It's great to see students working on their projects outside of class hours... Bruce recently completed this wonderful Silky Oak Bar.
Congratulations Bruce - it looks great. We will be over for drinks soon ...
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 .
::Model no 14 :: Fast history facts
From the ashes of the Industrial Revolution , the Modern Age moved furniture production out of small workshops and into factories for mass production on a grand scale. Arguably, the first Modern piece of furniture mass-produced was by Prussian furniture maker Michael Thonet (1796-1871)
After 25 years experimenting with bending steamed wood and producing innovative "bentwood" furniture, Michael Thonet and his sons created the No. 14 as the first mass-produced seating furniture on the market. Going into production in 1859 , this chair has become a certified design classic, selling more than 50 million units between 1860 and 1930..
Today this iconic chair is produced in various styles, materials right across the globe.
2Pak :: A most versatile finish
At Bywater Design, we proudly offer a wide variety of finishes for both our restoration and custom making pieces. Certain circumstances may dictate a particular finish, but in a number of areas especially with furniture production there is a wide range of options available. Most recently we have seen a big demand for 2pak finishes. 2pak polyurethane This 2 part finish is a non yellowing finish with outstanding resistance to most elements, and can take a considerable amount of wear and tear. It has excellent durability to UV thus providing maximum gloss and colour retention. The fact that this finish can be made up in most any colour or hue makes it ideal for colour matching existing furniture or highlighting focal points in the home/office/restaurant . Some outstanding recent 2pak finishes completed in the workshop
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For any questions or further information regarding 2pak finish please do not hesitate to call us on PH: 3256 9000
Its all in the detail ... Carving for Churchie.
Bywater Design are proud to participate in the celebration of the hundred year anniversary of The Anglican Church Grammar School Churchie; in addition to previous work we completed; shown here , we were delighted to have recently completed work on 2 Mahogany (plantation) Sideboards These sideboards would be made to match existing furniture and to include 16 traditional carvings.
Carvings are a wonderful addition to selected furniture pieces, they highlight the design, create a sense of drama and formality and their design can be based on a coat of arms, heirloom, flora etc thus evoking a deep sense of history and character within the piece.
Stuart was very happy to take up the wonderful challenge and opportunity of hand carving each of these 16 carvings.. .
Another wonderful example of Student Work !
The recently completed project by Chris, a wonderful long-term student; shows the amazing diversity of projects that our students complete... Incorporating the stunning native bird scene into this porthole like window, highlights both the rich colours of the stained glass as well as the natural hue of the recycled silky oak timber that was used.
Well done Chris, we look forward to seeing your next project.
Bathroom Love ...
This recently completed vanity is a real show stopper. Blessed with not only good looks, this vanity is built for longevity and to withstand heat , humidity and other various elements that a bathroom experiences. This styish unit is made from Mahogany and finished with black granite for durability and maximum visual appeal.
Of course the tapware we use is Australian Made.
::Bedroom Makeover::
Frustrated at the lack of space and storage, some lovely clients required bedroom furniture that was both highly functional, and incorporated classic styling to enhance and blend in with their existing decor... American Ash was the timber chosen for its superior grain, versatility, longevity and colour hue that marries perfectly with the colour scheme of the bedroom.
The large chests of drawers, and bedside tables included dovetailing and soft close runners for ease of movement and will withstand constant use for many years to come
The Queen Bed with its large Slats is accompanied by 2 Bedside Cabinets.
The Bed side cabinets, offer much-needed personal storage space and complete the symmetry that is needed to give balance and flow to the room.
::Apprenticeship Achievements !!
Shaun, who recently began his 3 yrd of his apprenticeship recently completed his theory module learning new leg and rail construction and timber selection processes.
During this time Shaun successfully made a coffee table and chair, using New Guinea Rosewood, Shaun has put his knowledge to wonderful practical use, constructing furniture of a high calibre
Well done Shaun on excellent craftmanship !!!
