A wonderful aspects of working with wood, is knowing a little about its origin, especially if it’s being reused.
This elegant work, which I’m really proud of, is a case in point. The top is made from flooring joists and an old Kauri door from a cafe in mount Eden.
The Kauri balustrades on the other hand, are from Ranfurly House in Three Kings, Auckland. There are 120 of them, and they are also 120 years old.
I hand-selected each piece, then carefully cleaned and repainted them, [4 coats] assembled using traditional mortise and tenon joinery
techniques. Steam bent front clashing piece. Finally giving everything three good coats of natural hard wax oil so it lasts for another 120!
The story of Ranfurly House is quite fascinating in itself:
www.ranfurlyvillage.co.nz/about-us/our-history/
Designed and made here in my studio / workshop on the Kaipara Harbor, the form of this piece somewhat resembles the stern (back) of a yacht. It nudges into the room, exploring the space and making its presence felt.
It actually has a very small foot-print at only 200 mm, with the tabletop easing out to 700mm. This really gives the work a perfectly balanced, light, and timelessly elegant look.
