Philosophy
Craft
I believe care is something you can feel. So I take the time for the things that are not always visible at first but are noticed every time the desk is used. Precise joins between materials, dovetailed drawers, carefully sanded surfaces, and an exact travel in drawers and doors — neither loose nor stiff. I want the desks to carry the trace of the hand, in the best sense.
Craft, to me, is also about the long view. The writing surface can be taken apart and the leather replaced after years of use. What wears should be able to be cared for, repaired and carried on.
Materials
I work with natural materials because they age with dignity. Where possible I use solid wood. Where it is called for I use laminated panels — not as a compromise, but as a way of working with the natural movement of the wood. Choosing materials well is not only a question of how they look, but of understanding how they change over time and building accordingly.
I select every board with care, to bring out the grain and give the piece a living character. Contrasts between materials — different species in the drawers and the drawer fronts — add depth and character. Vegetable-tanned leather ages beautifully and develops a patina with use. Brass fittings bring both function and a timeless elegance.
I choose materials that can be repaired, maintained, and go on carrying the traces of the life around them.
Design
I am not looking for the spectacular. I am looking for the precise. Every desk begins with drawings that are then redrawn — again and again. Proportions, function and details are refined until nothing more can be taken away and nothing needs to be added.
But design does not happen only at the drawing board. Prototypes are built, used and reconsidered. I live with the desks in order to understand them in everyday use. Does it need to be wider? Could it be narrower? How does a different edge, or a different height, change the experience?
I see design as a process of refinement — where simplicity is the result of many decisions.
