Furniture Designs

This page shows examples of the commissioned ‘bespoke’ furniture that I have produced since I started my creative business in 1985 and were designed in close co-operation with my customers, some of whom I remain in close contact with.  I can nolonger offer to make large pieces of furniture due to my restricted workshop size but the ‘Furniture for Sale’ and ‘Dovetailed Woodwork’ pages of this website show the kind of work that I currently produce.

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My customers initially helped to develop the appearance of their product with the help of my line drawing abilities in the form of pencil sketches. After consideration these were followed by scaled elevation drawings (using CAD after 2008) stating overall dimensions and, when finalised, construction work started. The end product of this collaboration of customer/designer/maker have resulted in successful pieces of furniture that are not only very satisfying to look at but are also very satisfying to use.  Not all pieces were made with expensive solid timbers (veneered panels used instead of solid timber) but emphasis was placed upon sustainability – I believe in the importance of making furniture that will last the test of time in terms of appearance and construction.

 

Examples of bespoke commissioned pieces

Shown below are some examples of my ‘bespoke’ work produced over nearly 40 years of my career and can be found in private collections here in the UK and in the USA. The first image shows one of my illustrated designs for a storage and TV unit to be made in solid English oak (with natural brown oak panels) for a customer in Derbyshire, the finished product is pictured under this. Below that are another set of watercolour elevation drawings of an oak cabinet produced for a customer in Surrey (and subsequently made in different sizes for other customers).

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The photographs above show views of a dovetailed sideboard in solid kiln dried quarter sawn European oak with three dovetailed drawers made to commission in 2020. The two lower photographs were taken before the handles were attached.

“We have been delighted with the furniture designed and made for us by Neil. 

He has a really good feel for working with oak and is an excellent craftsman.”

A. and R. Eley

 

Shown below are a drop-leaf dining table and matching chairs in solid N. American cherry and maple for a customer in Wales.

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A chest of drawers in solid English (limed) oak for a customer in Derby –

“We’ve commissioned 2 pieces from Neil recently, both one-off originals. The first, a cabinet to hold LPs, CDs and DVDs was designed to fit into an alcove, and the second, a chest of drawers, was a modern copy of a Victorian chest which was too large for us. We feel very proud to have 2 bespoke pieces of furniture designed and made by Neil. They look beautiful, are highly functional and guests always comment on them.They are not cheap because they are made to measure, but we wanted something special
that will last. The wood is high quality and the workmanship excellent. Neil pays close
attention to detail, with neat dovetailed joints on the drawers. It’s great to see a drawing translate into a unique piece of furniture, and we would be happy to recommend him to anyone.” Mrs Ainsley of Derby.

 

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A small console table (with drawer) in solid cherry for customer in Nottingham.

 

Writing bureau in solid English oak and sycamore

An ‘arts & crafts’ style writing bureau in dovetailed solid oak with rippled sycamore for a customer in Nottinghamshire.

 

 

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A two part display/audio cabinet in solid English (natural and brown) Oak for a customer near Derby.

 

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Recent veneered oak storage cabinets produced for the reception area of The Bridge Centre for Natural Healing, Mickleover, Derby (including Dove-table desks, seen below, in the treatment rooms).

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From Mrs A. Mallett of Yoxall, Staffordshire
“Dear Mr Clarke,
mallettoakbookshelvesMy husband and I are absolutely delighted with the bookcase you designed and made for us. We have put the books in – there is a little space left! And I find myself up on the landing more times than a few, just standing looking at it and admiring it and being so pleased that we have been able to have it.
We very much appreciate your case and the attention to detail which you have shown. It is beautifully made and we shall have much pleasure from it for the future. And one of our girls (but which?) will enjoy it after us. It will indeed be an heirloom. Thank you so much.”
Mr & Mrs Mallet commissioned a tall bookcase in solid English stained oak (with chip carving to the front edges), designed in the style of Edward Barnsley of the Cotswold School of Craftsmen (based around Cirencester, Gloucestershire).

 

I can also produce letter carving for signs and commemorative inscriptions.

These examples are just a small percentage of the commissioned bespoke work that I have produced over the years.

We are supplied with renewable electricity from Good Energy Ltd, which means that all the machinery and power tools used in the construction of each piece are powered by 100% renewable energy sources.

For more info visit www.goodenergy.co.uk

All images – Copyright © Neil A Clarke. Any form of reproduction, transmission, manipulation, display or other usage without permission is strictly prohibited.

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