Salt & Sawdust

From forgotten sun bleached scrap, my client saw what could be and together we decided that these gorgeous louvers had more life in them. After stripping them down I repurposed them from 1.5m to 2m long doors and fitted them to a custom frame. It was a challenging project, the timber was very dry and brittle, with little margin for error, but in the end I am proud of what I delivered. The legacy of these very old louvers lives on!

One of the things I enjoy most about commissioned work is knowing that every piece is made for a particular home.

Whether it's a dining table, a coffee table or a lighting feature like this one, it all starts with a conversation. Together, we create something that's made to suit your space and the way you live.

That's what makes handcrafted furniture so rewarding. No two homes are the same, so no two pieces should be either.

If you've been thinking about adding something unique to your home, I'd love to help bring your ideas to life.

Visit the link in my bio or send me a message to start the conversation.

I'd be interested to know... if you could commission one handcrafted piece for your home, what would it be?

Most of the furniture I make starts with a conversation about someone's home and what they're looking for.

Every now and then, though, I'll come across a piece of timber that inspires me to make something before anyone's asked for it.

Those projects are always a little different.

I'll add the finished piece to my website and, before long, someone will get in touch to say, "That's exactly what I've been looking for."

I suppose that's the nice thing about handcrafted furniture. Sometimes the right piece just finds the right home.

If you'd like to see more of my work, visit the link in my bio or send me a message.

I'd be interested to know... would you choose a one-of-a-kind piece, or have something made especially for your home?

I've always liked the idea of making furniture that's still part of a home years from now.

Not because it's hidden away and never used, but because it's become part of everyday life.

I think those are the pieces that matter most.

If you'd like to see more of my work, visit https://saltandsawdust.co.za/ or send me a message.

I'd be interested to know... is there a piece of furniture in your family that you'll never part with?

When I chose a piece of timber for a custom project, white ash in this case, I always turn my piece towards the light and look down the grain to check which side has the best grain, best appeal and best character. That's how it's done, beautiful!

People often think the best piece of furniture is the one that still looks brand new.

I've never really agreed.

A few marks from family dinners, coffee cups or years of everyday life don't bother me. In fact, I quite like them. They remind me that the piece has been used exactly as it was meant to be.

To me, good furniture isn't about staying perfect. It's about becoming part of a home and collecting stories along the way.

If you'd like to see more of my work, visit https://saltandsawdust.co.za/ or send me a message.

I'd be interested to know... what's the oldest piece of furniture in your home, and what's its story?

People often think building the furniture is the interesting part.

For me, it's choosing the timber.

I can spend ages looking at different boards before making a decision. Some have beautiful grain, others have knots or natural markings that most people would try to avoid.

Those are usually the ones I keep coming back to.

I've learnt that if you work with the timber instead of trying to change it, it almost always rewards you.

If you'd like to see more of my work, visit https://saltandsawdust.co.za/ or send me a message.

I'd be interested to know... what catches your eye first, perfectly smooth timber or wood with a bit of character?

I don't think I've ever walked into a home that looked exactly the same five years later.

Children get older, furniture gets moved around and rooms somehow find a new purpose.

That's one of the reasons I enjoy making timber furniture and lighting. Trends come and go, but a well-made piece has a way of finding its place, no matter how much life changes around it.

If you'd like to see more of my work, visit https://saltandsawdust.co.za/ or send me a message.

I'd be interested to know... which room in your home has changed the most?

So what colour stain will it be? This TV console and matching bedside pedestals, made from solid American white ash, is well underway.

Whenever I finish a coffee table, I find myself wondering what it'll look like a year from now.

Not when it's brand new, but once it's found its place in someone's home.

There'll probably be a stack of magazines, a couple of coffee mugs, the TV remote that everyone blames each other for losing and, if there are kids around, a puzzle or two that never quite gets packed away.

That's the way I like to imagine my furniture. Not perfectly styled, but properly lived with.

If you'd like to see more of my work, visit https://saltandsawdust.co.za/ or send me a message. I'd love to help create something for your home.

I'd be interested to know... what's usually sitting on your coffee table?