(07) 3256 9000 | enquiries@bywaterdesign.com.au

The colours of summer

 

With steamy summer days mixed in with the occasional storm , mother nature is giving up lots to be thankful for

Those first blooms of frangipanis are always a welcome sight

Witht the longer days and the changing light , there is opportunity for some beautiful sunset moments

Cloudy days make for perfect sunsets …

the magestic fanlike appearance of the Poinciana tree

You know Christmas is around the corner, when the showtoping Poinciana trees begin to flower.

Their beautiful fan like appearance make for wonderful shade , reminds me to slow down and just enhale the beauty of mother nature .

 

Surf’s up for sunny summer with our wooden surfboards

Dont be fooled by our tongue twister title …

We are gearing up for a cool blue sunny summer (fingers and toes crossed)

slice of paradise

Any opportunity this season you can find us at the beach, surfing or sup’ing dependant on the (lack of) waves and so we want our wooden board students to enjoy the stoke as much as we do so we are putting the final coats of glassing onto our student boards from our last class.

Our students have put in the hours and produced simply beautiful hollow wooden surfboards.

We cant wait for our new students to feel that ultimate experience of riding a wave in a board that they have made themselves …

create your own stoke

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Adored and Restored

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Restoration provides a chance to recover a neglected , forgotten piece of furniture.

Or improve or alter the function of a piece of furniture for eg, modify a table for its new surrounds, repolish a chair to give it new life -or to match its decor

The options are endless when it comes to restoration , using existing furniture and turning it into something wonderful is a fabulous concept that assists in minimising our ever growing throw away mentality as well as honing in on sentimental value.

Restoring a piece of furntiure that holds sentimental value , making those precious child hood memories come alive is one of the best things we can do for ourselves .

Restoration provides us the restorer with so much satisfaction as well; from hearing the back story of a piece, feeling the depth of its sentimental worth and then repairing , restoring , repolishing that piece of furniture, knowing that its journey is not over, we are just providing the tools for its longevity.

And when the work is complete, seeing the joy and happiness from our clients’ makes it all the worthwhile.

Our lovey Japanese Low table has been beautifully restored

Kitchen pine chair looks amazing after we removed the old existing paint

this 1940’s typewriter cover bought over from Hamburg has been in the family since then and is now ready to hand over to the next generation

Just a few of the beautiful pieces that we are thrilled to be able to restore

#lovewhatwedo

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A gift to last a lifetime...

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Our client came to us with a vision of creating a beautiful keepsake for his groomsmen.

A personal and unique way of saying “thankyou”.

A timeless present that would always be a reminder of such a happy occasion .

What better way to encaputure this than a beautiful keepsake “treasure” box, a gift that that will evoke pure delight and joy.

Our classic styled boxes are made from solid rosewood and designed to house watches, cufflinks and other personal effects.

The makings of something beautiful

Of course there will be dovetails

Adding that personal touch

To make these boxes a little more special we lasered each of the groomsmen’s initials along with a personal message to really capture the wonder of the occasion.

those glorious details make all the difference

Each box carefully assembled and polished

Each box a unique and personal heirloom

Handcrafted with care

A beautiful and thoughtful gift to last a lifetime

#lovewhatwedo

October Wooden Surfboard Workshop

Our last workshop for 2022 ( how can that be already ?) and what a wonderful 4 days it was …

Our students came and bonded over glue ups, sanding and shaping .

Each student prior to class chose the board style and shape according to their personal preferences, which makes the creative journey all the more sweeter as the board they are making is entirely what they want !

Escaping into the moment of shaping

Team work = Fun times

always room for a laugh

We were stoked to be able to have Scott our Mates helping Mates winner in this class.

Scott generously dontated to our flood appeal and was the lucky drawn winner who won entry into our Surfboard Making competition . It was great to be able to welcome Scott back to the “board room”

The October Crew

At the end of the 4 days, our wonderful team had worked hard to create their beautiful boards.

Its now time for the glassing, where Stuart will put the “icing on the cake” for these boards and really let them shine

The October Graduates

It is always a joy to share our passion and knowledge of woodworking and to be able to make new friends along the creative journey is one of the most satisfactory parts of what we do

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Mid century Stereo Cabinet

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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 …

Restoration of our European Beech Lounge

Our beautiful Euro beech lounge , we designed and made well over 10 years ago, has stood the test of time.

Its weathered the weather, a growing family , treasured pooches and now with a move to an inner city apartment, it was time for a little makeover to bring it into the now.

With a beautiful Lilac fabric , the original fabric on this lounge was the perfect addition to this Traditional Queenslander home

The airy fabric provides a beautiful backdrop to this sun filled room and accentuates the classic design of the lounge .

By changing the fabric, the whole dynamic and ambience of the lounges changes …

New fabric with a classic clean look is a wonderful accompanient to the fresh outdoor view.

With a subtle nod to the nautical, it strikes the perfect balance of sophistication and practicality.

A fresh new look for an existng lounge.

Re upholstery is a wise choice, it provides a fresh new look to a favourite piece of furniture.

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The making of a special Hi Fi Cabinet

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Zebrano ( or Zebrawood) is a stunning hardwood timber so named for its distinctive stripes and was the timber of choice for our recent custom made Hi Fi Cabinet.

Dating back to 1773 from West Africa this timber with its pale and dark stripes give a visual impact to any furniture item

To compliment the Zebrano we used Massacar Ebony veneers, it is also known as Golden Ebony for the black stripes overlaying golden tones.

With two rich exotic timbers, we knew this cabinet was going to be something special.

The Macassar Ebony veneers, with those gorgeous contrasting stripes

The sheer beauty of Zebrano timber.

The design features included fold back front doors

Waterfall top - side grains matching

brass front edges

satin finish with uv protector

Push close doors

Brass on front shelf details and designed with the surrounding aesthetics top of mind …

A sophisticated additon to the loungeroom

Those beautiful waterfall matching grains . Beauty in the detail

The brass edges give an added depth of glamour to the internal shelves

When the inside looks just as good as the outside

With a rich combination of warm exotic hues and warm blonde tones our Hi Fi Cabinet was made not just for its beautiful looks but to house Hi Fi components for the ultimate in sophisticated sounds

. A timber heirloom for the ages and the ears

Our Winter Wooden Surfboard Making Workshop

Making the most of the of the sunny winter days ( a rarity at the moment ) we welcomed our 5 surfboard students who came from all parts of Queensland to enjoy 4 days of learning and fun with us.

Our students chose their pattern and board sizes prior to class , ensuring they would be making the board that not only appealed aesthically but a board they could comfortably ride in many conditions.

The first days were spent glueing up ribs and rails and making sure there were no pegs lost in the process :)

The all important glueing of the skins followed by a night of rest for our hardworking students who were on the go the whole day prepping for this important time

Shaping the frames - an integral part of the board making process, precision counts

After four days of woodworking love our eager hardworking students emerged with their very own beautiful timber surfbards, lovingly made with their own hands . Many of our students have no woodworking experience but after the 4 days the acomplishment and happiness levels were high.

A job well done !!

Congratulations to our students who have made their own Hollow Timber Surfboard

A fresh new bathroom vanity

Our restoration projects arent restricted to the living room and dining room, basically any timber item we can restore and bring back to its former glory

Case in point for our clients who wanted a bathroom makeover.

They loved their Tasmanian Oak vanity and cupboard, but after 20 plus years it was in need of some TLC …

A wonderful big bathroom, but needed some repairs and a new lease of life

things have gotten a little water damaged over the years

So we repaired where needed, added some lovely new hardware and finished off with a beautiul polish

A beautiful fresh new look for this Tasmanian Oak Bathroom

A gorgeous finished project, we are glad our clients had the foresight to restore their beloved bathroom vanity

Restoration, fresh out of the workshop

Re use, repurpose, restore, reclaim, recover, salvage, recycle, all words synomous with restoring and reparing existing furniture

It just really makes good sense , to improve something that you already love. The joy can only get better, right ?

Plus bonus points for doing something wonderful for our planet.

The pieces we have completed have been repaired, restored, repolished and sometimes re upholstered according to our client’s wishes

Beautiful silky oak foot stool restored with elegant new upholstery

A stunning makeover for our mid century lounge chair

Restored to its pristine glory… A beautiful side cabinet has been given some well needed TLC

It is such a delight to be able to restore these wonderful pieces for our happy clients

#lovewhatwedo

Autumn Furniture Making Classes

It was a pleasure to be able to welcome our May Furniture Making Students .

Prior to class each student had given careful consideration as to what sort of table they would like to make.

Fitting in with existing furniture and spacing was a priority to enable the piece to be able to be enjoyed and used and not just merely a household item that is forgotten or impractical and destined to live a long life in the garage.

Our students bought their enthusiasm in bucketloads and enjoyed two days of learning, creativity ,making new friends and making a beautiful solid timber hall table .

A well thought out design is the best way to start

Essential measuring prior to cutting , an old saying but an accurate one

Safe and proper machine guidance is all part of the fun

The value of a good glue up , the foundation of any making work

The smiles say it all ! Happy Woodworkers

Congrulations to our Wonderful May Graduates, what a wonderful accomplishment

Our newly minted woodwork graduates have made us proud with their enthusiasm , dedication and wilingness to learn . We cant wait to see what they do next

Platter life...

Like most people, we thoroughly enjoy a beautiful cheese board with a bold or red or champagne on the weekend.

There is nothing like a sharp cheddar, the silkiness of a rich Brie or the earthy nutty flavor of Truffle Cheese.

There is a cheese for every occasion and with such joyful accompanients such as fresh juicy figs, red seedless grapes, bountiful walnuts, and the ultimate fresh bread stick our love of cheese knows no boundaries.

For this reason we developed our platters and cheese boards.

Created using specialised timbers and designed to enhance the wonderful array of fresh food we have available , our platters will make any occasion a joyous one .

You wont see our platters everywhere, they are not mass produced and of course are proudly Qld Made in our workhshop.

A natural beauty

Our March Furniture Making Workshop

It was with much joy that we welcomed our first students for our March Introduction to Furniture Making Workshop…

Our 6 eager students began by finalising the design on their table, albeit a small coffee table, a sofa table or a minimalist desk.

In our class, students are encouraged to work out exactly what they need/like for their own circumstances ie a smaller table for that tiny nook in the corner, desk for after dinner work, or a coffee table for the centre of the loungeroom. We offer our students choices and encourage them to flex their design muscle so that they can create something that is exactly what they need .

We also offer a variety of available timbers , so that along with the design aspect the hue and ambience of the timber is something that will work in their home and that they will be truly happy with …

The design process, an integral part of the creation journey

So much satisfaction from starting your first project

Learning traditional techniques is the basis of good construction

Satisfaction out of learning a new skill is immense

First part of the journey, its definitely something to smile about

Beautiful finished tables

Our students worked dilegently over the 2 Saturday’s to design, learn , create and be a part of something that they should all be very proud of

Beautiful timber heirlooms for their home.

Our next Introduction to Furniture Making class is on May 7 and 14

Two fun filled Saturdays, if you would like to secure a position, please enquire

We would love to help you discover your inner woodworker

Mates helping mates

One of the many reasons why we love this great country, is the propensity for individuals to just get in and help one another, without hesitation , without fanfare , it’s just all in and get the job done.

And nowhere has this been demonstrated so strongly as in the last week …

So many acts of kindness and bravery have been demonstrated, it is both inspiring and humbling.

Like you   we have felt frustrated at wanting to do more to help flood victims get back on their feet as soon as possible to rebuild their lives, homes and businesses.

We know that by raising as much funds as possible will go a long way in helping to do this.

So welcome to Mates Helping Mates

Our plan is  to raise money by raffling a position in one of our 4 day Wooden Surfboard Workshops

This will included, making any board from our range the (winners choice of course,)

Albeit a 7ft fish or an impressive  10 ft mal, the board will then be beautifully glassed by Stuart at no extra cost to the lucky board maker.

Entry is super easy, head over to our sister site Wooden Surfboard Com.au to purchase your ticket/s

We will use random.org to draw our lucky winner and entries close March 31 st, with the winner announced and notificed that night .

Please know that 100 % of funds from the Mates Helping Mates Go Fund goes directly to the Givit Australia official flood raising organisation .

We thank you for your generous support in helping those that could do with some mateship right now

The finer points

*The winner has enrolment in our 4 Day Wooden Surfboard Workshop.

All costs, materials tuition and glassing are included.

*Valid for 12 months at any of our Surfboard Classes

*Any board, any style any size from our Bywater Design Collection can be made

*Not redeemable for cash

Lets get together and help those in need !

Some tips for flood affected furniture

As we grapple with the aftermath of the recent floods, our thoughts go out to all those affected by this tragedy.

We hope everyone is safe and well.

As the clean up begins , there are a few simple tips you can take to help minimise the damage to flood affected furniture.

This is by no means exhaustive, but some measures you can take …

If you have a question, please reach out to us, we are only too happy to help or impart knowledge as best we can

Restoration this Summer

The last few months has seen us busy in the workshop restoring some beautiful pieces for our clients …

All of these items have a beautiful ‘back story’ a history of bygone days.

We have great joy and satisfaction in restoring these treasured pieces , so they can once again be back or if not better than their glorious original self .

Gorgeous 1920’s credenza

This 1920’s credenze , made from Cedar and has such beautiful features. Its looking ok but it could be better …

Beautiful restoration

We repaired where necessary and repolished to bring out that beautiful grain …

Our client was absoluetely thrilled with the end results.

Classic pine writing desk

Elegant pine writing desk, with so many beautiful features, but was needing some repairs and some love .

Once again we made drawer and door repairs including the top …

The power of restoration . Using what we have , taking some time to care and repair and the end results provide many more happy memories

#lovewhatwedo

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Retro Style Stereo Cabinet

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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 !