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. Primarily you will be looking for something unique,
either to satisfy a practical need, or a more subjective desire, one that is understood,
but not easily defined. It is probably this second reason that leads my clients to contact
me, acting on their their instinct, or intuition. At some level they have felt an empathy
with my work or my philosophy, then perhaps they simply begin to feel comfortable and at
home with my method of working.
Naturally, this appeal will register with
only a limited number of people (I like to think they are more discerning) those who
already share a similar vision of their environment and find importance in nuance and
feeling as much as in form and function. If you are about to get in touch then you will already know this
yourself.
Once you have contacted me with your idea, the
first stage of reaching a design solution would begin with our discussing practicalities,
what you need and why. Then, if I were unable to make a visit I would ask for a detailed
description or better, photo of the intended location and other pieces that may be in the
room. While this conversation continues a lot of information emerges about what you feel the piece
should convey, both to you and its environment. My ability to translate those needs and
feelings into a unique piece of furniture that functions to its purpose is woven into all
my designs. This begins with a period of gestation, while these sometimes-disparate
elements, float into a natural order of form and line that gives birth to a design idea.
These ideas would then be discussed and an indication of price given. Consultation and
advice up to this point, is free and without any obligation. However, further design work
involving drawings, samples or maquette will involve a nominal agreed cost. At this stage,
its my practice to produce a watercolour sketch, rather than a detailed drawing, because
experience has shown that a colour sketch like this, often conveys more than a plan or
computer generated design.
Your input into the project is a
vital aspect of creating the design around your needs and therefore making sure the
finished piece 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 dovetail into your environment and daily life, that I can
give you the benefit of more than 30 yrs experience and provide you with a draft design
solution.

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, exteriors are given
two coats of diluted shellac, fine sanded between. Then five or six coats of my own blend
of linseed oil, followed by renaissance wax. 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 moredovetails
Fully
framed and panelled back
Interior panels, like drawer
bottoms can be 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 enormously,
depending on specification, timber choice for instance, while having some influence on
cost is not a prime element of overall price. This is in stark contrast to high street
prices where items are mass produced. When considering the commissioning of a piece of
furniture, you will naturally be interested to have an initial idea of possible cost, just
for reflection. Therefore, I have listed the cost of the items as they appear above:
Walnut tea caddy with compartments for teabags
and four removable boxes to contain loose tea. Two tier with removable tray. Lined with
cherry and featuring detais in boxwood. Housing for silver tea spoon,108 handcut
dovetails. 32cm wide X 20cm deep x 15.5cm high. 875 euros
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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