We have always taken great joy, and pride in documenting as much of the work that we do as possible. It serves not only as an aide-mémoire, but also is essential in showing prospective clients what we do. However every now and then, usually to do with a particularly fast turnaround time and busy schedule, good work gets forgotten, and lost amongst the myriad of jobs to do as small business.
One such project was a bespoke Beech, and brass bed we worked on earlier this year. We never got round to really exhibiting the work on any of our platforms, and weren't able to take final photographs, so it wasn't really suitable for exhibition on the site.
The bed was to be a low, and minimalist, and to have splashings of brass detail throughout. We chose turned posts which softened the aesthetic of the bed, and allowed for a more elegant, subtle presence.
The main feature of the bed was to be a floating headboard. This would be joined to the head posts by a contrasting brass plate, and fixed in place with corresponding brass pins. No glue, no nails or fixings, just a tight fit, and attention to detail.
We were delighted with how this feature came out. The warm golden brass contrasted beautifully with the pale, unassuming beech, and the pins, connecting the timber and brass components, appeared to stitch the two together, breaking up the beech delightfully.
This usually would the be the exact project which we would highlight on our website. It is the type of work we enjoy most, and like to attract. However time was extremely tight, and there was a very fast turnaround time which didn't leave us any time to have the bed properly photographed. The next job then comes, and the bed is quickly forgotten, banished to a dusty photo file folder.
Pieces like this are at the very core of our business. Working in collaboration with a client to produce something that will be cherished, admired, and most importantly "used" is a great privilege. Feeling a clients excitement as they see their commission develop, and their vision realised gives immense satisfaction. We far often have so little connection, or input into the things we buy, and more often than not this leads to a lack of appreciation, or real emotional investment in the things we own. When you commission a bespoke piece of furniture, not only do you get exactly what you want, but you also put a bit of yourself into the design, and through this you develop an undeniable connection with whatever it is. You know how it was made, by whom, and from exactly what. You were consulted on every material, detail, and finish, and have an inextricable relationship with the narrative, virtue, and hopeful longevity of the piece.
This process can highlighted by almost no better piece of furniture. There is a proverb which suggests:
"Buy good shoes, and a good bed. If you're not in one, you're in the other"