Fine Furniture |
What qualifies as 'Fine Furniture'?
By definition, Brett Lowry believes that only furniture meeting the highest possible standard in terms of material selection, workmanship, aesthetic appeal, function & finish qualifies in this category.
It refers to furniture which
- expresses fully the character and nuances of the materials used;
- is built with meticulous attention to detail;
- comprehensively delivers on all aspects of the design brief including form and function.
- is finished with flair and resonates with quality.
In short, 'Fine Furniture' is the type of furniture that Brett Lowry builds.
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So how does one choose 'fine furniture'?
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Understand the life & personality of timber |
A tree’s life experiences are reflected in the texture of its grain and in the subtleties of colour and luminosity. Every piece of wood has its own distinctive personality.
The true master craftsman is able to unveil the very essence of these qualities and expose the timber's full beauty. The final product showcases line, detail and finish…
Brett Lowry has a proven capacity to draw out the life and personality of the timbers and communicate its character tastefully and artistically.
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The right timber |
- Is the choice of timber appropriate for the function of the piece?
- Is the natural timber close to the finished colour you desire? Good choices can eliminate the need for artificial colour correction.
- Is the master craftsman able to educate and assist you to choose the timber best suited to your requirements?
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Solid vs Veneer |
- Solid furniture has the advantage of a capacity for restoration many times over. Hard knocks and damage can be more easily repaired.
- Solid furniture is however more subject to swelling/shrinkage with climatic changes.
- Solid veneer furniture has many and varied advantages. These include: strength, beauty (only the finest logs of any given timber are used), durability (less subject to environmental changes and age) availability of rare timbers, ability to be curved and shaped, matching of grains.
- Solid veneer furniture has somewhat less capacity for major restoration work, but because of its high durability and stability, it is far less likely to require it.
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Does the piece have
aesthetic appeal? |
It needs to delight your eye and strike a cord in your heart.
- Does it ignite in you a sense of wonder, warmth and pleasure?
- Will the lines, colour and size harmonize with their intended environment?
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What about functionality? |
- Does the design need to be functional as well as aesthetic?
- Is the designer able to take in to account all your functional requirements and incorporate them into a beautiful finished piece?
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Is the workmanship
evident? |
- Joints should be jointed together using mortise and tenon, dovetails, dowels, jointing biscuits, and/or screws which are not seen where possible.
- They should be neat, well fitted and with no gaps.
- All fittings (ie. Handles, hinges, drawer runners, etc) should be of the finest quality.
- Sanding is a very important part in finishing the piece. All scratches and marks need to be removed, then the chosen finish applied.
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