Oliver Spendley

Video

England, United Kingdom

Spendley Furniture was born from Oliver’s passion to create sustainable, quality wooden products. The importance of durability and functionality within his furniture has been influenced by Oliver’s background in traditional carpentry and boatbuilding.

Oliver works with nature to produce timeless furniture from English hardwoods, setting his clients free from the constraints of modern mass-produced furniture. Treating each piece of timber individually allows him to best utilise their wild shapes and features. He works within the structural constraints of every piece of timber to create flowing designs. He incorporates traditional joinery techniques such as butterfly joints to stabilise naturally formed splits, creating a feature from a defect. Enhancing the intricate figuring, grain patterns and live edges within every design is a strong focus, whilst retaining a practical surface for every day use within the home. The contrast between the original, organic outline of the tree and the finely finished surface is a feature that shines through all of his pieces.

This short Spendley Furniture film illustrates the creative processes involved between Oliver and the local English timber he uses. He actively sources and mills his timber, leaving time for the wood to dry and settle. Only when this process is complete can he review and decide what the timber is best suited to.  By using these varied techniques and skills Oliver creates one-off pieces of furniture for the conscious buyer, bringing nature into the home.