its classic shapes had “good bones” and needed some love to bring out its orginal glory.

We repaired, sanded and Stuart colour matched the finish of these to match the clients existing decor, so these pieces would blend seamlessly to their surrounds and not look new.

Our client then chose some bright floral fabric for the chairs to give a beautiful contrast to the silky oak timber.

A glorious end result to this wonderful era of furniture.

Beautiful blanket box

Blanket boxes are a wonderful practial addition to any home. Our Silky Oak friend here was in need of some TLC and we happily obliged.

Our restoration process included some major repair work to both the internal and external surfaces of this gorgeous 1920’s piece.

Our client once again chose exquisite fabric to complement the warmth of the Silky Oak Grain.

A beautiful old yet new addition to this family home

Create the things you wish existed ...

There is no question that books, in particular the big glorious hard cover gems are one of life’s abundant joys.

The glossy thick pages filled with wise words and inspirational images can take you places you have never been or re aquaint yourself with long lost senimentality .

You can travel the country, roam the world within minutes and take the ultimate escape journey, there is however only one small caveat , the weight of these glorious books often makes reading or perusing an uncomfortable process, the heaviness coupled with the size can put a dent in anyone’s escapism.

So finding a way for our client to enjoy reading a very special and sentimental book of proportionate size and weight Building Bathurst by Graham Lupp was a challenge Stuart happily accepted .

After deliberation and client conversation, Stuart designed (and made) a unique Mini Lecturn or Book reader which provides a stylish platform for those special books we treasure, giving the reader a vessel to house and read the book with ease.

Elegance meets practicality

Easy to assemble

Fully assembled

Made from Camphor Laurel and Silky Oak, this simple easy to use Lecturn provides the ideal area to read, peruse or display those treasured books that should be gloriously displayed to make the everyday special.

As seen “in action” above the mini lecturn providing a wonderful backdrop for Building Bathurst a discerning Historical 2 Volume exploration into the historical architecture of Bathurst NSW Australia.

The journey of creating this unique piece for one of our clients is a privilege , connecting us to learned artisan Graham Lupp who both inspires and educates with his use of paint and pen .

A Joy to make and we hope will remain a constant source of comfort for our avid readers.

A beautiful Custom Made Bedroom Suite

Being in the airline industry has certainly rubbed off for our lovely inner city clients, a personal request for Stuart when designing their bedroom suite was to have some “runway lights” as a feature .

Nothing too obstuse, but a gentle nod to the love of their career.

Happy to oblige, Stuart encorporated some elegant lighting along the bed panel that highlights the beautiful rich hue of the Cambia (think rich dark chocolate) and the warmth of Euro Beech …

Euro and Cambia Bedroom ensemble … featuring “runway” feature lights on the left

Along with the elegant bedroom ensemble we designed this clean looking sophisticated TV Unit.

With a “pop up” feature that enables the TV Screen to disappear within seconds .

Again we used Cambia and Euro Beech for effortless continuity.

Beautiful classic pieces that are highly functional yet serve as a wonderful canvas for the addition of personal bedroom accessories .

The natural beauty of Timber

Ready for a good nights sleep

Colourful furniture makeovers

Never underestimating the power of bright beautiful colours, we completed these fabulous makeovers to some classic rattan furniture , with fabulous results

Classic shaped rattan chairs in dire need of some repairs and colour

These chairs are just perfect for outdoor or front deck living. They have such great shape and character.

We were keen to repair what was needed especially around the arms and prepare for the colour.

Big on the wow factor

Our clients chose a dramatic blue to really accentuate the wonderful features of this lounge. We used 2pack high gloss for longevity

We undertook the same process for the accompanying table

Restoration just makes good sense especially with impressive results such as these. What could have been destined for the rubbish bin is now beautifully repaired and restored and ready to begin a wonderful new life

Creating a Mid Century Dining Suite

Remaining faithful to the mid century era, a client requested we design and make a Lounge Suite that lends itself to the characteristics of this era

Design Features had to include;

Functionality; form following function

An cluttered feel, sleek lines with both organic and geometric forms and minimal ornamentation.

Initial conceps were drawn up by Stuart so that the client could get a “feel” for what the end product would be

We chose Tasmanian Oak for this elegant 2 Seater and 2 single chairs

Mid Century glory 2 Single seaters

Elegant classic lines

Timeless beauty

Stunning fabric selection

Our client very astutely chose 2 fabrics, a bold geometric print for the two single chairs and a clasic textured Navy for the 3 seater.

The end result is an elegant yet practical lounge that wont “date” and will remain a firm family favourite in the home for years to come.

Custom Made Outdoor Benches

Our client came to us with a vision of some beautiful outdoor benches. She had searched high and low for what she wanted, but to no avail. So we were happy to provide a solution to her dilemna.

Stuart came up witih initial sketches and once approved we began the design in earnest of these.

Heights are imperative, as are railing and handle widths to ensure maximum comfort. You want to be able to sit for hours with ease to meander the hours away with a good book , an Earl Grey or Pimms or even both.

We constructed these benches in Rosewood, a beautiful solid timber perfect for furniture

Its all in the planning.

Curves provide a point of interest in the back part of the seat

Finished with gloss black , as per our client request.

Elegance and sophistication

Providing outdoor furniture solutions.

Once construction was completed, we finished these with a high gloss exterior black to compliment the outdoor area beautifully.

A beautiful end result, built to last and made for comfort !

Restoration of Upright Piano

We always love the journey of restoration and when it is a family heirloom such as a Piano , the satisfaction for us as a team in achieving a great outcome is one of the best parts of what we do …

A much loved family favourite in need of some repairs

Gorgeous finished product. This treasured family item back to its orginal glory

This mahogany upright piano was restored, repaired where needed and repolished to match the clients’ existing decor .

A beautiful journey of great sentimental value

The benefits of white furniture

As we have stated many times, our passion for timber furniture is strong. Over the years we have designed and made so many beautiful heirlooms in timber, including, dining tables, chest of drawers, entertainment units even ladders for home offices, the list goes magically and gratefully on of what we have achieved for our wonderful clients.

Sometimes though, a clear finish/polish is not what is needed or desired.

A white gloss or 2 pack finish can literally be the icing on the cake

There are many benefits of white furniture, not withstanding the visual impact white furniture can have on some beautifully rich timber floors. The gorgeous contrast these two elements provide can just be breathtaking …

White gloss bookcase, providing a wonderful distinction between wall and floor

White Furniture can provide addtional contrasts and textures to a room .

It gives a clean, fresh feel which is perfect all year round.

White furniture provides a wonderful blank canvas, on which you can very simply add your collection of art, sentimental pieces and the white furniture will highlight these in the most subtle yet sophisticated of ways.

With different textures and shapes, white furniture becomes a wonderful addition to the living room

A perfect blank canvas to add art pieces, treasured books, special photos and mementos

Any room of the home can benefit from the additon of white furniture, the only limit is your imagination

Art Deco Furniture then and now

What are your images, thoughts of the 1920’s ?

The Great Gatsby , Speakeasies, jazz music comes instantly to mind.

The world was celebrating peace and freedom after World War 1 and technology (but not as we now know it ) was forging ahead.

Automobiles were becoming more common, and movies were mass entertainment in the devleoped world.

This started as a boom era in which people were intent on living for the now, throwing convention to the wind and opening the way for new ideas and inventions.

Art Deco is the term for this fashionable style that dominated between the two world wars, Art Deco influenced many spheres of life from art, architecture, fashion and sculpture to furniture design.

The impact Art Deco has left is monumental in architecture alone. In Queensland , the State Government Insurance Building in Brisbane and the Charleville Town Halls are perfect testamony to these, just as the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building are iconic symbols in the USA.

Jazz Moderne as Art Deco was also known as the dominant style of the 1920’s and 1930’s.

It became known as Art Deco in the 1960’s when a British Art Critic took the name from the 1925

L’Exposition des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes held in Paris.

The Style was developed in France by over 250 craftman including Jacques_Emile Ruhlmann, Jean Dunand and Rene Lalique. The strong Paris influence led the “machine age aesthetic”in which the flowing floral motifsof Art Noveau were replaced by streamlined geometrical designs, that expressed the efficiency of modern technology.

Excitement over this new French Style was quickly emulated in Italy, Britian other European countries and North America.

Art Deco designers used stepped forms, rounded corners, striped decorative elements and experimented with industrial materials such as metal, plastic as well as the more unusual sharks skin.

The favoured stylish colours of purple, mauve, peach and grey were used to enhance the new sophisticated design.

Experimenting with industrial design elements was a constant in the Art Deco period.

Decorative glass had a formative role in products such as cabinet doors and homes with heavy timbers lightened by the use of glass, were stylised with sunbursts, foliage and various flower species.

Another aspect of Art Deco which is essential in todays design elements is multipurpose design; the original Art Deco furniture was true to their geometric and sleek design and were highly functional as well as representing elegant simplicity.

Think of a headboard with incorporated bed side tables or side cupboards with a lamp stand or cigrette holder doubling as a coffee /occasional table.

The not so humble cocktail cabinet; borne from that wonderful pasttime; the cocktail party , was devleoped to house essential items for a maritini as well as accommodating a gramaphone to play the latest Josephine Baker. Multipurposing at its best.

We have restored many and varied pieces from this era

From the humble occasional table , to the essential vanity unit to the more complex gramaphone , these pieces were carefully and faithfully restored to bring out the best of that era ,as well as using modern practices to ensure they will go on for many more decades

Clients often request design characterstics from this period as well using the crisp symmetrical forms from this era to using timbers reminiscent of this era including birds eye maple . With subtle additions of plain frosted glass instead of the more colourful glass originals the Art Deco mood is enhanced whilst giving each furniture item its own personality .

One of our favourite era’s we relish the opportunity to restore or create pieces of furniture that are reminiscent of this wonderful age, when things were a little simpler.

Restoring the glory Art Deco multi purpose sidetable

Carefully restored Dressing table with accompanying stool

Simple curved lines with an Art Deco aesthetic for this stunining kitchen cabinet

Beautifully designed and made by Stuart this Art Deco Inspired entertainment unit is a crowd pleaser

Simply elegant Sideboards

Sideboard/credenza/buffet table, whatever you prefer to call this item of furniture in the house, its importance in the family home never waivers.

The not so humble sideboard , orginated around the 18th Century and became a more commom household item during the 19th century when households became more propserous , and the accumulation of material items grew.

The sideboard or buffet table, apart from looking wonderful should be an extension of the room that it is in.

It should be a part of the room’s personality and decor.

There are so many options when it comes to the sideboard; glass door, glass shelved, open storage, backlighting anyone ? the options are endless but at the end of the day the sideboard should be able to store all the wonderful precious items we use for food ocassions.

The perfect platter, the fantastic china picked up in a garage sale, the tablecloth that has been in the family for generations; they should all be stored safely and have the ability to keep these precious items in pristine condition.

Over the years, we have made variants of the sideboard, each with the owners tastes and preferences in mind.

They are always a wonderful addition to the home.

Classic appeal, sideboard custom made to blend beautifully with existing cabinetry

Night ambience created by the addition of lighting

Sleek and elegant. Minimal yet functional

Beautiful recycled timber with the addition of frosted glass is the perfect addition to this Queenslander

The richness of mahogany and beautiful carved features make this sideboard an outsanding additon to the room

Gorgeous Accessories

Creating wonderful accessories for the home ,has been a priority for us once we decided to embark on building our gallery …

We wanted to make classic pieces, that would be durable as well as beautiful and functional.

Pieces that would suit any decor and transform the grazing table to a thing of beauty and highlight the great fresh produce that we have in Australia, right across the 4 seasons …

Our serving boards are a thing of beauty, made from Australian timbers, in classic designs , in rich timbers and are just wonderful for any occasion , albeit a cheese platter on a Friday evening, or an afternoon tea with nan.

And of course made right here in our Brisbane Workshop

Elegant take away, our teak sushi platters take it to a whole new level

Spoilt for choice … hazelnut slice or Lemon Meringue ? or both ?

What better way to enhance glorious seasonal fruit

Our Grand Opening ... July 6

Its been a while in the making …

We have been working on the build of our gallery, along with curating beautiful products .

We are so pleased to announce that our gallery is ready and our official opening is this Saturday July 6.

In our gallery you will find beautiful timber furniture

Gorgeous accessories for the home.

Original Bywater Design products you wont see mass produced

Designed and made in our Brisbane Workshop.

An exquisite collection of homewares

Beautiful timber servery products

Our gallery is ready

We invite you to come down , enjoy or coffee or a chai and peruse our wonderful collection of homegrown homewares …

6/32 Zillmere rd

Boondall Brisbane

10 - 3 pm

July 6

The timely process of restoration

Restoration or refurbishment is the process of repairing, fixing , modifying, repainting and repolishing an item of furniture.

It can often be a lengthy process, as repairs especially to antique pieces that are hundreds of years old require skill, patience and craftsmanship to ensure every detail is completed successfully whilst often keeping the delicate infrastructure intact, especially the case with veneers, paper thin and fragile, the successful repair of these can really make or break a treasured heirloom.

The argument for restoration is a strong one, sustainably wise and of great sentimental value, the journey of restoration is often an emotional one.

The adventure of restoration provides us with such a sense of satisfaction . Being involved in our clients’ family history and being able to restore a much loved item of furniture for them is one of the best things about our work. Being privvy to such an evocative journey reinforces our love of why we do the things we do.

There is so much history in each and every piece, a tapesty of lives interwoven and we are honoured to be able to enrich each and every piece of furniture, albeit it a tiny child’s chair, or grandmother’s dressing table, a great great grandfathers chair or a favourite aunty’s dining table .

Restoration is a gift for now and the future

A forgotten dressing table , some would say has seen better days …

An old dressing table is now a gorgeous new bathroom vanity