Celebrating Our Students’ Final Projects
Another Designer Maker course came to an end this summer, and we wanted to take a look at some of the final self-designed furniture pieces our students worked hard to complete during the final term.
The third term is always an exciting one. After months of developing ideas, refining designs and getting stuck into some seriously ambitious builds, it’s when everything finally comes together, and we get to see the finished pieces leave the workshop.
This year’s group produced a fantastic collection of furniture, from beautifully crafted drinks cabinets to stunning lounge chairs and rockers, and more.
Dalton – Communion Bar Cabinet
Dalton’s Communion Bar Cabinet was a very distinctive piece to come out of the workshop this year.
Inspired by the stained glass windows found in cathedrals, Dalton set out to create a cabinet that would celebrate the simple act of gathering together and sharing a drink with friends and family.
The four front doors are covered in an incredible straw marquetry mosaic, made from thousands of individual pieces of dyed rice straw. Each piece was flattened, burnished, cut and carefully positioned by hand. The natural silica coating on the straw gives the finished surface a wonderful sheen, changing as the light moves across it and creating the colourful, almost luminous quality Dalton was looking for.
The cabinet itself is constructed from solid and laminated cherry and stands at over six feet tall, with plenty of carefully considered storage for bottles and glassware.
It’s an exceptionally ambitious project, and the level of patience and craftsmanship that went into those doors is quite something.
Dalton has also entered the cabinet into Maker of the Year, so we’ll be keeping our fingers crossed for him!
Jon – Soho Cabinet
Jon’s Soho Cabinet takes a very different approach to the drinks cabinet, combining a beautiful architectural form with some wonderfully considered details.
The cabinet’s barrel vaulted silhouette is inspired by the architecture of the 1920s, with the curved front opening to reveal a series of concentric elm arches that frame the internal shelving.
Inside, there’s plenty to discover. The cabinet houses glass shelves for bottles and glassware, a backlit wine drawer, and a beautifully made preparation area in spotted elm burr with sycamore inlay.
There’s also some excellent joinery throughout, including the piston-fitted drawers with half-blind dovetail construction.
The use of native British elm throughout gives the piece a lovely warmth, and the custom glass fitted into the front doors completes what is a really beautiful and substantial piece of furniture.
A great example of Jon combining a strong overall design with some seriously nice details.
Brian – Elm Lounge Chair
Brian took on a very different challenge with his final project: a lounge chair inspired by sculptural mid-century designs such as the a high back sculptured chair by Vladimir Kagan.
It’s one of those chairs that looks deceptively simple at first glance. The unusual rear leg arrangement and sweeping form give it a wonderfully light appearance, while the substantial laminated arms and back construction provide plenty of strength and stability.
The chair is made in elm and finished with linseed oil, allowing the character of the timber to really come through.
And then there’s the upholstery. Brian worked with Hilary at @westmorlandupholster, who finished the chair with vibrant orange cushions. The combination of the warm elm and bold upholstery works brilliantly.
It’s a beautifully executed chair – inviting, comfortable and very much the sort of piece you immediately want to sit in.
Brian is hoping to move into the furniture making industry following the course, and we’re looking forward to seeing where he takes his skills next. Well done, Brian!
Ben – Oak Rocking Chair
Ben’s final project was a particularly personal one: an oak rocking chair made especially for his grandmother.
A rocking chair brings its own set of design challenges, and Ben put a lot of thought into getting the ergonomics and movement just right. Before committing to the final build, he produced a full-size prototype to test the seat height, proportions and, importantly, the rocking motion.
He used MDF boards to replicate the curve of the rocker, allowing him to experiment with the centre of gravity and find a comfortable, natural rocking action before transferring everything to the finished chair.
The result is a beautifully made oak frame with some lovely joinery and a very carefully considered form. The cushion seen here is actually from another chair from Ben’s home – the official upholstery is still to come, but even in its unfinished state it’s already a fantastic piece.
We’re sure his grandmother will be very happy with it, and very proud of her Grandson too!
Really well done, Ben.
Matt Farrell – Cherry Hall Unit
Matt Farrell took on his ambitious third-term project: a hall unit in cherry.
The tall frame has been carefully hand-shaped, with the four legs piercing through the sides of the cabinet top. Subtle roundovers where the legs emerge from the top give these junctions a beautifully soft, organic quality – almost like reeds piercing through the surface of water.
The top of the unit features a tactile coat rack and shelf, while the cabinet below is divided into three sections. Each section is covered by a sliding door that can move smoothly to either side, allowing full access to the storage within. The doors themselves are frame and panel construction, incorporating gunstock joinery and a lovely additional detail in the form of exposed dowels within the voids.
It’s a tall and ambitious build, with plenty of carefully considered details throughout, and a great example of Matt pushing himself with both the design and construction of his final project.
A really impressive piece to round off his three terms with us.
Matt – Oak Sideboard
Matt took on a huge project for his final build: a large oak sideboard incorporating some seriously ambitious detailing.
The piece features beautiful quarter sawn oak door panels, with geometric kamiko inspired designs incorporated into the fronts. The panels themselves feature brass laminated into the oak, adding another layer of detail to an already highly figured surface.
The doors sit within a subtly bevelled carcass, while the continuous grain top brings the whole piece together. The quarter sawn oak produces an incredible amount of medullary ray figure across the piece, which is absolutely stunning.
Matt still has a little work to finish at his home workshop, so this one isn’t quite ready for its final photographs just yet, but it’s clear to tell from these WIP shots just how special this piece is going to be.
We’re really looking forward to seeing the finished sideboard once those last details are complete, and we’ll update you with some final photographs when it’s ready.
A Great End to the Year
One of the best things about the Designer Maker course is seeing how differently each student approaches their final project. There’s no prescribed style or set piece to build – students develop their own ideas and then have to work out how to turn those ideas into a piece of furniture that actually works.
That makes the final few weeks of the course particularly rewarding for us too. After spending so much time with the students developing their skills, it’s brilliant to see them taking on increasingly ambitious projects and finding their own direction as furniture makers.
A huge congratulations to all our students who worked so hard on all their projects. It’s been brilliant to watch these pieces develop from initial ideas through to finished furniture, and we’re incredibly proud of what the group has achieved.
Looking Ahead
So that’s a wrap on another designer maker course, and a fantastic year of making.
Our new group of 2 and 3-term Designer Makers start with us next week, so stay tuned as we follow their journeys through the furniture school over the coming year.
We’re also now taking applications for our next Designer Maker courses, starting in September 2027. If you’re interested in joining us, get in touch with Oliver Waters at info@watersandacland.co.uk for more information and an application.
You can also find out more about our Designer Maker course and our full range of furniture making courses on our website, from two-day courses through to our full-year programme, with plenty of options to suit all abilities and experience levels.
We look forward to welcoming you to the workshop.
25% Off Our 5-Day Table Making Course
We also have a late-availability offer for our upcoming 5-Day Table Making Course with Lamination and Veneering, running 7th–11th September. We’re offering 25% off new bookings on the final two places.
If you’ve been thinking about joining us in the workshop, this could be the perfect opportunity to get stuck into a full five days of furniture making, with a focus on table construction, lamination and veneering.
Find out more about the 5-Day Table Making Course
To take advantage of the offer, please contact Oliver directly at school@watersandacland.co.uk rather than booking online.
Offer available to online school members only. Applies to new bookings for the 7th–11th September course only. Not transferable to other courses and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer or discount.
Upcoming Short Courses
We still have a small number of places available on upcoming courses:
- 2-Day Pencil Box Courses — Starts next week! Two start dates: October 5th-6th (Now Fully Booked) & October 7th-8th (3 spaces remaining)
- New 5-Day Mirror Making Course with laminating and profiling — Starts 9th–13th November. Only 1 place spaces remaining
- Designer Maker Course (2 & 3-Term Options) — Starting September 2027 — Applications Open.
- The 2-term / international course may suit international students and could align with a 26-week study visa (subject to current regulations).
- 1-Week Introduction to Fine Furniture | Mastering Tool Prep & Use – Next Available Course Starts September 14th (Only 1 place remaining
For full course details and booking:
For enquiries, email Oliver Waters:
school@watersandacland.co.uk
All stunning pieces and all very unique.