From the brief, Andrew designed and made a red oak desk with a clever folding hood in hand-made veneer, with Orkneys tradition-inspired woven straw drawer fronts. 

“The veneer was more challenging, but it was a pleasure to work with red oak in solid form. I particularly enjoyed exploring the use of complementary materials, settling on natural cork and oat straw.”

Using woven oat straw within furniture is a method that goes back centuries and with relatives hailing from Orkney, where the method originated, Andrew wanted to incorporate his heritage into the design. To source the oats, he visited a straw supplier who grows the oats free from pesticides and any leftover waste was used to brew beer.  

@andrew.joye