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.
Adapting an old school bench for professional use #3
Bench progressing well. I have now jointed the top to the frame and I have a 97cm high sturdy bench with a low shelf. Next I need to fit the vice and drill holes for the bench dogs.
Commission a unique piece of furniture
I design and make furniture for commercial clients and for retailers but my first love is fulfilling bespoke commissions for private individuals, to consult and develop an idea together to create something unique for their home.
Commissioning a piece of furniture starts with your idea. Describe the pieces that you have imagined but cannot source and working together we can create truly unique furniture that fits your space, your aesthetic and your love of quality. Read testimonials from happy clients here
The process
- The initial consultation should be in your home so I can see where the furniture will sit and what other furniture you have and how you have decorated
- At a second meeting I will present a number of ideas and we will decide which design to progress. At this stage I will invoice for 50% upfront to cover materials and costs
- As I am sourcing materials and making the piece we will be in regular contact to discuss any further ideas or changes
- Throughout the making, you can follow my progress via a private gallery of photographs on Facebook, alternatively I can email these or pop them in the post
- When your piece is delivered to your home I shall include instructions for its care and details of my free after sales service - all part of our continuing relationship
Every piece is individual to a clients brief and as unique as you wish it to be. View previous commissions here
Adapting an old school bench for professional use
The workbench is coming along nicely. The legs and frame are jointed and glued up and feeling strong and a great height for work. The ropey bits of beach for the top have planed and jointed well. Now for the worthwhile yet testing process of flattening the top with a jack plane.
Adapting an old school workbench for professional use
I am currently adapting an old school workbench I bought on eBay for £50 for professional use. The beach bench was only 65cm high and its paint daubed top was warped and split apart. It looked like it was well loved/abused in its academic heyday.
I have deconstruct the bench and remade longer legs to replace the original short (and rotten) legs. I have made new 92cm high legs to give the new bench a total height of 96cm. Perfect for an old back like mine.
Its good to do some basic hand joinery every now and then to remind yourself of the importance of doing simple things very well.
Bedroom wardrobes in Black Walnut with Walnut Burr Panels
Last year we installed these lovely walnut cabinets in the second bedroom of a house in North London. The client requested the specific burr for the doors, the book-matched leaves suggesting a nautical theme with spindle fish and jellyfish. The project also included twin chest of drawers for the master bedroom and hallway console and mirror.
Materials: Black Walnut and Walnut Burr
Revolving Bookcase in Walnut
This luxurious revolving bookcase in black walnut is softly nostalgic with a smooth modern revolving mechanism with apertures sized for modern paperbacks. Two sides of the cabinet have shelves extending along its full length to display the book spines whilst the two other sides have apertures to display the book covers. The cabinet rotates on a turntable mechanism which is attached to a solid walnut base.
Ariel, a biography of Percy Shelley by Andre Maurois was one of ten titles chosen for the launch of Penguin paperbacks in 1935. The name Ariel apparently comes from the boat which Shelley designed and which was sank off the coast of Italy, leading to his death.
Materials : black walnut
Dimensions: 50cm(l) x 50(w) x 65(h)
Available to buy on Etsy
Revolving Bookcase in Walnut
This luxurious revolving bookcase in black walnut is softly nostalgic with a smooth modern revolving mechanism with apertures sized for modern paperbacks. Two sides of the cabinet have shelves extending along its full length to display the book spines whilst the two other sides have apertures to display the book covers. The cabinet rotates on a turntable mechanism which is attached to a solid walnut base.
Ariel, a biography of Percy Shelley by Andre Maurois was one of ten titles chosen for the launch of Penguin paperbacks in 1935. The name Ariel apparently comes from the boat which Shelley designed and which was sank off the coast of Italy, leading to his death.
Materials : black walnut
Dimensions: 50cm(l) x 50(w) x 65(h)
Available to buy on Etsy
Revolving Bookcase in Black Walnut, 'Ariel'
This luxurious revolving bookcase in black walnut is softly nostalgic with a smooth modern revolving mechanism with apertures sized for modern paperbacks. Two sides of the cabinet have shelves extending along its full length to display the book spines whilst the two other sides have apertures to display the book covers. The cabinet rotates on a turntable mechanism which is attached to a solid walnut base.
Ariel, a biography of Percy Shelley by Andre Maurois was one of ten titles chosen for the launch of Penguin paperbacks in 1935. The name Ariel apparently comes from the boat which Shelley designed and which was sank off the coast of Italy, leading to his death.
Materials : black walnut
Dimensions: 50cm(l) x 50(w) x 65(h)
Available to buy on Etsy
Walnut Dining Table, 'Foal'
Affordable luxury from Heliconia Furniture. This narrow refectory table in walnut has a long bevelled edged top supported by delicate profiled legs. Originally designed with a clients small living room in mind, the style of the table is inspired by the gait of running horses and the pedestrian Motorway bridges.
Walnut Dining Table, 'Foal'
Affordable luxury from Heliconia Furniture. This narrow refectory table in walnut has a long bevelled edged top supported by delicate profiled legs. Originally designed with a clients small living room in mind, the style of the table is inspired by the gait of running horses and the pedestrian Motorway bridges.
Available to buy on Etsy
Walnut Dining Table, 'Foal'
Affordable luxury from Heliconia Furniture. This narrow refectory table in walnut has a long bevelled edged top supported by delicate profiled legs. Originally designed with a clients small living room in mind, the style of the table is inspired by the gait of running horses and the pedestrian Motorway bridges.
Available to buy on Etsy
Chair in Black Walnut and Leather, 'Spider'
Chair in Black Walnut and Leather, 'Spider'
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