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.

Mid century Stereo Cabinet

Inspired by the clean lines of the Mid Century , we created this beautiful Rosewood Stereo Cabinet…

Simple in design but big on style , there is room for the all important vinyl collection and all the other media components that culiminate in a beautiful sound experience

Simple elegance

Sometimes, things dont have to be complicated …

Mid Century Lounge Chair Restoration

Mid Century Decor can be very generally characterised by the use of clean lines, curves and smooth surfaces to create an understated look.

Bold colour fabrics against a neutral coloured wall was often synomous with mid century decor.

Form follows function.

So bearing all these facts in mind we mindfully restored these wonderful iconic chairs.

To keep their structural integrity , we took care in our restoration processes …

Mid century lounge chair just before their restoration

Careful dismantling prior to restoration

The Process for restoration involved careful dismantling of all pieces, removal of existing finish ( in this instance paint)

reglueing and repairing where needed.

New fabric was chosen by the client to compliment the wonderful richness of the grain which was quite eveident once the paint had been removed and the fabulous blue hues co ordinated wonderfully with their existing furniture

Just stunning

The end result is nothing short of spectacular.

These chairs classic shape and character of these chairs has not been changed, they have just been treated to some TLC to ensure a long and happy life .

For some more restoration magic have a peek at our Restoration Gallery for great inspiration of what you can achieve .

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

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