There is so much satisfaction gleamed from restoring a wonderful piece of furniture to its former glory.
Art Deco Coffee Table Restoration
Chair Restoration...
A traditonal Kitchen Restoration...
The kitchen, arguably the most hardworking, central point of the home deserves to be treated to some special attention now and again.
An update, extra storage, new modifications inject new life into a kitchen, evolving with the family needs
Using recycled hoop pine ( from a dismantled 1800's home in inner city Brisbane) this kitchen was restored, to include an impressive butlers pantry, extra bench space and more storage and a new design in keeping with this traditional Queenslanders charm and character.
Wooden Surfboard Restoration
Combining his love of both surfing and woodwork...Stuart was very excited when approached to restore an Australian classic 1950's wooden hollow surfboard... The board as shown below was in a fairly bad state of disrepair and needed significant restoration and restructuring.
This fantastic retro board is an Okinuee . The Okinuee, is the Australian version of the iconic Malibu Surfboard. These surfboards were first made just after The Melbourne Olympics in 1956, when Aussie surfers, unable to source Balsawood used Hollowed Plywood instead and so the Okinuee was born.
The only distinguishing future on this particular Okinuee is the name Babs ;inscribed on the front.... The name is most likely to have been a tribute to the maker or the surfer for his girlfriend /wife... lucky Babs !!
The extensive restoration and repair process included; repair and reglue centre structure, repair to centre rails, modifications to the crossbeam, nose and tail sections to secure the main frame. Plywood panels were then fixed with screws and glue, and a draining plug added.
An extensive sand, and repolish completed the overhaul of Babs.
Caring for your furniture in Winter...
With the onset of winter, the temperature drops and so does the 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 .
Student Restoration Project...
Few people have a vision of what an old worn out wardrobe can look like if converted into a bookcase We have completed several conversion projects like these for clients and they have always been amazed at the finished piece .
So we were delighted when one of our Woodworking Students, chose to take up the challenge himself and convert his old Silky Oak Cabinet into something new and wonderful.
David was not deterred at all by the processes and time involved to complete such a makeover.
With the expert guidance from teacher Dave, David then went about on his restoration journey of stripping the old finish, removing the old mirror ...
In addition new shelves were made and fitted
Then the cabinet was sanded and David polished the cabinet to match his existing decor.
The finished product looks absolutely amazing.
Well done David on a remarkable job and for persisting to achieve what you set out to do.
You should be proud of your accomplishments.
We cant wait to see you next project !!
Restoring Churchie...
The Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie ) situated in East Brisbane has a rich history steeped in tradition and education. Established in 1912 in Toowong Qld and moved later in 1918 to East Brisbane, the School has been undergoing transformation and restoration as part of its' centenary celebrations.
Bywater Design are proud to be associated with the schools' refurbishment.
The most recent work undertaken were the restoration of the Entrance Doors to the Darnell Building...
Constant exposure to the harsh westerly afternoon sun, heat and UV extremes have left these doors in poor condition.
The existing doors were completely removed for a complete restoration at the Bywater Design Workshop. Temporary plywood doors were installed for security and practical elements.
Cleaning 100 years of grime, dust oil etc was a very ardeous but rewarding task.
The doors were finished in 2 pak marine epoxy exterior grade, highly suitable for harsh weather conditions.
Restoration now completed the temporary doors were removed and the new and much improved Darnell Doors were re installed and will maintain their excellent condition for many many years to come .
A little too much rain ...
Whilst the rain was lovely and well needed , the after effects of torrential downpours can and will play havoc with timber furniture.
You might have noticed in the last couple of days, drawers and doors not opening properly/easily/ and they almost seem to have increased in size.
This is due to the increase in humidity in the air swelling the delicate timber fibres.
Timber acts like a sponge around water absorbing or releasing moisture at any opportunity. Very few timber finishes will be 100 % water tight, and there will always be some form of water intake .
What to do about this ??
One of the best things is to give it time to dry out; if possible turn on the air conditioning (not on extreme cold) and not directly in front of the furniture ] this will encourage the drying process.
Never ever expose the furniture to direct sunlight as this will just compound the problem ! (drying out not only on the surface but aslo being hit by the sun causing it to cup or bow and even split )
With a little patience your furniture should return to normal, but if the problem does persist, please do not hesitate to call us on Ph; 07 3256 9000 and we can help you …
Everything Old is New and Beautiful Again...
This gorgeous 1940's Hutch, has seen many good times. In the 1970's it was lovingly given a coat or two of white gloss paint by its owner. Fast forward to 2011 and this gorgeous vintage kitchen hutch was in desperate need of some major care.
We took it back to where it all began... stripping the gloss paint, inserting new mesh on the sides, installing new hardware and polishing it to a mid walnut colour to blend harmoniously with the clients' existing decor...
Voila...
>A Most Delicate Process...
> Fine Furniture Restoration is a most intricate and complex process, involving detailed and fine work resulting in many hours bringing centuries old pieces of furniture back to their resplendent original (if not better) condition.
Our Friends at Unique France requested such a transition take place for a stunning
Transition Style Commode.
This precious piece circa Paris 1880 was in need of extensive restoration..
The detailed and complicated marquetry was in desperate need of repair and the Commode was literally showing all of its 130 years age
The high calibre of antiques at Unique France demanded nothing less than the following processes for Bywater Design to underake...
*Repair and reglue Veneers that were lifting .
*Replace veneers that were missing including inlays
*Repair broken joints and reglue
*Clean original polish
*Apply polish to new veneers and colour match
The professional restoration surpassed all expectations and returned this Transition Style Commode to its
original glory, The Brèche d'Alepwith (The Marble Sarcolin obtained from the quarry in the Pyrenees) uses its brown and yellow composition to highlight and complement the richness of the marquetry and the inlays.
This commode now takes pride of place in its new home but for more splendid antiques of the 18th century and beyond , we invite you to peruse the impressive collection at
Unique France .
Naturally, for all your restoration requirements please Contact the Team at Bywater Design for a complementary assessment of your furniture.
