Woodworking with Anna Nichols

SPRING BLOG 2026 : GOGAR CABINET WORKS

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 14:44:04 GMT

Gogar Cabinet Works Open Day

Welcome to Old Gogar Church!!

We are having an open day on Saturday 4th & Sunday 5th April at our workshop.

Come along and have a look behind the doors of a historic former parish church.

Dating back to the 12th Century, with the present structure being 17th century and some 19th century modifications.

That was converted into a cabinet makers workshop in 1970's

Welcome to my blog series!!

Following Anna in her design studio, workshop and at local sawmills selecting timber

SPRING NEWSLETTER

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 14:17:14 GMT

Welcome to Anna's seasonal newsletter!!

AUTUMN NEWSLETTER

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 16:25:37 GMT

Welcome to Anna's new seasonal newsletter!!

SUMMER BLOG 2025 : HEIRLOOMS

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 13:59:00 GMT

Family heirlooms

A very special request

In September 2023, I was asked by a customer to make an urn for his Mum.

Made from the Oak tree his Dad had cut down at their family home

With both his parents passed on it was an honor to be asked to see what I could make.

The idea was to take a section of the branch keeping the bark on the outside and hollowing out the centre. The lid was to be made from the same section of the tree to go on top. The tree was a bit wet still inside. But I managed to hollow enough of the core.

Here is the final urn

Recently in July I started turning the remaining branch

I was asked to make a few more items from the remaining tree. But we had to leave it to dry out a little longer.

In July, I started turning again and tried to get as much out of the tree branch as possible.

Beautiful colours emerged and a few splits I navigated around.

One piece split in half on the lathe though.

I managed to get three small bowls and three small vases from the branch.

The smallest of items can mean so much when they have a story to tell

Get in touch if you need something special making info@alnfurniture.co.uk

Welcome to my blog series!!

Check out my next Autumn blog in October by Anna Nichols

Following Anna in her design studio, workshop and at local sawmills selecting timber

SUMMER NEWSLETTER

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 13:21:00 GMT

Welcome to Anna's new seasonal newsletter!!

SPRING BLOG 2025 : THE DINING ROOM

Mon, 07 Apr 2025 11:48:07 GMT

Design series :

The Dining room

A dining table

The dining room is a space in your house used regularly to dine in. In modern times, usually this isn't a separate room and is part of the communal living space in your home next to the kitchen.

Dining spaces are a basic necessity of our living spaces. The etiquette of dining varies across different cultures reflecting the history of each country.

Sitting on the floor to eat at a table is quite common dining practise in India, Middle east and parts of Asia. Traditions are rooted in respect, health and simplicity.

In Japan you typically sit on the floor on a tatami mat around a low table. In formal settings you would be expected to kneel.

Less formal situations crossed legged or legs tucked to one side.

In the UK our tradition is to sit on a bench or chair at a table. The Victorian era profoundly shaped UK culture and homes.

Leading to the 'cult of domesticity'

Homes were more decorated including having well made sturdy furniture

Designing tables

The dining table is a simple design.

We require a flat surface either rectangular or a round table top.

Then the legs of a table are either a central pedestal or four legs.

The design of legs are the decorative part of the dining table. But always hidden underneath and by the chairs.

The 'U - table' design above show the legs on show at the end of the table.

The size of a table depends on how many people you are going to have sitting while dining.

You might prefer to have a small table that can be extended when guests come around.

For example, an oval table that pulls apart to reveal a middle extension panel

Recommended table sizes from the 'Metric handbook' guidelines

8 person round dining table for eating requires a 1500mm diameter minimum

The below circular table is 1800mm diameter for 8 - 10 people

Design considerations

What you need to consider?

Allow enough space between each person so they aren't bumping elbows.

600mm or preferably 650mm - 750mm table place per person

How high is your table?

Are you sitting comfortably?

Table height varies from 720mm high to 780mm high. Allowing 600mm height underneath the table for your knees. Your chairs are usually 450mm to 470mm high.

Size can vary dramatically

Here is a 3 metre long table with 6 legs for 10 people

Get in touch if you need a dining table made to your specifications info@alnfurniture.co.uk

Welcome to my blog series!!

Check out my next summer blog in July by Anna Nichols

Following Anna in her design studio, workshop and at local sawmills selecting timber

SPRING NEWSLETTER

Mon, 07 Apr 2025 11:48:04 GMT

Welcome to Anna's new seasonal newsletter!!

AUTUMN NEWSLETTER

Mon, 13 Nov 2023 15:28:39 GMT

Welcome to Anna's new seasonal newsletter!!

AUTUMN BLOG 2023 : THE LIBRARY

Mon, 13 Nov 2023 15:19:03 GMT

Design series : The Library

Hidden from view

The place where a person or family lives is a form of safe haven and comfort.

The earliest form of furniture was built in furniture. Inseparable from the architecture of a building.

Alongside our dining and sleeping spaces,

storage is a basic necessity of our living spaces.

Design influences

The bookcase started from a basic shelf as far back as history records.

The descendent of the bookcase was the Aumbry. An aumbry is a recessed cabinet in the wall of a medieval Christian church where they stored their religious scrolls.

As architecture became more elaborate so did the interiors of our buildings. Furniture design was influenced by architecture.

Bookcases are almost as old as books

Books were hand written and carried in boxes ‘portmanteau’ by scholars. Until 1440 Guttenberg printing press allowed books to be made more accessible for those who could afford them. Meaning a sacred place was needed for those books.

The European libraries in 16 ^th to 18 ^th century consisted of wooden bookshelves within the interior walls of the buildings.

In the 17 ^th century we started to see furniture finding an essential practicality and usefulness in our society. During the Baroque style across western Europe, especially at the end of 17 ^th century, this period had a marked effect on furniture design.

The glazed bookcase is believed to be invented by Samuel Pepys, an ardent bibliophile in 17 ^th century.

The public library act in 1850 opened the doors to the general public.

From 1860’s to 1920’s, during the Arts and Crafts movement, people’s possessions started to reflect their style and identity.

Furniture not just for the upper classes and nobility, but for the middle classes.

The modern movement allowed furniture to separate from Architecture and stand alone as individual pieces.

Books continue to be among our most precious and treasured household possessions.

Even in 2023 with the digital age, you still can’t beat flicking through a hardbacked book.

In our modern homes we have used shelving to partition our open living spaces

We've created rooms that are dedicated spaces for a library and study

Design accessible storage

Ergonomics is an important factor when designing a bookcase or Library.

What you need to consider is to make sure you aren't overstretching. Mounting shelves for books so you scan easily and they are at your eye level

How high can you reach from the floor?

What's the optimum depth of shelf for a book?

What's the optimum height of shelf for your books?

Design for Appearance

A bookcase doesn't need to be square or rectangular.

Get in touch if you need a stand alone bookcase or library made for your specifications info@alnfurniture.co.uk

Welcome to my new blog series!!

Check out my next Winter blog by Anna Nichols

Following Anna in her design studio, workshop and at local sawmills selecting timber

SUMMER NEWSLETTER

Mon, 19 Jun 2023 15:16:33 GMT

Welcome to Anna's new seasonal newsletter!!

SUMMER BLOG 2023 : THE DESIGN PROCESS

Mon, 19 Jun 2023 15:16:14 GMT

Design series : The design process

Designing furniture requires the ability to visualise in 3D. Working out how a piece of furniture is going to look before you make.

Design for people

The furniture design process starts with deciding what function the piece of furniture will have. Furniture are functional products and designed around the human body.

Today's forms & concepts of furniture originate from the history of furniture design.

It's increasingly rare to find a new innovative design that has not been seen before.

The statistical sciences of the human body -anthropometry & ergonomics, provide the furniture designer with a large resource of historical data of the average height and build of males & females.

This means the designer can make a piece of furniture comfortable for people of any stature.

Design for safety

Wooden structures can support large weights if constructed properly. The design has to counteract any stresses and strains of normal use. Each piece of furniture with a different function has different structural needs from another.

For example, a chairs joints between the legs and the rails have to be designed to withstand shear forces.

The effects of leverage and stability are important factors of a design. People have a habit of misusing furniture.

A dining chair most commonly is tested to its limits by people rocking on the back legs.

A sloping back leg widens a chair base and will remain safely balanced when being tipped backwards.

Design in wood

Innovation has always come from exploration of materials.

Timber is one material that has been explored the most. The traditional cabinet making skills stay the same from the 1700's and 1800's.

The developments the cabinet makers made in history transfer to modern day design.

Designing furniture with wood movement in mind. When wood shrinks and expands you have to allow for this happening in your design

More exploration was made in 1900's when mass manufacturing and new tools were designed. Industrial design enhanced advances in furniture design.

The technological advances in the aeronautic and motor industry advanced forming wooden shapes that had not been seen before in furniture. Charles Eames chair advanced moulded plywood design.

Creating more organic shapes that did not need to be carved out of solid timber by hand.

Today modern day innovation in wood is focused on the use of CNC machine on a multi axis. To carve into to solid timber which speeds up the process of hand carving.

Design for Appearance

Aesthetic and decorative considerations are an important part of designing furniture.

Most woodworkers have always been artisans and creative designers. Using their technological knowledge and creativity to make furniture.

Welcome to my new blog series!!

Check out my next Autumn blog in October by Anna Nichols

Following Anna in her design studio, workshop and at local sawmills selecting timber

SRING BLOG 2023 : THE ASH TREE

Sun, 07 May 2023 16:40:37 GMT

The Ash tree

The third most common tree that grows in the UK. Found in mixed woodland on the outside and in hedgerows.

The Ash trees natural span is 200 years old. Coppicing can extend the Ash trees life to 400 years old.

An Ash tree wood is best for using between 30-60 years, as the elasticity is most effective

The Ash tree is a light, graceful & commanding strong tree receiving the name

'Venus of the woods'

You'll find Ash trees preference are Northern & Eastern side of hills. Where the atmosphere is moist & cool with the soil deep & porous.

Ash trees grow 80 to 100 feet tall. Seeds on an Ash tree are referred to as 'keys' (Samaras actual name) The 'keys' hang as bunches and individually have a little twist in the wing. The 'key' can spin steadily in the wind. They are called 'Spinners' by some and ripe in October.

Ash is a strong and elastic hardwood. Easily bent, readily worked, a versatile and functional timber with a pinkish white hue.

Unlike Oak, Ash has a moderate weight.

Commonly used for furniture, sports equipment, steam bending, agricultural/makers tool handles and hunting tools.

The Ash has brilliant shock resistant capabilities and the reason for being used for tennis rackets, snooker cues, fishing rods, axe handles etc...

The green immature seeds of Ash are edible and have been used in herbal medicine.

Ash was in high demand for many years but has never been appreciated the same way as Oak.

Do you have an Ash tree in your local area?

To identify an Ash tree, you can use the illustration below of a leaf.

Illustration from The Observer's book of

trees and shrubs

The Ash Dieback

Ash dieback is a fungus originating from Asia. Our Native European Ash has been devastated by the fungus because the European Ash has no natural defence against the fungus.

Trees younger than 40 years are more sensitive.

They are working towards a solution. As Ash has been an important timber to humans for thousands of years. Here is more reading about Ash Dieback projects

www.theashproject.org.uk

www.livingashproject.org.uk

Local sustainable hardwoods

Scottish Elm, Oak and Ash are the three local hardwoods I make furniture with the most. Ash was the first hardwood I used and still is my favourite timber to work with.

Fun fact

In the workshop, Ash is able to identify when a tool is blunt as its the one wood that burns easily.

To read more about Ash trees and what can be made from Ash

'The Man who made things out of trees' by Robert Penn

The Scottish Furniture Makers Association are also embarking on a project called Ash Rise .

You can follow their journey on their social media platforms

Welcome to my new blog series!!

Check out my next Summer blog in June by Anna Nichols

Following Anna in her design studio, workshop and at local sawmills selecting timber

SPRING NEWSLETTER

Sun, 07 May 2023 16:40:34 GMT

Welcome to Anna's new seasonal newsletter!!

WINTER BLOG 2023 : THE OAK TREE

Sat, 25 Feb 2023 19:01:40 GMT

The Oak tree

The second most common tree that grows in the UK.

All Oak trees will grow a minimum (at least) to 200 years old. Some have been known to survive for thousands of years.

An Oak tree from 400 years onwards is classed as an ancient tree

There are estimated 121 million Oak trees in UK alone.

An Oak tree is cherished around the world. Considered a symbol of wisdom, strength and endurance.

Oak trees grow to 40 metres tall and estimated to grow 50cm each year. Their roots will grow to the same size as their height and width.

Oak is a strong and durable hardwood. Oak has good water resistance and highly durable to wear.

Commonly used for furniture, joinery, flooring, panelling, decking and veneers.

The Major Oak

The Major Oak is the largest Oak tree in Britain. They believe the tree is between 800 to 1000 years old. Estimated at 23 tonnes and 10 metres diameter. The branches/canopy reaching 28 metres.

The Major Oak is in the Sherwood Forest National Nature reserve in Nottinghamshire.

Do you have an Oak tree in your local park or street?

To identify an Oak tree, you can use the illustration below of a leaf.

Illustration from The Observer's book of

trees and shrubs

Welcome to my new blog series!!

Check out my next Spring blog in April/May

by Anna Nichols

Following Anna in her design studio, workshop and at local sawmills selecting timber

WINTER NEWSLETTER

Sat, 25 Feb 2023 18:24:06 GMT

Welcome to Anna's new seasonal newsletter!!

AUTUMN BLOG 2022 : THE ELM TREE

Fri, 21 Oct 2022 08:27:59 GMT

The Elm tree

The Elm has about 20 different species of this genus in North temperate regions. A deciduous tree native to Southern and Eastern Europe. The English Elm (Ulmus minor var.vulgaris) was first introduced to Southern England by Bronze age farmers.

English Elm dominated the British countryside but since the 1960's was ravaged by Dutch Elm disease.

English Elm is very similar to Wych Elm (Ulmus glabra) and difficult to tell the two species apart.

Nearly all elms yield valuable hardwood in large size and can be found in hedgerows or woodlands.

A locally sourced hardwood I use is Wych Elm or also referred to as Scots Elm

Elm is a strong and durable hardwood and has been used in decorative wood turning, boats, furniture, wheel hubs, wooden water pipes, flooring and coffins.

Dutch Elm Disease

Dutch Elm disease is a fungal disease and spread by elm bark beetle.

The tree reacts to fungus by blocking its own Xylem tissues. Xylem tissues deliver water and nutrients to the rest of the tree.

The Great British Elm Experiment

Great British Elm Experiment | BRT The Berkeley Reafforestation Trust (thebrt.org)

The Great British Elm Experiment is a project which sets out to challenge the view that “elms have had it!”

Check out their website via the link above.

Do you have an Elm tree in your local park or street?

To identify a Wych Elm tree, you can use the illustration below of a leaf.

Illustration from The Observer's book of

trees and shrubs

Illustration from The Encylopedia of trees

Timbers and forests of the world

Welcome to my new blog series!!

Check out my next Winter blog in January

by Anna Nichols

Following Anna in her design studio, workshop and at local sawmills selecting timber

AUTUMN NEWSLETTER

Fri, 21 Oct 2022 07:39:01 GMT

Welcome to Anna's new seasonal newsletter!!

SUMMER BLOG 2022 : THE SAWMILL

Thu, 25 Aug 2022 15:25:37 GMT

The Sawmill

Timber

I source my timber from local sustainable sawmills. The sawmills season, cut and prep the timber ready to be used for our requirements.

When I select the timber from their stacks for a piece of furniture, I have to consider the following.

Defects in timber

Defects in timber are common.

Here are a few below.

Shakes appear due to shrinkage.

Twisted or boards in wind are due to stresses in the tree that are released when the trees are sawn.

The twist can also occur when the boards have been stacked incorrectly.

Knots are the remains of twigs, branches or boughs.

Knots, twisting and shakes can make machining timber awkward.

The Seasoning

The UK has a temperate climate and usually trees are felled in the winter

The winter is the time of year when the moisture in a tree is at its least. Even cutting the tree down at this time of year, you will find that 30% of the weight of the tree is moisture. A sawmill will season the timber by drying the wood slowly and reducing the moisture level.

Reducing the moisture level is important and will allow the timber to be used for making furniture, joinery and timber frame buildings.

The outer of the tree will dry faster but the centre will take much longer. To help the moisture come out of the tree faster the tree would be cut into planks.

The timber boards would be stacked on top of each other with sticks between to allow the timber to air dry.

The seasoning will take different amounts of time, depending on thickness of the boards and type of timber being seasoned. The moisture content needs to drop to 18% for Air dried timber which can take 1-3 years. The timber is ready for the next stage kilning. You can continue to air dry for 8 years and moisture level will drop to 8%

Illustration from Woodwork by W.L. Showell

The Kiln

To increase the speed of drying timber a kiln can be used. A kiln allows the temperature, air flow and humidity to be controlled.

Allowing more moisture to be removed from the timber faster. A few weeks instead of a few years. The moisture content will drop to 12% to 8%.

The removal of moisture and drying means the timber boards will shrink. The timber boards are cut larger in thickness to allow for the shrinkage. The tree log is cut to get the maximum boards out of the tree.

The timber will be sold either as quarter sawn or crown cut boards. Quarter sawn is more stable and crown cut is more figurative but is prone to cupping. Depending on how the annual rings structure has been cut through.

I can now go pick up your timber from the sawmill as the timber is ready to be used to make a piece of furniture.

Welcome to my new blog series!!

Check out my next Autumn blog in October/November

by Anna Nichols

Following Anna in her design studio, workshop and at local sawmills selecting timber

SUMMER NEWSLETTER

Thu, 25 Aug 2022 13:53:40 GMT

Welcome to Anna's new seasonal newsletter!!

SPRING NEWSLETTER

Sun, 10 Apr 2022 10:12:42 GMT

Welcome to Anna's new seasonal newsletter!!

SPRING BLOG 2022 : HOW TREES GROW

Sun, 10 Apr 2022 09:58:57 GMT

How tree's grow

A designer/maker’s role includes understanding the materials you are working with.

The timber I use is from local sawmills that supply timber from local sustainable sources.

Timber is a valuable and adaptable material source.

A beautiful and desirable natural renewable resource.

Trees

Trees are seed bearing plants and are divided into two groups.

The needle leaved coniferous tree known as softwoods. PINE

The broad-leaved trees known as hardwoods. These trees are either deciduous or evergreen. OAK

The living tree and the way trees grow

The formation of new wood grows on the outside of the tree underneath the bark. This layer is called the cambium. The growth happens by the supply of water and minerals from the roots and leaves.

The cambium splits into two as the tree goes through growth. The inner part of the cambium grows to become a wood cell. The outer part continues the cycle of life until it splits again the following year.

The UK has a temperate climate. Our trees growth starts each year when the leaf buds open until the leaves fall in Autumn.

New growth is called spring wood which are large cells and light in colour. Summer or Autumn wood are small cells, denser and darker in colour.

Illustration from Woodwork by W.L. Showell

An annual ring is formed which is one year’s growth.

A cross section of a tree has a visible band of lighter coloured wood on the outside called sapwood.

This is the new growth and can have 40 year's of annual rings within the sapwood.

The darker wood is called the heartwood, denser and the mature section of the tree. The Sapwood is considered poor quality.

Light coloured lines that radiate from centre of the tree are called medullary rays. These serve as to store food from the cambium to the heartwood.

In oak trees the rays are very visible and a decorative feature of the wood known as figured oak.

Welcome to my new blog series!!

Check out my next Summer blog in July

by Anna Nichols

Following Anna in her design studio, workshop and at local sawmills selecting timber

The Lonely Corner in the Room

Sat, 27 Mar 2021 11:09:49 GMT

The Lonely Corner in the Room

We all have those awkward lonely corners in our homes.

How can you make the most of those corners?

What do you put in a corner of a room?

How to make the most of your space?

Create additional seating
Add a desk
Try a window seat
What about floor lamps or a plant to lighten up the corner
Perhaps a corner chair to create a reading nook
Or a bedroom dresser
And extra shelving

Last year, like for so many, it was so unexpected what happened.

My home had become my workplace and my work started encroaching on my living space.

The furniture for the exhibition Adjust/Adapt 21, originated from a couple of designs, that I was designing for my own home, a small flat.

Although, I already use my home as an office, I hadn’t made it comfortable to use in that way.

I needed somewhere to put my laptop away at the end of the day. Then I could sit at my dining table for dinner and relax in my lounge in the evening.

The piece of furniture I designed was to be made using wood from my selection of off cuts, I’d been hoarding. The designs were created with this in mind, to keep the cost down.

My favourite style is functional art and I’d just started to focus on this more in my work at the end of 2019.

I wanted to create a piece that was fun, creative and functional for my lonely corner in the room.

If you've been inspired by my designs and would like something unique for your home.

Get in touch

info@alnfurniture.co.uk

aln furniture : Original designs

Sat, 05 Sep 2020 14:40:48 GMT

'Squiggle'

The 'Squiggle' coat stand.

The first 'Squiggle' stand was designed 5 years ago for Harmony Ridge Designs for her design studio in Stockbridge. The brief was to have 20 abstract pegs to drape silk scarves over.

Back in the workshop, I refined the design and created a new version with an Elm base, Ash stem and Walnut pegs. A hand turned base with a stem which squiggled, following the grain of the wood. Each one having their own uniqueness and different styled turned bases.

I've also made three new 'Squiggles' with a Walnut stem, Sycamore base and cherry pegs.

'Squiggle' in the workshop.

Affordable functional art.

When I first moved to Edinburgh 6 years ago, I started to develop my small wooden gifts.

Intentionally making and designing products, allowing my work to be accessible to a larger number of people. Popping up in local craft fairs and farmers markets around Edinburgh.

My inspiration for the 'Squiggle' started 13 years ago. Here is a glimpse of my personal sketch books, including photos and initial ideas.

The first exhibition for 'Squiggle' was in 2016 at Royal Botanical Gardens in Edinburgh. Rooms for improvement exhibition by Scottish Furniture Makers Association.

Myself, Chris Scotland, Alan Dalgety and Angus Richardson created a very different type of exhibition for SFMA that year. Creating room interiors including a hallway, dining room, lounge, bedroom and kitchen space.

The poster was photographed by Monika Grabowska to depict a hallway. This included the 'Squiggle' coat stand.

A lady came in to the exhibition with her daughter because she had seen the coat stand on the poster and wanted to commission one to be made for her. Two 'Squiggles' were sold on the first day at the exhibition.

To date the 'Squiggle' has become an alnfurniture favourite.

Currently, you'll find a 'Squiggle' coat stand in Logan Malloch shop at 13 Leith Walk, Edinburgh.

If you've been inspired by my designs and would like something unique for your home.

Get in touch info@alnfurniture.co.uk

aln furniture : Original designs

Thu, 06 Aug 2020 20:54:40 GMT

Metal frames saved from the scrap yard.

A very different style from alnfurniture or maybe not?!!

Most of my pieces, over the last 10 years have been made in sustainable Scottish hardwoods.

As a designer-maker, my journey of making pieces of furniture in wood, hasn't held me back from designing other pieces using other materials.

Including metal, concrete, Perspex, glass, leather and re-claimed parts.

How these tables started?

I spotted these four old metal frames sitting on a pallet in our workshop, ready to be discarded. Straight away I envisaged a few of my designs using these frames.

Using other materials, I'd collected in my storage bay or attic. I designed the final details of each table. They each had to have their own individual uniqueness. Co-ordinating colours and different materials for each individual top.

My intention was to have them in a local gallery by spring 2020. I will be postponing this show till next year. Including a new unseen collection.

If you've been inspired by my designs and would like something unique for your home.

Get in touch info@alnfurniture.co.uk

aln furniture : Original designs

Sat, 04 Jul 2020 13:17:42 GMT

A Gentleman Valet.

The original gentleman valet I made in 2012 was for my Dad.

The brief.

A new valet to replace his existing valet, he had made in the 1980's out of broom handles.

An elegant contemporary design using curves.

- A tray for coins or cufflinks.

- A shoe rail.

- A suit jacket hanging rail.

- A trouser and tie/belt hanging rail.

A popular design from alnfurniture original designs.

A new Gentleman valet is for sale in the alnfurniture shop.

The design has been modified since the original, but the premise has always stayed the same.

Need help designing and tailoring a piece of furniture for your bedroom to your specific requirements?

Get in touch info@alnfurniture.co.uk

aln furniture : Original designs

Sat, 20 Jun 2020 18:55:05 GMT

'Plover' Wine dresser

A wine connoisseur tasting dresser.

A dresser for wine glasses and a storage space for a selection of your special wine bottles.

Made in Scottish Elm from the Meadows in Edinburgh and with Cedar trays for the glasses.

A bespoke glass panel and glass bowl by David Mola. Complimenting a contemporary designed dresser by Anna Nichols.

Sizes : 1200 long x 300 deep x 850 high (Dimensions in mm's)

Need help designing and tailoring a wine cellar or dresser for your specific requirements?

Get in touch info@alnfurniture.co.uk

The Workshop

Sat, 23 May 2020 21:27:37 GMT

A virtual workshop tour.

In our workshop at Edinburgh Open Workshop we have some big machines and a big space to make in. Here is a mini tour, while I machined an Elm chopping board on Friday.

The surface planer and thicknesser , used to flatten the wood and thickness to a preferred size. A lovely old Italian machine with a 500mm wide bed, I got a few years ago.

The power saws. The two machines used the most in the workshop. A panel saw and a cross cut saw.

The bandsaw. Allows us to create lots of curves and re-saw a wider board.

These four machines are important tools for a woodworker and where we start with any piece of furniture.

Have an interest in woodwork?

I'm sure the team at Edinburgh Open Workshop would love to give you a tour, once they are open again to the public.

In the meantime, I'm taking the Elm chopping board back to my bench and work space to finish off the final details. Available soon to purchase on alnfurniture shop.

Here is the beautiful piece of Scottish Elm, after I planed the rough sawn board.

Are you sitting comfortably?

Sun, 19 Apr 2020 15:00:20 GMT

Our current self isolation has us all sitting more at home.

As we are all self isolating, we will most likely be sitting a lot more than 9 hours in a day.

Working from home for the first time with an unsuitable workstation.

To help with this situation, here are a couple of tips regarding sitting.

Are you sitting comfortably?

Upright seating is designed for activity where the person is involved in some task. For example, eating or working.

Reclined seating is designed for relaxing. Your body position will be more stretched out.

Are you sitting up straight?

Good posture is not the only consideration when sitting. You could be putting unnecessary pressure on your thighs and knees. Some seating problems occur when the following are a problem.

Seat is to shallow or to deep

Seat is to high or to low

Ergonomics helps us to design a working environment to make it more comfortable and safe for each person. Working environments don't just include activities based on earning money.

We use anthropometric design data to work out the average human body measurements. Then using this data to determine the dimensions of a chair, desk, kitchen table and the space around a workstation. But each humans individual body means adjustments are required.

Avoid body fatigue caused by unsuitable or uncomfortable furniture.

You should avoid too many repetitive movements and don't overstretch your arms.

For example, moving of a computer mouse or typing on a keyboard.

Any items you use regularly on your desk should be within comfortable reach. Avoid over reaching.

No e rgonomic chair at home!!

Your chair needs to be set at the correct height. Use a foot rest if your feet aren't touching the floor. Your feet need to be flat to the floor.

Use a cushion if your chair is to low. Make sure to support your lower back if your seat is to deep.

Place your laptop screen at eye level and at arms length. Lift up your screen if you are finding you are bending your neck down.

Tips to decrease fatigue

Take regular breaks.

Stand up and move during tv breaks or coffee breaks.

Walk around whilst on the phone.

Swap sitting for more active breaks. Stretching or walking up and down a set of stairs.

Set up an alternative standing position for working. Make sure your laptop is setup not to high or to low.

Stay home. Stay safe everybody.

Need help making the most of your small spaces? Identify your requirements.

Get in touch info@alnfurniture.co.uk

Design Studio : Small Space ideas

Sat, 14 Mar 2020 17:58:36 GMT

How to maximise on your small spaces?

Don’t let any space go unused in a small room.

C reate a multi-purpose space and consider dividing the room with a screen.

B uild in storage walls to the ceiling.

To make sure the space doesn't look to heavy keep it light by using soft colours.

Here are a few examples, designed and made by aln furniture.

Converting a mezzanine floor into a private space. Using a sliding door that hides behind the fixed bookcases allows the space to be used as a spare bedroom. The privacy screen closes of the mezzanine to the light from downstairs living space. Bookcases offering extra storage for an at home office.

Floor to ceiling bookshelves

Semi-opaque materials or soft colours

(Traditional Japanese Shoji paper screens)

Here a mezzanine bed was already in place in a tall ceiling room and the customer required a stair that was less steep than the previous ladder. The stair created storage underneath the stairs and a study hideaway.

Bedrooms with low roof lines and making the most from alcoves. Here are two different designs.

Maximise cupboard space

Cupboards, shelves, sliding doors with hanging space and drawers.

How to utilise your walls, hidden space and corners in your living areas?

Under bed storage

Use your corners

Get items of the floor

Wall vertical space

Here are a few examples of a corner valet and wall mounted valets, under bed storage on castors, corner TV shelf and wall mounted bedside shelf by alnfurniture.

Need help making the most of your small spaces? Identify your requirements.

Get in touch info@alnfurniture.co.uk

Design Studio : Inspiration to Realisation

Sun, 16 Feb 2020 01:15:44 GMT

‘Boomerang’ Desk chair designed by Anna Nichols

At the beginning of 2020 I was making the 9th ‘Boomerang’ chair in my workshop.

A design that I have been developing since I was at University in 2000. I was inspired by my lecturers to explore and work with vacuum formed curves and influenced by the iconic Charles Eames chair. In my final year project, I designed and made my first ply curved pod shapes as photo below.

SKETCHING

I’ve always been drawn to organic non geometric curves when sketching ideas. Organic shapes are often curvilinear in appearance and are a common feature in nature. I have quite a few photo’s focusing on these shapes, for example a flamingo standing in water.

My designs often start from sketching negative space of an object in nature. Negative space is an art term explaining the space around and between an object, not the object itself. Which can form an interesting or aesthetically pleasing shape.

Why the name ‘Boomerang’?

The ‘Boomerang’ shape reminds me of a wing shape and my sketches of bird silhouettes and negative space of flamingo’s legs. If you squint a bit!!

I spend most of my time squinting at things!!

After a few years after University, I had a couple of designs that I kept redrawing in my sketch books. The only way forward was to actually make one of my designs. At the same time of this realisation, I was finishing a fine furniture making course at Jonathan Markovitz in Oxford.

This was the key to understanding how I can make one of my curved designs in solid wood. Whilst on the course I learnt new skills and an understanding of grain direction and its relationship to cutting tools.

When I started at my new workshop in Scottish Borders in 2010, I felt it was time to take the next step and play with these shapes and curves in hardwood that I’d been drawing again and again.

The first ‘Boomerang’ design was a lounger chair for a hallway. I was commissioned to make this chair in Ash, which has become one of my favourite hardwoods to work in since. Here are three main parts of the design that I was playing around with.

How large a curve can I produce in my vacuum former and how much would the curve flex back when pressure released?

How to use the natural grain direction to make my curved chair components?

Using what I learnt from making this chair, I spent more time working out the angle and height of the back on the desk chair version.

Which became apparent was an important factor in chairs. What also helped me get the best dimensions for my ‘Boomerang’ chair was making four different styled chairs prior to making the first ‘Boomerang’ desk chair.

I happened to have a few commissions come in to make dining tables and chairs when I first started my business.

Having felt I was fully ready, I started to make the first ‘Boomerang’ chair for my first exhibition at the Lighthouse, Glasgow with the Scottish Furniture Makers Association.

I made the first chair from Burr Elm that had been air dried about 8 years before it was put in the kiln. This meant the wood was very stable and wood movement was at a minimum when machining the chair components. I included a vacuum formed chair back in the design and a 'Boomerang' shaped curved legs at the back. Plus front curved legs shaped and jointed into the arms.

Since the first chair, I have continued to adapt the construction and joinery details. Which included fine tuning the glue up stage of the arms and joinery to the back curved leg.

As a furniture maker you never really finish a design. There is always room to improve and I will continue doing this with my next chair and the following chair as well.

Fall in love with Wood Turning!!

Sat, 08 Feb 2020 15:33:05 GMT

Wood turning with Anna Nichols

I was 16 years old when I was first introduced to wood turning. My design and technology teacher brought his own lathe into the school workshop and showed me how to turn wood.

Being a girl’s school in 1996, we only had three girls in our A-level design and technology class.

We were lucky. We got the chance to learn hand woodworking skills and produce our own piece of furniture for our end of year project.

Health & safety has advanced since then!!

10 years ago, I started my own business as a professional furniture maker. Never really thinking that I would be using my wood turning skills as my job.

I was at Real wood studios workshop in the Scottish Borders and people kept enquiring about needing replacement items wood turned. As I was the only one that could turn, I started offering people wood turning as a service.

Wood turning is my favourite as a professional maker and I can’t quite believe that I make bespoke pieces for people. It’s amazing!!

Never thought that would happen when I was 16 years old.

Wood Turning two hour taster session with Anna.

I decided last year that I wanted to pass on my love of wood turning to others. I started my first wood turning 2-hour tasters in January this year and its lovely to see someone getting the bug for wood turning for the first time.

I am offering one to one wood turning, so the new turner gets maximum amount of time on the lathe.

Wood turning for me is three things, therapeutic, a way of being creative (artistic expression) and instant product satisfaction.

Testimonial

‘Delighted with these wood turning tasters – I’d always wanted to try this and you couldn’t find a more patient and thoughtful teacher e.g. all the prepping done in advance so you had time to turn something new each time. I’ll be back for more. Thanks Anna!!’ - by Sarah

My New Blog!!

Sat, 01 Feb 2020 18:26:26 GMT

Introduction to my new blog

Lets take a moment to put our feet up and have a cup of coffee!!

My family, friends and colleagues would say 'Hang on a minute you don't drink coffee?'.

A little secret about the photo shoot of one of my latest serving platters in the above photo, it was actually not coffee in the cup.

Welcome to my first blog post of 2020!!

The plan for this year, via this blog, is to bring you the follower into my design studio, workshop and woodworker life, as I work on each piece I design/make.

Enjoy!!

Designer/Maker

Sat, 01 Feb 2020 18:26:21 GMT

Designer/Maker

How to design a piece of furniture?

An important stage of designing in wood is to consider wood movement.

Aesthetically your design might look amazing!!

But solid wood furniture is affected by heat and moisture. A hot dry environment will cause wood to shrink, whilst a damp environment will cause it to swell.

Knots, cracks, drying shakes and movement are inherent characteristics of natural timber and are not considered a fault in the wood or workmanship. If furniture is exposed to extremes of temperature, such as next to a radiator or exposed to direct sunlight or by an unnaturally dry atmosphere, the wood will move.

To allow the wood to flex and shrink we use certain type of wood joints. The photo above shows solid oak door frames with mortise and tenons.