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Contemporary Windsor chair | handmade in English oak or ash

"Fire-gazer" contemporary Windsor chair influenced by Alaskan hunters

When I was in Alaska for my BBC work in the past I was lucky enough to spend time with the Yupik hunters who live on the coast north of Bristol Bay. They base the construction of their kayaks on their body dimensions... so the width will be the distance from finger tip to elbow, the curve of the side equivalent to three fingers' width etc. I love the way this tailors the boat to the person and escapes the tyranny of numbers. So the Fire Gazer chair pays homage to this tradition.

The stick widths across the back are the same as my finger widths from thumb to little, and those dimensions are echoed elsewhere in the piece. The height can be tailored to the person that the chair is custom-made for. And the sticks and stretchers are all shaped like tiny kayaks. So, unlike traditional Windsor chairs the sticks of the Fire Gazer are curved to fit the back. The visual result is a dynamic flowing pattern that moves as you walk round the chair, and a petal-like fan of sticks that frames the sitter like an Elizabethan collar.

This is a softwood prototype for the chairs which will be available in English oak or English ash and will be hand-tool finished to a create a subtle faceted surface which will catch the firelight.

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Ergonomic computer chair | custom-made furniture for Apple iMac

“Grace” ergonomic computer chair for iMac desk

The Grace chair was specifically designed to complement the Grace iMac table. As well as echoing the shapes of the table, special attention was paid to the ergonomics of the chair. The lower back support was positioned specifically to fit the back of the client, and the round seat enables the user to turn easily from the keyboard to notes and books which sit neatly to the left. The vibrant colour of the green velvet lit up a dark corner, picked up on the leaves of the many houseplants in the room, and contributed to the sense of luxury of this piece of pearwood furniture.

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Handmade furniture maker’s workbench | Grant Sonnex furniture maker

My workbench

So many people, when they come into the furniture workshop, seem to enjoy my workbench and are surprised to hear that I made it myself that I thought I would include it on the website. Of course I am also rather fond of it! We spend a lot of time together.

The workbench epitomises the combination of aesthetics and practicality that I aim for in my furniture. It’s made from beech, which is the traditional wood for furniture makers’ benches, and clads the surrounding hills here. The joinery is strong and honest like the bench. And I like to show it here because, if you do commission a piece of furniture, then it’s this bench that it will be made on

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handmade jewellery box | maple, pear wood, and beeswax

“Simplicity” jewellery box in maple, pear wood, and beeswax

The design for this handmade jewellery box was inspired by the subtle grain which emerged as I cut into the maple for the box lid. When I book-matched to two exposed faces a simple rectangular pattern was revealed. So this and some carefully chosen proportions became the basis for the piece. The result is a box that has a self-contained calmness, and its gently softened edges make it a delight to the hands as well as the eyes.

While making the box I was reading the writings of the influential cabinetmaker, James Krenov. He was a supreme furniture craftsman and a great advocate of subtlety and simplicity in furniture - an antidote to the clamourous modern world. So it was a shock to hear of James's death just as the box was coming to completion. I'd like to think that he would have approved and I thank him for his wonderful insights and inspiration.

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designer computer desk | custom-made for Apple iMac

“Grace” desk for iMac computer

The "Grace" desk was designed for an iMac computer to be used for work and entertainment in a main living area. The client was a dancer who specifically wanted a table with no sharp corners. And conversations about the way that dance combines gracefulness and strength, yin and yang, provided the inspiration for the design. The table is made from sustainably sourced birch ply with inserts and foot rest of steamed pear wood. So it’s plywood furniture, but not as we know it! The inbuilt cabling prevents all the usual clutter of wires, and the layout of the surface is designed for ergonomic ease of use.

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