Peter MacDonald, Karangi, NSW

Towanninnie Dining Suite
WA jarrah, jarrah burl, Qld silver ash, all sourced from local joinery.
Table: 1600 wide x 740mm high
Chair height: 1040mm

Joinery
The tabletop was constructed of nine dressed panels, biscuit jointed and glued with two-part epoxy. The silver ash curved inlay was sandwiched between the jarrah panels and is also biscuit jointed. After shaping the table, the edges were partially rounded.
The legs were laminated together using two-part epoxy from two lengths of 40mm jarrah and have 10mm jarrah burl strip inlayed up the length of the inner and outer faces. The legs were then tapered on a jointer and then the side surfaces were partially rounded to the desired shape.
The table rails, due to their shape, were laminated from several pieces of timber and shaped by hand using various carving discs on a grinder. Each rail end was then attached to the respective leg with large dowels, a 10mm threaded rod was first installed horizontally through the leg between the dowels and into the both rail ends and washers/nuts were installed and tightened via pockets rebated into the upper surfaces of the rails after applying two-part epoxy to the dowels and mating surfaces. The frame was then attached to the tabletop with 15 screws in slotted holes (to allow movement) and covered by jarrah plugs.
The chairs were designed to complement shapes involved in the table, all side surfaces of the frames were shaped similar to the table legs, as were the seats and tabletop, joints are mortise and tenon and cross pinned to completely lock the joints. The upper back panel was hand carved using a disc grinder and butt jointed to the leg rails then exposed pinned. Slats were shape laminated out of two stripes, the edges rounded and tenoned into the seat. The seat is constructed of two and a bit pieces of silver ash doweled together, depth shaped with a hand router then carved to shape with the grinder. The table and chairs were then sanded and sealed with five coats of finish.

Design Concept
My concept was to design a dining table and chairs that displayed originality, a modern elegance that draws your eye. By the blending of straight lines and subtle curves, also softening edges by slightly rounding, I think I achieved the feel I was looking for. I err towards a delicate feel so the choice of using jarrah was essential for strength (I just love jarrah for its rich and diverse colour and most of my furniture has been constructed from it since I was first introduced to it). The curved inlay in the tabletop is a feature that I have used in almost all my designs, sometimes contrasting as in this piece and sometimes very very subtle. It tends to be my indirect signature.
Another requirement of the table was that I was able to seat nine people with a squeeze for those unexpected guests. The shape was chosen as I wished to have a table that all people that sat around it were of equal standing but didn’t want it to be just round. The chairs were first and foremost designed to be comfortable (I carved three different seat contours before getting it just right) and of course then to complement the table. In so doing so I ended up with right and left handed chairs due to the shape of the top of the back rests.

Glues
Crosslinking PVA, two-part megaepoxy.

Finish
Kunos Natural Oil Sealer, Feast Watson Floorseal.

Photos: Matt Hood