Hand tools really are the only way to finely finish Lacewood and other difficult timbers where the grain can go in several directions at once.
#table frame looking sharp #bespoke #handmade #furniture #design #contemporary #ukmade #luxury
Table leg frame for new Lacewood coffee table looking sharp
Great feedback from happy customers
Revolving Bookcase with glass top
We are over the moon with our new revolving bookcase. This was our first experience of having any bespoke furniture made, (we were initially daunted by the potential complexity and cost) but Chris really helped to bring our rough ideas to life and within a budget that was suitable.
We were also really impressed with his knowledge of materials and construction techniques, which then enabled us to be guided through the whole process and turned it into a really exciting project.
We were keen to get the finished piece prior to Christmas (so we could show her off to friends and family!) and Chris delivered as promised. We now have a unique piece of furniture that will last forever. Highly recommended.
Marc & Eleanor
Surbiton, Surrey
CLERKENWELL DESIGN WEEK
Great fun at this year's #clarkenwelldesignweek a real shame there is no Farmiloe building this year.
Apart from the great woodcarver down in basement of St John's and a few makers in the dungeon there is less craft based stuff and less woodwork generally. Have the exhibition coats gone up? Lots of Danish and Italian firms selling office stuff.
@clerkenwelldesignweek wood #luxurylife #bespoke #handmade #homedecor #craftsman #artisan #furniture #cabinetmaking #design #furnituremaker #finewoodworking #handcraft #craft #craftsmanship #contemporary #furnituredesigner #ukmade #luxuryfurniture
Great feedback from happy customers
#Arts&crafts #Morris chair - Arts & Crafts Settle #furniture
We spent eight years looking for the right sofa for our awkward lounge & then Heliconia was recommended to us.
Chris visited our home to measure and see the space. He then navigated around some red herrings that we provided in our brief, guiding us towards the best design. The final price was surprisingly reasonable considering the quality of materials, craftsmanship and bespoke design.
We could easily have paid the same in high street for something far less suitable. The final design is the perfect style for our Arts and Crafts home. Chris even met the challenge of getting the settle through our narrow front door. The settle is both beautiful and functional and it has transformed our home. It is lovely to think that it will last a lifetime.
Mr & Mrs Loasby
North London
Great feedback from happy customers
Galley Dining Table - Foal
We contacted Chris because we recognised the high quality craftsmanship in his work. We had an idea of what we wanted, and by working with him, we were able to realise a perfect design. Chris's approach in collaborating with us enabled a greater level of creativity and resulted in a unique and beautiful object (the Foal Table).
His attention to detail in refining and realising the design was intrinsic to the process. He made maquettes and he wasn't satisfied until we were all happy with the design. He also spent time helping us choose the right wood. The finished table exceeded our expectations and the Foal has become a prized piece of furniture.
Erica Sciolti
Canonbury, London N1
Lacewood Dressing Table
#lacewood dressing table starts to show its colours with the golden flicker of the #quartersawn #londonplane boards. The trick is trying to match the wildly different tones and colours, and the direction and figures of #grain.
#Dressingtable #vanitytable #Bedroom #wood #luxurylife #bespoke #handmade #homedecor #craftsman #artisan #furniture #cabinetmaking #design #furnituremaker #finewoodworking #craftsmanship #contemporary #furnituredesigner #ukmade #luxuryfurniture #luxurious
Spalted Lacewood Coffee table #9
#LondonPlane #Coffeetable prototype is complete & looking slight and unassuming in the morning sun. The #spalting frame looks great but the top is dull and muddied. A new vibrant, tigerish #lacewood top is needed.
#luxurylife #bespoke #handmade #homedecor #craftsman #artisan #furniture #cabinetmaking #design #furnituremaker #finewoodworking #craftsmanship #contemporary #furnituredesigner #ukmade #luxuryfurniture #luxurious
Great feedback from happy customers
Writing Desk in walnut and maple
I met Chris when he was exhibiting his cocktail cabinet at MADE London crafts fair at One Marylebone. The cabinet is a true "object of desire" - I love the design, workmanship and the aesthetic appeal. I had no space for a cabinet but picked up a business card after chatting to Chris and knew exactly who I wanted to commission to design a desk a few months later.
Chris is a pleasure to deal with and he spared no effort in the design stage and was not at all pushy in the process. It was apparent that he takes great pride in his work and in delighting his clients. The end result has surpassed my expectations and I love the fact that a photographic storyboard illustrates the creative journey.
Joanna Thompson
London
Lacewood Dressing Table
Next Project is a #lacewood dresser with a touch of Luxe. We start with a very expensive floor of #quartersawn #londonplane boards.
#Dressingtable #vanitytable #Bedroom #wood #luxurylife #bespoke #handmade #homedecor #craftsman #artisan #furniture #cabinetmaking #design #furnituremaker #finewoodworking #craftsmanship #contemporary #furnituredesigner #ukmade #luxuryfurniture #luxurious
Spalted Lacewood Coffee table #8
Leg frame of the #LondonPlane #Coffeetable has two coats of regular Osmo to bring out the rich complexity of the #spalting whilst the fine #lacewood top is finished with Osmo Raw.
#luxurylife #bespoke #handmade #homedecor #craftsman #artisan #furniture #cabinetmaking #design #furnituremaker #finewoodworking #craftsmanship #contemporary #furnituredesigner #ukmade #luxuryfurniture #luxurious
Great feedback from happy customers
Fitted wardrobe and bedroom chest of drawers
I was delighted to work with Chris to commission a number of pieces for my house bringing both design and manufacturing ideas together with the vision I had for the overall look and feel for various rooms. My son is delighted with his bedroom wall unit and my wife loves the natural look to the bedside drawers that have been made by Chris.
Chris also designed made and installed the hall console table and mirror in a very tight space-it looks great in Walnut and steel which complement the other materials used in the hallway."
Luke Joannou
Hadley Wood, Barnet
Spalted Lacewood Coffee table #7
#spalted leg frame for #LondonPlane #Lacewood #coffeetable is planed, scraped & sanded & ready for oil.
Spalted Lacewood Coffeetable #6
My #coffeetable in #spalted #LondonPlane & #Lacewood has been reduced to the smallest of components and whilst its strength has yet to be tested, its tiny limbs could certainly have done with more localised cramping. Too much play....
More great feedback from happy customers
Walnut Cabinet with carved doors
I commissioned Chris in 2013 to create a cabinet to complement the Arts & Crafts period features of our sitting room.
I was impressed with how he interpreted the brief and took cues from the room to create a range of quite different designs for us to consider. As an amateur woodworker myself, I thoroughly enjoyed the subsequent development process, which was made fun by Chris' relaxed and collaborative approach.
The final piece sits beautifully in the room, echoing the design of the fireplace. We are delighted with the quality of the materials and the craftsmanship and I have no hesitation in recommending Chris for bespoke furniture commissions.
Peter Vernon
London
Spalted Lacewood Coffeetable #5
Using guide board for chisel 4 pinned lap joints for my #coffeetable legs/frame. #LondonPlane #lacewood
Spalted Lacewood Coffeetable #4
The 8mm, super thin top for the #lacewood #coffeetable is actually 20mm in centre. That's magic!
Great feedback from happy Heliconia customers
Coffee Table with grey glass
We'd spent hours searching online and in furniture shops in the hope of finding a coffee table that had the exact dimensions we wanted in a design and finish that suited our space and style. We finally decided to find a craftsman and commission a bespoke piece. We found Chris and Heliconia online and thanks to the testimonials from other happy customers felt confident approaching him for his ideas. Chris visited our home to get a sense of what we were looking for and talked us through the process.
It was great talking to someone who was as excited as we were at the possibilities. Chris came up with several designs that fitted our brief. When we had questions and a request for a couple of tweeks Chris was very responsive and we commissioned the coffee table in black walnut and grey glass. We followed Chris's progress online with interest and love the finished table. Our favourite piece of furniture. It's warm yet light and the simple clean lines suit our style perfectly.
Chris has a natural understanding and feel for his work and his exacting standards are evident in the very high quality of his furniture. Thanks again, Chris
Sarah Hukins
Bermondsey, London
Spalted Lacewood Coffee table
I am now working out the pinned lap joints for my coffee table legs/frame. The mathematics to work out weight distribution gets you so far and then its pure trial and error. The slighter the frame, the more trial and error involved - the table must not buckle under a few magazines!
Spalted Lacewood Coffee table
I am continuing to explore the many facets of the #LondonPlane tree by making a coffee table whilst exploring structure & form for larger table designs. #Lacewood being what it is, I will control its visual wildness by reducing the blocks and great expanses of timber. I also plan to reduce the visible engineering of the table and make the limbs look light and with lots of negative space.
This particular table uses timber with unusual spalting marks, that I have only previously found on beech, a far less attractive and interesting wood. Spalting occurs when two diseases attack a tree at one time and it appears as as discolouration framed or ringed with a hard black outline (see pics). I am using the spalted wood for the legs and frame and the more neutral, paler pieces of #Londonplane for the top.