Alastair Farquar, Newtown, NSW

Huon pine bed
2100 x 1800 x 1000mm

I designed and built the first version and only other version of this bed about 25 years ago. Then made from Tasmanian blackwood, it always attracts comment and I still sleep on it today. This Huon pine bed incorporates design improvements that overcome a couple of shortcomings of the original, but is essentially the same bed.

Concept and Design
The primary concept of the bed was to provide comfort for the occupants whilst in a seated position. This required that the bedhead be tilted back slightly, in order to deliver an angle that was ergonomically supportive to the entire body. A little like a back of lounge chair, to use an analogy.
Visually, the bed also had to be a dramatic piece of furniture with a unique presence if it was to sell for the high end price that its construction would require.
The design had to be achievable with available materials, but could stretch my own knowledge and furniture making abilities to date.

Materials
The bends in the head and foot had to be achieved with a combination of laminations and steam bending of the selected timber.
I had limited steaming experience, but successfully trialed a piece of Huon pine into the anticipated shape. I knew Huon took well to steam bending and had the advantage of being such a spectacular and uniquely Australian timber in its own right; it could well be the basis of an incredible piece of furniture.
Probably hard to find in large sections and probably expensive; both proved to be true! I took the risk.
Construction
The bend in the legs of the bed have been formed by cutting a small section of the plank, folding it back over on itself, then laminating it (using biscuits) to the larger section. The oblique cuts necessary to form the ‘bend’ have been done with a handsaw, removing part of the main plank and part of the smaller piece.
This area is later mortised out to accept the tenons of the horizontal components, which would then capture and contain the steam bent slats.
The vertical slats of the bedhead have been steam bent, taking on the same shape as the laminated bend of the legs. This was a repetition process with 48 hours cooling and setting
All joints (except the four biscuited laminations) are mortise and tenon. This occurs as the legs meet the upper and lower horizontal components as well as the intersection of the steam bent slats with the upper and lower components.
All joints have been glued and clamped using Titebond II PVA.
The side rails are attached to the head and foot with specially shaped steel brackets which have been rebated to ensure they are not visible once a mattress is in place. The slat support system for the mattress is screwed to these.
The entire bed has been sanded down to 800 grit and then finished with hard white shellac (two coats), Organoil hard burnishing oil (four coats) and then Feast Watson fine buffing oil. This has produced a soft and incredibly deep lustre over a timber with its own incredible grain.
This bed has achieved a unique statement in its own right. The grain and the features of the Huon pine are astounding, which is testimony to the choice of timber for the project. It is totally Australian, timeless in design, and can be displayed in a gallery setting with ease.

Photos: Phil Belpen