My furniture adventures began in 2009. I was experiencing a period of severe depression and found that working creatively with my hands pulled me out of that dark space. As I recovered, I was motivated to learn more and became captivated by Italian minimalism and the sleek, clean lines of early 21st Century design. Inspired by Werner Aisslinger and Ronald Knol, Cappellini and Vitra, I set to work sketching and making my own pieces.
In 2012, I joined cooperative studio and workshop, Designed Objects Tasmania (DOT), and, with the help of the DOT community, began to advance my craft. I learned how to use machinery and discovered the beauty of working with solid timber. Inspired by the robust designs of Mark Tuckey, I created minimalist cabinets using thick timber slabs, integrating elements from the Scandinavian mid-century modern school.
In 2015 I completed my Bachelor of Science (that's another story...). This meant that I could make furniture on a full-time basis - a big step. I discovered the Shaker movement, which drew me in with its stark minimalism; its encapsulation of “less is more”. I honed my hand tool skills and learned how to construct furniture using traditional joinery techniques. I came to a better understanding of the subtleties of wood movement (and the not so subtle effects of getting it wrong!) and created pieces with traditional timber drawers and doors. Inspired by the work of Sebastian Cox, I introduced woven timber elements into my designs.
In early 2017, I decided it was time to take the next step in my education and won a cabinet-making apprenticeship at a highly-regarded joinery firm in Hobart. Working in a professional workshop and using new materials and techniques has changed the way I think about, design and construct furniture and cabinets for the better. I can now offer traditional style pieces at a lower cost and in a shorter time-frame, whilst also providing clients with the option of bespoke, hand-tooled pieces using solid timber.
