Wildwood insights

Which 'finish' is best for my Custom Australian Hardwood Furniture piece? The finish you choose is dependant on your needs as well as your aesthetic. There are obviously numerous finishes with varied resistances and constraints.  The finish we're highlighting here is our 'Raw Look' which gives your piece an "unfinished" look; the timber has a natural raw look and feel even though it...

There is nothing quite like timber, crafted into a beautiful piece for the home, your home.  The beauty of Australian hardwoods’ can’t be overstated when fashioned into an item that lets the timber sing.  A luxurious sideboard, for example, reveals the warmth, strength and character of the living tree when skilfully shaped into the beautiful design custom made for your...

We all have a favourite memory (or two) with the backdrop of being gathered around the dining table with family or friends, maybe both.  Celebrations, card night, impromptu meal turned dinner party, summer evening grazing soiree.  Making ‘ye olde’ dinning table a key piece in any home. Custom made or selecting from one of our tried and tested collections. Here...

Ever wondered about the life your beautiful piece had before it made its home in your space?  It’s really quite a straight forward journey; though it can take a little time before it becomes your gorgeous item.  Why don’t we walk it through; from tree to when we begin working on it for you. Timber has always been a part...

There’s no need to relegate the humble mirror to just reflecting back your beautiful morning face!  I’ll be honest, I try not to look at that time of day… This versatile item is destined for SO much more. It can be used extensively throughout the home, even outdoors.  There isn’t another accessory adept at changing the feel of a room like the mirror. A...

Introduced to Australia in the early 1820s as an ornamental garden tree, Camphor Laurel is not a native hardwood; But who can blame it for wanting to stay and make Australia home?  And as result of its galavanting ways, it's found along most of the east coast. It can reach upwards of 25 metres and ranges in colour from honey yellow to...

The reclaimed hardwood timber used here at Wildwood Designs has been salvaged from old buildings, bridges and the like. Generally speaking the timber is native to Australia as non-natives weren't used in this type of construction.   When these timbers were originally harvested, way 'back in the day', they came from the bush not plantations. So, they have a LOT of character...

First of all, what is “New Traditional”? This style aesthetic wants the formal piece but focuses on comfort and is a more streamline look.  It has a more “lived in” and personal feel. The old "less is more". It allows you to appreciate the piece and the space, more defined and less fussy. New traditional also helps to mix different...

We'd like to show one of our recently installed custom pieces.  We're proud to say we have a VERY happy client... And to be honest we're quite chuffed ourselves! Wall to wall, floor to ceiling wall unit.  What do you think? STEP 1: The blank canvas.  It all begins here; you dream about what would work in "this" space.  A...

What size is the right size? It’s kinda important, after the food, of course.  This is where it all happens… breakfast, lunch, dinner. Brunch, homework or work from home… Card games, tea parties, dinner parties, parties, puzzles, sorting.  You name it, THIS is a multi-functional piece. The “perfect” size? It’s all relative; Is it a dedicated dining room? Eat in...

(Some) Other names: Mountain White gum, Woollybutt, Australian Oak, Mountain Ash, Whitetop Stringybark... Though Tasmanian Oak is a light timber, it can vary in colour from straw to reddish brown, it has exceptional staining qualities that allow it to be matched with other timbers and finishes. This timber planes, sands, glues and finishes beautifully and readily steams and bends which...

What are the "Dos" when it comes to purchasing custom made furniture? The furniture you select for each room should not only reflect your personal style and your family’s vibe, but most importantly it needs to fill the brief; i.e. Is it actually practical?  Does it do what you need it to do? Is it worth your hard-earned dollars? If...

Is there a difference? If you’ve been researching furniture styles, you’d be forgiven for concluding they’re the same, because, we often read and hear the words used interchangeably. In fact, they are two separate and distinct design styles.  Contemporary; what's popular currently, changing as trends change and incorporating a variety of styles. Modern; as a rule, characterises the design aesthetic from the...

Here comes 2021.  Are we ready?  Who knows!  What we do know here at Wildwood Designs is, we’ve already begun preparing for new projects and collaborations and we’ll start at a running pace when everyone returns from their much-deserved R&R. After the initial road humps and wipe-outs that became the norm of 2020 for all of us; Wildwood had to...

The statement piece will draw your eye and hold your attention being the focal point of the space.  Having an interesting point of interest in your room is as simple as selecting a unique item of furniture.  Another tip to remember is, not having too many points of interest, otherwise, it all gets lost and nothing is appreciated.  In essence...

With more of us working from home than ever before and quite probably for the foreseeable future, it’s appropriate, I guess, to look at the humble desk… Desk; noun A piece of furniture with a flat or sloping table-style surface; where one can read, write or work; “he sat at the desk reading” A counter in a hotel, bank or...

There are obviously numerous finishes you can select for your custom furniture piece.  The "unfinished" look of our "Raw Look Finish" gives timber a natural raw look and feel even though it is our hardest wearing finish. The Raw Look finish has excellent chemical resistance to spills and sprays. It has a non-yellowing protection against colour changes due to light radiation -...

River Red Gum is sort after because of the depth and richness of its warm red hues, which range from a light pink to the deepest of red, they catch your eye like a fire burning.  Other features of this timber include fiddle-back (pressure marks when the tree is growing), birds’ eye (irregularities that look like a birds eye), gum veins and...

Despite the name, which comes from the appearance of the base of the tree after a bushfire, Blackbutt is a light timber.  The tones range from golden yellow to (very) pale brown, sometimes pinkish. It’s a strong and durable timber suitable for a range of interior and exterior applications.  Used in structural work; framing, decking, flooring etc…  This amazing timber...

We're getting a lot of requests for Spotted Gum pieces at Wildwood Designs, so we thought we’d give a quick run down on one of our premium Australian hardwoods. This Australian Native grows along the east coast of Australia; from the Victoria / New South Wales border all the way to the Maryborough area of Queensland. It’s smooth bark and...