Architecture, Interiors, Model Making & Furniture Design
Furniture Designed as Part of the Architecture
Residential furniture design | Custom joinery
This custom TV cabinet was designed as a piece of furniture within the architecture of the home. Constructed entirely in solid quarter-sawn Silky Oak, the design combines substantial 35 mm cabinet doors, a 40 mm top and display shelves, softly curved corners and integrated storage. Developed from concept through full-scale prototyping and specialist fabrication, the project explores the relationship between furniture, interior architecture, material and craftsmanship.
This custom TV cabinet was designed specifically for an existing home, with the intention of creating a piece of furniture that felt integrated with the interior rather than simply placed within it.
Designed entirely in solid quarter-sawn Silky Oak, the cabinet combines substantial timber construction, softly curved corners, integrated storage and carefully considered proportions. The design sits between furniture and architectural joinery — functional enough to accommodate everyday living, yet considered as a three-dimensional object in its own right.
The natural warmth and grain of the timber provide the primary visual character, while the restrained form allows the cabinet to sit comfortably alongside the existing furniture and interior.
The design began with a simple question: how can a television cabinet become part of the room rather than simply a place to put a television?
The cabinet was designed specifically for the client’s home and considered in relation to the existing furniture, proportions and material palette. A key requirement was the use of solid quarter-sawn Silky Oak throughout. Rather than treating the timber simply as a finish, the design allows the material itself to become an important part of the architecture of the piece.
The substantial timber construction creates a sense of permanence, while the softly curved corners soften the visual mass of the cabinet. The intention was not to create an overly decorative piece. Instead, the design relies on material, proportion, form and craftsmanship to establish its character.
The design in three dimensions, and the timber and finish samples compared together in the workshop.
The proportions of the cabinet were carefully considered in relation to the television, surrounding furniture and the scale of the room.
The cabinet doors are constructed in 35 mm solid Silky Oak, while the cabinet top and upper display shelves are 40 mm solid Silky Oak. The substantial thickness was deliberately retained as part of the design language. Rather than reducing the timber to the minimum thickness necessary for construction, the design celebrates its physical presence and tactile quality.
The curved top introduces a softer transition to the otherwise substantial timber form, creating a balance between mass and refinement. Four integrated drawers provide concealed storage without interrupting the clean composition of the cabinet. Above the television, two solid-timber display shelves extend the composition vertically, creating space for artwork, decorative objects and personal belongings.
The result is a piece in which form, function and material are considered as one.
The entire cabinet was designed and constructed in solid quarter-sawn Silky Oak. The selection of solid timber was fundamental to the design. Its natural grain, warmth and tactile quality give the cabinet a character that could not be achieved simply through a surface veneer or applied finish.
The quarter-sawn timber also provides a distinctive grain pattern that changes subtly across the different components of the piece. The 35 mm solid-timber doors and 40 mm solid-timber top and shelves emphasise the natural strength and substantial character of the material.
The timber was finished with a 20% satin 2Pac finish, providing durability and protection while retaining the warmth and natural appearance of the Silky Oak.
Quarter-sawn Silky OakThe ray fleck reading across the face of the doors.
The curved corners became one of the defining features of the cabinet. Because the piece was constructed from substantial solid timber, the curves required careful consideration during both design and fabrication.
Rather than relying entirely on drawings to resolve the detail, Into Woodworks prepared a full-size mock-up of the curved element for review and approval. This allowed the curvature, scale and proportions to be experienced at full size before the final piece was fabricated, and confirmed that the curves worked naturally with the substantial 35 mm and 40 mm timber elements.
The full-size mock-up, and the same detail resolved in the finished piece.
The drawing establishes the intention; the making helps resolve the detail.
The main cabinet provides a substantial platform for the television while incorporating concealed storage within the overall composition. Four drawers provide practical storage for media equipment while maintaining the clean appearance of the cabinet, and two 40 mm solid Silky Oak shelves above provide display space for artwork, decorative objects and personal belongings.
The curved top softens the substantial timber form and creates a refined visual edge around the television. The functional requirements were carefully integrated into the design so that storage, display and everyday use did not compromise the simplicity of the overall form.
Concealed hinges and a curved internal shelf; a fitted drawer with its shaped finger pull.
Although the cabinet is a piece of furniture, it was approached with many of the same principles used in architectural and interior design. Its scale, proportion, material, rhythm and relationship to the surrounding space were all considered as part of the design process.
The cabinet was not intended to compete with the existing interior. Instead, the warm Silky Oak provides a natural connection with the surrounding furniture, while the substantial construction gives the piece enough presence to establish its own identity. The upper shelves introduce a vertical element, allowing the composition to interact with artwork and objects within the room.
The result is a balance between furniture, storage, display and interior architecture.
The project was developed through close collaboration between designer and specialist joiner. The design intent was communicated through drawings, dimensions, material selections and ongoing consultation with Into Woodworks Brisbane.
The fabrication process became an important part of the design development, particularly in resolving the substantial solid-timber construction and curved corners. Progress photographs and updates allowed the work to be reviewed throughout fabrication and provided opportunities to resolve details before completion. The full-size curved-corner mock-up was particularly valuable in confirming the scale and character of the detail before the final fabrication.
This collaboration demonstrated the importance of combining design thinking with specialist craftsmanship.
The completed cabinet reflects a close relationship between material, construction and craftsmanship. Every major component was considered as part of a cohesive solid-timber composition.
The 35 mm cabinet doors, 40 mm top and 40 mm display shelves establish a consistent language of substantial timber construction, while the curved corners provide a softer counterpoint to the weight of the material. The natural grain of the quarter-sawn Silky Oak becomes part of the visual rhythm of the piece. Rather than adding unnecessary decoration, the design allows the timber, proportion and craftsmanship to provide the detail.
The character of the cabinet is created through a relatively simple palette of materials and carefully resolved details. The thickness of the timber, the transition into the curved corners, the integrated drawers, the upper shelves and the final satin finish all contribute to the overall composition.
The project demonstrates that custom joinery does not need to be complicated to be considered. Sometimes the most important decisions are found in the proportion of a piece, the quality of a material and the way two surfaces meet.
Details matter.
This project was particularly rewarding because it allowed me to take an architectural approach to the design of a smaller, highly crafted object. Although the scale is very different from a building, the underlying principles remain familiar: form, proportion, structure, material, function and detail.
I particularly enjoyed working with solid Silky Oak and allowing the physical qualities of the timber to influence the character of the design. The substantial 35 mm doors and 40 mm top and shelves were intentionally retained as part of the visual language of the furniture, giving the piece a sense of permanence and sculptural presence.
The full-size mock-up of the curved corners was also an important part of the process. It demonstrated how working directly with an experienced craftsperson can strengthen and refine a design beyond what can be resolved through drawings alone.
Seeing the completed cabinet move from an idea on paper into a carefully crafted physical object was one of the most satisfying aspects of the project. For me, this piece represents the connection between architecture, interior design, furniture and three-dimensional form.
The cabinet was professionally constructed by Into Woodworks Brisbane, who translated the design into a bespoke solid-timber piece. Their specialist fabrication skills were particularly important in achieving the substantial timber construction and carefully formed curved elements.
The project involved ongoing consultation, progress review and full-scale prototyping before the final curved details were fabricated. The collaboration between designer and maker was fundamental to achieving the finished result.
For enquiries, please contact lee.anchor@optusnet.com.au.