(07) 3256 9000 | enquiries@bywaterdesign.com.au
Whats happening lately
A much loved , much used gorgeous round cedar table has been in the family for years and has seen many lunches play dates and craft endeavours , but it was not time for some care…
We repaired and repolished to bring back this highly sentimental family favourite back into the now, ready for many many years of play dates fun and good times
Classic never goes out of style
Timber possesses the remarkable ability to elevate a variety of surfaces.
Consider a classic automobile dashboard as an example
. Besides its functionality, timber contributes significantly to the atmosphere, charm, and unique appeal of any surface it adorns.
In the restoration of this vintage hot rod, our choice fell upon Zebrano timber, renowned for its exquisite aesthetic.
Meticulously crafting precise templates ensured a flawless fit for the dashboard cover
. Upon confirming its perfection, we intricately cut, shaped, and meticulously sanded the piece.
The final touch of a lustrous polish brought forth its beauty and elegance. The installation, skillfully carried out by Stuart, marked the exquisite culmination of this Hot Rod's construction journey.
For the last two Saturdays , our eager students have been diligently working away - fine tuning their design skills and learning from the ground up - the fundamentlals of woodworking.
They have got their hands dirty and experiences life as a woodworker
Our enthusiastic team have made us proud - creating their beautiful tables , designed specfically for their own homes …
And the results speak for themselves
Congratulations to our graduates !!
With our beautiful sunny days and mild temperatures, Winter is the perfect time to make your own surfboard.
In our 4 day class July 18 - 21 inclusive you will master the art of creativity and be guided in all processes on making your board.
Whether this is your first foray into making a board or you are expanding your quiver - our classes factor in every possibility .
We have only a few spots left in this class - so best to act now and enrol to make the surfboard of your dreams.
And as for the end result - we will just leave these here…
But dont take our word for it …
Actions speak louder than words
Our July Wooden Surfboard Making Workshop is on July 18 and runs for four days , finishing on a high note of surboard completion on July 21
For all the good deets , contact us today
A coat of paint can make all the difference
And our recent makevoer does all that and more
Our client loves their existing furniture but felt it left their home feeling a little dated and in need of a refresh
So we repolished or should we say repainted their favourite pieces in an “off white hue of our clients choosing and the results are nothing short of amazing …
A Beautiful fresh look with a repolish !
We love when our Wooden Surfboard Students send us awesome footage when they are out in the waves having the best time
Shout out to Harry for this fab footage of him carving it up at the Sunshine Coast.
What a great way to start the week !
We are excited for our first Introduction to Woodworking class which begins this Saturday
For the next two weekends, our budding students will learn from the master craftsman (Stuart) .
They will learn the fundamentals of woodworking, increase their knowledge of timber species , hone in on their skills as a designer and create a beautiful piece of furniture for themselves.
There is nothing like hands on learning and for the next two Saturdays that is exactly what its all about…
We cannot wait
Our furniture weaves its way into our lives - it becomes part of our story so naturally we form a strong attachment to it …
So when the circumstances or lifestyle changes , its reallly wonderful to be able to have those sentimental pieces with us
Besides the strong emotional attachment it just makes good sense to be able use what we already have -especially if we love it !!
Our recent modifcation of a dining table is a wonderful example of this
Lovely Blackbutt dining table
This elegant table is just too big for our clients now, it was taking up too much space and just didnt fit their lifestyle requirements …
So we modified this table and brought about a brand new smaller simply gorgeous table
We created the new table exactly to our clients required dimensions so it will fit seamlessly into the desired area
A beautiful brand new dining table out of an existing one
The end result is just beautiful - our client is so happy being able to utilise their existing table for a fresh new lifestyle
There’s something wonderfully elegant and old world glamour associated with traditional display cabinets and some but not all are fitted with beautiful stained glass.
More often than not these cabinets are in quite a state - sometimes they have been left in the gargage or under the house for a several years.
Oh the stories these wonderful old pieces could tell …
The veneers may often be broken or damaged , the beading broken and a crack in the glass.
The finish would have been worn and scratched and they are a long way away from their original beauty.
But we love a challenge and we pride ourselves on our craftsmanship when attending to restoration.
We respect the work of the craftspeople from yesteryear and endeavour to preserve their workmanship and keep the authenticity of the piece - this is such an integral part of the restoration process - we dont want a beautiful 100 year old piece looking new we want it looking as beautiful as the first day it was made..
Our team work diligently on each piece delicately restoring and restoring its longevity.
But back to our display cabinets..
We have had the honour of working on some beautful cabinets in the last few months and the final result has been nothing short of wonderful
Happy clients with their treasured heirlooms once again ready for years of living
The sophistication and elegance of traditional display cabinets
What a wonderful 4 days …
Our budding woodworkers had an amazing time learning and developing new skills, making new friends and creating their very own wooden surfboard.
Prior to class our students chose the specifications of their board ie height and design - single fin, thruster pattern for the deck etc etc
There are many and varied considertations when it comes to making your own Surfboard.
A lot of these decisions are based on surfing experience, surf fitness and location of the surf hence each board is unique to the rider , thats what we love so much.
There is no cookie cutter board - the surfboard is made specifically for the rider (lucky them !!)
The end result on Sunday afternoon was a stunning array of hand crafted boards, made lovingly with the surfer’s own two hands
a testament to their love of the surf…
We are excited !
Tomorrow heralds the beginning of our first Surfboard Making class for 2024
During the next 4 days our students will live and breathe woodworking and surfboards
They will be emersed in an atmoshpere of learning, fun, creativity and challenges.
Making new friends, discovering a new passion and basically forgetting that the outside world exists
We cant wait to share our passion and knowledge.
Be sure to keep up to date on our socials for all the fabulous footage as our amazing students create their own wonderful wooden surfboard.
Some happy snaps from previous Surfboard Making classes.
Growing up, our client has countless memories of tree climbing adventures with the old hoop pine tree in the backyard, sadly due to not one but two instances of lightening strikes the tree had to be cut down and consequently milled.
As a result we were able to create two beautiful hoop pine desks for the family home ( as well as provide timber to a wonderful recycled dining table project last month
Apart from their beautiful ambience these desks provide essential office space and storage for the home.
We have used steel legs as per our client request and finished off with a beautiful polish to bring out the wonderful patina of the grain.
A wonderful legacy to childhood memories continue
We were so pleased to be a part of this fantastic timber recycled iniative .
We cannot wait !!
Our first class for woodworking will begin in earnest this Saturday !
Our timber masterclass , will see 6 eager students begin their journey of woodworking this weekend .
During the workshop our budding woodworkers will learn the fundamentals of woodworking .
They will become educated in timber and design , gain essential hands on knowledge in a professional workshop and craft their own timber salt and pepper shakers in a morning of fun and productivity
The importance of preserving our history cannot be underestimated and it is for this reason that we impart so much pride and satisfaction in the process of restoration.
For a much loved family heirloom the role of restoration is an important one ; it gives the special piece longevity so that it is able to be kept in the family and passed on for generations and generations.
Our case in point is this lovely travel blanket box
A special piece that has seen many a mile and many a story
We repaired and restored this and kept the integrity and authenticity of the box to keep all the wonderful markings of time
Happy First day of Autumn.
In what feel like one of the longest ( if not most humid) summers for a long time, we can hopefully soon ( but now now - because well we are in Brisbane) turn the page on some beautiful days.
When the mornings will have just the tiniest bit of freshness about them.
When the days will become a little shorter and that glorious morning sun will rise a little later.
It will become one of the loveliest times of year…
When the seasons change …
When the morning light looks a little different
Mother Nature has a beautiful way of showing off
With its rich dark chocolate hues, Ebony timber is a visual delight . An exotic hardwood that we have used for the top of our very special jewellery box.
Its beautiful patina and grain are the feature of the box lid making a wonderful first impression .
Coupled with rosewood, we have designed and made a classic keepsake
The beautiful richness of Ebony
A visual delight
With its many details our special Jewellery Box has a myriad of storage options for rings, necklaces , bracelets and other special tresures that will keep them safe and free from dust and other elements.
With its many and varied compartments, there is a place for every special keepsake.
Little things matter, our attention to detail is second to none
An exercise in craftsmanship our jewellery /keepsake box would be a beautiful addition to your home
We have been sharing our passion and knowledge of woodworking for well over 15 years in our classes.
Our introduction to Woodworking 2 Day Workshop is a popular option for many budding and experienced woodworkers, with coursed dotted through out the year.
This year we have added another class to our calendar
The Timber Homewares Masterclass
This little gem of a class is a half day event that packs a lot into the morning.
In this half day workshop, students will learn proper use of woodworking hand tools from master craftsman, gain knowledge and confidence in the woodworking workshop as well as hone in shaping skills - crafting their own timber salt and pepper shakers as well as be able to competently identity certain timber species - not bad for a few hours of learning and fun.
Once again we like to keep these classes small ( 6 students maximum) to ensure a productive yet relaxed learning environment.
Our March 23 class has sold out and so we are pleased to add an additional date to the 2024 calendar
Saturday June 22.
If you would like to dip your toes into the woodworking obsession journey, please email us for more information on this fabulous workshop
Hand crafted Salt and Pepper Shakers
there is nothing as wonderful the joy of creating something yourself
We have had the privilege of completing some beautiful restoration projects in the last few months and as always we are proud to share the wonderful results.
Our team pride themselves on their attention to detail and their quality craftmanship on all work
Albeit a chair reglue or a more complex chest of drawer restoration.
We love what we do.
This unique ladder has been restored into a beautiful object d’arrt for our client. We are loving the brass details
How cute are these little silky oak stools - a beautiful keepsake restored to bring out that stunning grain.
A truly unique heirloom, this 1920’s miner’s couch has definitely seen better days but with some extensive repairs and a beautiful repolish this couch is waiting for its upholstery to complete its magnificent makeover
With its funny sounding name , you would be forgiven for not knowing about this homegrown hardwood.
Paulownia tree in all its flowering glory
A native from Asia and with its name derived from Queen Anna Pavlovna of Russia (1795-1865), Paulownia timber is fast becoming one of the most versatile hardwoods in Australia.
Lighter than Balsa and able to be used in all manner of aquatic sports and activities , including our very own Bywater Surf Timber Surfboards, Paulownia timber is a hardwood that is a pale blonde in colour and with a straight grain making is ideal for woodworking use over a wide spectrum of projects.
Paulownia is the main timber we use for our beautiful hollow wooden surfboards. Paulownia wood is known for its high strength to weight ratio, dimensional stability, and hardness, making it ideal for Bywater Surfboards.
In addition to surfboards, Paulownia is an excellent timber choice for any aquatic adventures including canoes, stand up paddle boards and alaias.
This wondeful timber work just as well on dry land and is used by many hobbyists for train making, bread boards, coasters, decking and flooring and even carving, paulownia lends itself to so many projects.
At Bywater Design , we are proud to stock Australian grown Paulownia so no matter the size of your project albeit it rough sawn or dressed all round we are more than happy to help you.
For the latest prices head over to our Paulownia Page and for more information dont hesitate to email us with your paulownia requirements .
Here’s to happy woodworking !!
One of the hardest-working pieces of furniture in a home, second only to the dining table, is the buffet or sideboard. This essential furniture item houses a range of cherished possessions—from the "for special occasions only" dinnerware to the festive platters brought out during Christmas, and the handcrafted tablecloths that were made by a great aunt.
These timeless treasures elevate any celebration by their mere presence.
Each of these gems deserves a dedicated home, which is why a buffet table, sideboard, or even an entertainment unit plays such a crucial role in your home
When designing and crafting a buffet, we aim to create a true reflection of the owner's personal tastes and preferences.
The design possibilities and material choices are virtually limitless when it comes to custom-made pieces. We’ve highlighted below a few pieces we've created in recent years that exemplify the timeless beauty of timber and its transformative potential.
