Why I build furniture- or things that make us tick

“Before I start building furniture, there has to be a good reason for me to do so. Otherwise it’s a waste of time, labour and materials.There has to be a need for it.A need of mine or someone else, an experiment, a novel idea, a new material, a new design…These aspects make me tick and get me started…and usually the outcome is quite nice.”

---------------------------Sid Aksoy-----

Someone needed a coffee table…

In this case this client had several criteria that had to be met: 1-Rimu 2-Asian look 3-Coffee table

and I had a few criteria of my own……

The project had to be a little challenging. There had to be an element of innovation. There also had to be an element of Matauranga Maori….and there had to be something that was uniquely me and my interpretation of all these elements.

Interested to see how and what?

I love Asian furniture. Years ago, I bought this second hand sideboard. It is beautifully handcrafted, made of solid Rosewood. Dovetailed drawers, carved handles and door panels, all parts hand planed surfaces and hand moulded profiles!…The whole works!

And it has become the first source of my inspiration for this project….

First step was to solve the element that would represent Matauranga Maori….hmmmm….Harekeke!! But with a pakeha take…

I didn’t like my first attempt, even though it has other application possibilities….And here is Mark-II….

AND EUREKA!! SO I DID WEAVE VENEER! JUST LIKE HAREKEKE…

REMEMBER THAT ROSEWOOD SIDEBOARD?? AND THOSE PROFILES?

…AND THE INVERTED LEGS?

..AND THE REST IS ….WELL YOU KNOW… “ATTENTION TO DETAIL!”

AND AFTER APPLYING MY OWN FURNITURE WAX…

There you go. That was fun! Ticked all the boxes, too.

…...and by the way; best work in my life, I have always done

for free and for someone else.