Entertainment Unit for City Apartment

Apartment Living  often means minimal space and downsizing  on items such as stereo, tv, audio and media components and having little space to display treasures, photos etc... But that need not be the case; In this instance Bywater Design was able to incorporate clever design with maximum storage resulting in a clean, modern functional entertainment/media unit that screams style

A sliding door ensures you can display your favourite treasures or if need be closed to hide what is behind

And on the left side housing all important visual compenents.

The Bottom half of the unit has a push to open dropdown drawer.

With 4 drawers this gives ample storage for dvd, cd, blu rays etc etc

All power points /cables are neatly and safely housed at the back of the unit .

This clever Entertainment Unit certainly delivers on the wow factor !!!

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...

:::Creative Monday:::

Monday; - time to share a bit of crazy...

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Making a Statement with Upholstry

Designing a lounge suite that is classic, yet modern, stylish but would not date and most importantly be very comfortable to spend hours reading,  were the important aspects required for our lovely clients. In collaboration with Stuart a design evolved that worked well with their decor, a design that would be enhanced by striking upholstry . Using recyled Tasmanian Oak these gorgeous lounge room furniture pieces now take pride and place in a very happy  home.

The solid timber construction coupled with professional upholstry ensures that these pieces remain in excellent condition for many lounging  years to come

Out of The Ordinary...

Something to brighten up the garden ??

We Have a Winner...World Skills Australia !

We are pleased and proud to announce that our hardworking 2nd year apprentice Shaun has won the  World Skills Australia 2011 Competition Brisbane Region - Cabinet Making Section.

Its Official - 1st Place

The  competition involved competitors completing  a spice rack ; - the finished piece was to include dovetailed drawers and a rebated back .

 Shaun impressed the judges with  his efficiency, professional use of machinery and  safe work practices.  The end result was a finished piece  that is testament to Shaun's  hard work and enthusiasm for learning that he has shown in the Bywater Design workshop over the last 2 years !!

Spice Rack - hoop pine with plywood back .

Well done Shaun - 1st place

Congratulations Shaun !!

 

 

 

 

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Designed and Made...By Students

The students  of Bywater Design School of Fine Furniture continually make us proud with their ongoing achievements.  We love sharing their journeys , their finished pieces as it is inspiring for both teacher and students... The recently completed Qld Maple Entertainment Unit by Bruce, highlights the construction techniques, dovetailing and finishing methods that Bruce has learnt in class...

 

Congratulations Bruce on Designing and Making your Entertainment Unit !

If you would like information on Creating your own beautiful furniture Have a look here .

 

Friday Chilling...

Its Friday, time to slow down.  Time to relax.  There is really no better way than shooting the breeze in a hammock...

Wave Hammock - seriously cool

 

 

~~Tree Life ~~ Jarrah ~~

Stuart was thrilled and proud to be a part of the Great South East  Channel  7 feature on Recycled Timber  - September 4.  When asked  by presenter Martin Bowerman what was his favourite timber species, Stuart was quick to reply ..

".Jarrah ; -   for its many wonderful properties. It does everything right." 

A big statement, with so many wonderful species out there - some we know many we dont know.

 So in the spirit of learning, of informing, entertaining and enlightening we shall embark on disovering the wonderful world of trees...

1)   Jarrah or Eucalyptus Marginata is one of the most important hardwoods of Australia.   "Marginata" relates to the light colored vein around the edge of the leaf.  Jarrah is one of many species of Eucalypt.  The flowers have a magnificent scent and pollinate every other year.    The Jarrah tree is adaptable, using its long complex root and tube  system to store carbydrates and other nutrients thus enabling a young Jarrah tree to grow back after a fire and to tolerate and survive in a harsh drought climate.

The Jarrah Tree can live to an amazing 500 years.

 It is found principally  in the south West of Western Australia.  This versatile hardwood grows to an impressive 30- 40  metres in height and a mammoth 2 metres in diameter.  Jarrah produces a valuable dark durable timber.  In recent years,  natural strands of Jarrah have suffered serious damage from a soil fungus which attacks and destroys the fine feeding roots. 

The gorgeous deep patinas range form red to deep brown, the texture is course and generally straight grained.  Is is for these reasons that we favour using Jarrah in many instances.  Its versatilty, ease of machining and adherance to adhesives and  polishes and lacquers make this Aussie hardwood a Bywater Design Favourite. 

Renew, re use, Recycle...

At the Bywater Design Workshop, we always endeavour to use reclaimed or recyled timber.  This option offers so many advantages...  Offsetting and minimising our carbon footprint,

Using materials that would otherwise be thrown on the scrapheap and offering our clients aged timber that has been weathered, dried and shows character, charm and deep patina that is synomous with recycled timber.

Recently, a client requested a hall table for their coastal home... The brief was that it had to be; aesthitcally pleasing to the eye, fit within space constraints,  and most importantly  the timber sourced had to be of a recycled nature.

After design finalisation, we were able to source some recyled hoop pine that was salvaged from a 90 year old home in Paddington... in this instance the rafters of said home were saved from the rubbish pile and proved to be an excellent material for this particular project. 

 

 

The clients were ecstatic with their new Bywater Design furniture .   And new life was breathed into forgotten timber, giving further delight for generations to come...

The not so humble Ladder...

The Ladder is a practical yet stylish solution to many space/storage problems in the home.  With the clever addition of a solid ladder, additional space can be accessed from various floors.

Of course when your book collection increases , so does the need for a bookcase.  Solid bookcases are a masterful addition to any home, housing treasured collections, artifacts and antiques .  Coupled with a ladder for those hard to reach items ... the bookcase becomes the central point in the room

Of course, not all ladders need to be a big bold statement but no matter their size ladders ,create a style, a feel in a room that is truly unique...

The Art of Learning

Our very popular Woodworking Classes  are now in their  7th year  !  We enjoy seeing our students learn new skills and nurture their passion for woodwork .  Over the course of this time we have been lucky enough to teach students from all demographics and from all over Brisbane including The Gold and Sunshine Coasts . The high standard to which our students produce work is testament to their willingness to learn and the dedication to our craft.

One such student, who displays these qualities is Daniel.

Daniel is a vibrant and energetic gentleman in his 90's !  ! Daniel has been a student under the expert guidance of David for well over a year.

During this time, Daniel has produced work of a very high standard.

Apart form his love of woodworking, Daniel is a fierce golfer and enjoys learning Latin Dancing !!!

We would like to congratulate Daniel on his enthusiasm, joy and happiness he contributes to the class.  He is an inspiration .

Flights of Fancy...

As designers we love inspiration.  We love imagination.  We love things that are far flung from the realms of everyday life. Here are a few that have captured us lately...

The Asto Turf Chair - yes this chair has been covered with extreme precision with astro turf.  A definite statement.

Maybe not as comfortable as a regular chair but this lounge actually made from a bale of hay is certainly displaying individuality.

Perspex chairs, a talking point definitely but their durability maybe in question...

Not sure if this is real or an incredible illusion but what a striking visual impact this table makes.  the colour has a lot to do with the punch it makes.

We have had lots of fun acquiring these images.  If you have any pictures you would like to share with us we would love to hear from you ; email;  enquiries@bywaterdesign.com.au

Images; 1, 2 and 3 sourced from;  DesignMilk

Image 4;  Visual ID

Clean, White and Fresh

Using 2Pac as the preferred finish, a Brisbane couple were ecstatic with their entertainment/storage unit. Practical, yet stylish and harmoniously working with the existing furniture, this functional item of furniture will please for many years to come.

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>Corporate Designs...

>Late last year, Bywater Design was approached by Bally Cara Retirement Village on the Redcliffe Peninsula to fit out their Corporate Guest area.The goal was to furnish the client receiving area with lounge chairs, coffee table and side cabinet.  After thorough consultation, we were able to design lounges with both comfort and style and incorporate  the clean lines of these chairs with the coffee table.

The whole fresh look is enhanced by the use of the cream coloured textured upholstery, highlighting the beautiful Jarrah timber used and the design structure of the chair. All pieces were finished with a 2pac  finish for appearance and longevity. For all corporate design enquiries please contact us at The Bywater Design Workshop

>Creating Style and Glamour...

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Design reminescent of the Art Deco period, these stunning pieces for a formal yet comfortable Lounge Room highlight the richness and versatility of Qld Maple.
  Coupled with a cream textured upholstry the end result showcases the simplicity and complexity of the design process.

>White for dramatic effect....

>Our clients love all the options and choices that are available to them with our custom making service.

Timber selection - new or recycled, timber species preferences, as well as the design concepts that we encorporate into every furniture piece all make the journey of custom making a very exciting and rewarding for our clients (and for us at BywaterDesign as well !)

The decision and options also extend into the finish of the piece, lacquer, oil , wax, limewashing, distressed paint,  are all finishes that can really enhance both the furniture piece and the room that it is in.
Stunnng examples of how the right finish can enhance the decor can be seen below;

American White Ash - Limewashed

American Oak - distressed with Antique White USA .

>Kitchen Grandeur...

>Bywater Design are always happy to restore, makeover and completely re make kitchens.  The kitchen, probably the most hardworking, central point of the home deserves to be treated to some special attention now and again.
This inner city home is one of the latest new kitchens  that Bywater Design very proudly recently completed.

>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.