I was delighted to be asked to design and make a coffee table to replace a chunky, mass-produced table that had served the family well for around 20 years.
It was still perfectly functional, but it no longer felt right in their new home. They wanted something lighter and more elegant, a piece that would complement the room rather than dominate it, while still being practical enough for everyday family life.
It needed to work as a coffee table should: somewhere to put drinks, for the children to draw, or simply to put your feet up at the end of the day.
From an idea to a design
The starting point was Danish Modern furniture, with its emphasis on simple forms, elegant proportions and carefully considered curves. From there, we developed the design into something more contemporary, with a lighter appearance and a softer, more organic form.
The first version of the design deliberately kept things very light. But as we discussed the piece and I started to make it, it became clear that it felt slightly too delicate for its intended use.
So we changed it.
A slatted shelf was added beneath the top, giving the table a little more visual weight while retaining the lightness of the original design. It also introduced some useful storage, somewhere for the inevitable coasters, books and remote controls to live.
This is one of the things I particularly enjoy about making furniture to commission. The design isn’t fixed from the outset. It develops through conversation, making and looking at the piece as it takes shape.
Choosing the wood
Once the design was settled, the next step was finding the right timber and deciding how each board should be used.
For this table, I chose beautiful wide boards of American hard maple. The wood has a subtle, understated grain that suited the design perfectly.
Rather than choosing highly figured timber to make the top a feature in its own right, I deliberately kept the grain relatively quiet. The intention was for the eye to follow the shape and curves of the table, with the timber providing a beautiful, understated backdrop.
Making the curves
The individual components began life as fairly simple, blocky pieces. This allowed me to concentrate first on getting the joinery precise and strong before gradually shaping each component into its final form.
There are many hours of work hidden in those curves.
The process involves repeatedly stepping back, looking at the developing piece and making small adjustments, refining a line here, changing a curve there, or occasionally remaking a component if the grain isn’t working with the shape as intended.
This is where a piece of bespoke furniture really starts to become something more than a drawing brought to life. The design continues to evolve as you see it in three dimensions.
And, of course, there is always room for a few more clamps.
The tabletop
The shape of the top was inspired in part by the graceful curves of a surfboard. I wanted it to feel flowing and organic, complementing the softer curves of the underframe rather than introducing another strong geometric shape.
Getting the final shape right took considerably more work than might be apparent from the finished piece.
Much of the final refinement was done with hand tools, gradually adjusting the curves and experimenting with the amount of rounding on the edges until everything felt balanced.
It’s difficult to describe exactly when a shape becomes “right”. There comes a point where you stop seeing individual curves and start seeing the piece as a whole.
That’s the point I’m always looking for.
A table made for its home
The finished table is deliberately simple. There are no unnecessary details competing for attention, just carefully considered proportions, graceful curves and beautifully understated timber.
But beneath that simplicity is a great deal of thought: how it would look in the room, how it would be used by the family, how the grain should flow across each component, and how the design could evolve to make the finished piece feel both elegant and substantial.
That’s what I enjoy about making furniture to commission. Starting with an idea, developing it together, and gradually turning it into something that is made specifically for you and your home.
If you’re considering a piece of bespoke furniture of your own, I’d be very happy to hear what you have in mind.
Contact me at mghaxell@gmail.com or fill in the form below to set up a call and discuss what you have in mind.
