Bespoke Furniture and
The Horton Method
Shaker style buffet with drop leaf at rear, based on a Canterbury
Community Shaker counter
Why consider commissioning an
expensive piece of bespoke furniture, when furniture shops are full
of cheaper examples? Especially, why would you ask a bloke living on
a small side road in central France to make your furniture? After
all nearly everyone is going to be living nearer to another
furniture designer/maker, than they are to me. I have attempted to
give well reasoned answers to these questions in the past, but have
come to realise these were really window dressing. The real reason,
that my clients initially contacted me, was because of their instinct, a ''gut
feeling'' At some level they felt an empathy with my work, or
perhaps they just simply liked my method of going about it.
Naturally only a limited number of people will
feel this (I like to think they are discerning) because so many
different factors are involved, style, distance, price, they don't
like my way of doing things etc. If you are about to
get in touch then you
will already know this.
First I like to chat about what you need and
why you need it, including a description of the intended location
and other pieces that may be in the room, or any other pertinent
points.
your input into the project is one of the most
vital aspects of
creating that special piece you need and making sure it fulfils your
expectations. It is
only after talking with you and discovering exactly what function you wish
the piece to perform; what dimensions need to be accommodated and
how it is to fit into your life, that I can give you the benefit of
more than 30 yrs experience and provide you with a draft design solution.
This is the point where cost needs to be discussed, can the piece
be realised within your budget? Will this affect the choice of materials?
Can we add refinements or do we need to omit certain elements?
before making the final design choice.
Depending on the type of piece, cabinet, table
or chair, there are certain features in my work that you may take
for granted. All my work is constructed from solid timber, quarter
sawn where appropriate to minimise movement. The only exception may
be a laminate to solve a certain constructional problem, these are
exclusively purpose made in house; you will never find MDF or anything
similar leaving my workshop. I spend what many makers would consider
an excessive amount of time matching the timber to make up panels. I
like to see the closely matched figure of the wood flow over a
cabinet piece in a continuous wave. When this works well the timber
truly is the star of the show.
Arts and Crafts influenced 5 drawer chest
All drawers I make for you will be jointed
with hand cut dovetails back and front, they will have elegant thin
sides and use traditional slips to hold the drawer bottoms and
strengthen the runners.
All frame and carcase joints will be mortise
and tenon, dovetailed or dadoes in many instances the tenons will be
pinned with contrasting dowels for strength and to add interest.
This latter device is especially appropriate if I am making you a
table with breadboard ends or for the corner joints of a cabinet
door or frame.
A feast of dovetails and features
The backs of all my cabinets are fully framed
and panelled, making them good enough to stand in the middle of a
room not just up against a wall. You will also find that all edges
have been smoothed with a plane even those inside the piece and
underneath, all is user friendly. You may find the odd trace of
handwork in an inconspicuous place, this will always be crisp. You
will never find any trace of machine work inside or out.
Generally I would recommend my own hand turned
knobs on drawers or doors, preferably boxwood. Or in some instances
a hand carved bar type handle. Sometime though a client has a
particular preference and in this instance I will source the best
hardware available to meet these needs.
I
Stack of drawer sides with hand cut dovetails waiting for final
fitting and assembly
I finish all my pieces in exclusively the same
way; interiors receive a dry shine of shellac, with the exception of
cedar of Lebanon which is left bare. Exteriors are given two coats
of diluted shellac, fine sanded between. Then five or six coats of
my own blend of linseed oil. This has several advantages over other
finishes. Its attractive light enhancing quality brings out the best
of the timber. Its also extremely resilient and should the worst
happen easily repaired. Finally each piece is signed, dated and
recorded before it leaves my workshop. You will receive a
luxury item designed and made exclusively for you; it will be
completely unique and could never again be repeated in exactly the
same way and of course you will know your instinct was right.
Even more dovetails
Fully framed and panelled back
Interior panels made with aromatic Cedar of Lebanon
Quite often I make delivery personally;
sometimes however, it is more appropriate to use a reliable
furniture carrier. Small items like pedestal tables or some chairs
can be crated and sent by post. You can of course collect yourself,
we would love to welcome you here and share some hospitality.
Oak Cot with Ash and
Ebonised Details
Shaker Counter as seen above, now in a room setting.
Here you can clearly see the drop rear leaf with rule joint adapted
from the original and the floating lower shelf of my own desige
***
Bespoke prices can vary quite a lot, depending
on specification, however you will naturally be interested to have
some idea of cost for reflection. Therefore I will give the cost of
the items as they appear above:
Shaker counter in figured oak with walnut
handles and pins. 60''wide x 20''deep x 34'' High,
with hinged drop down leaf of extra 11'' supported by two knuckle
hinged brackets. The counter rolls forward on wooden wheels set in
the legs when using the drop leaf, this makes a very useful buffet.
4 Drawers. Low shelf supported on rails between legs.
Price 5885 euros
5 Drawer chest in figured oak and as detailed
above, including panelled back and drawers lined with Cedar of
Lebanon: External
dimensions 36'' wide 40 1/2'' high and 20'' deep. Price 5500
euros
Oak Cot with Ash and ebonised details
including adjustable pine mattress support. Internal dimensions 24''
wide X 4' long takes a 60cm x 120cm mattress included. 2850 euros
An oak Shaker table like this one with breadboard ends
84'' X 32'' Price 3280 euros
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