We return to timber time and again for its ability to introduce softness, texture and contrast. It’s a material we use deliberately — to create moments of warmth, articulate detail, and bring richness to otherwise restrained interiors. Whether expressed through panelling, joinery, or custom furniture, timber acts as a counterpoint to the fixed, tonal elements of our palette — a tool for refinement, rhythm and balance.

Our interest in timber goes beyond species and tone — it’s often about surface texture and how it interacts with light. Wire brushing and sandblasting are two techniques we use to draw out the natural grain and lend timber a more architectural presence.

 

Sandblasting removes the softer spring wood to reveal a deeper, sculpted grain. At Bondi Apartment, we developed a custom ash veneer panelling using this technique. The result is a surface that’s refined yet textural — subtle in tone, but rich in depth.

 

These textures aren’t decorative. They’re applied with intention, to elevate the natural qualities of the material and give it a more nuanced role within the space.

In many of our projects, timber introduces contrast. It often appears as a warmer material set within a neutral or mineral palette — expressed through wall linings, concealed doors or sculpted kitchen forms.

 

At Bondi House, timber battens span across a skylight, gently filtering daylight and casting shadows below. It’s a quiet, architectural gesture that brings softness and rhythm to the space — offering a moment of material relief within a controlled environment.

Much of our joinery is designed to feel like furniture. Kitchens, in particular, are resolved as sculptural volumes — proportioned and detailed to sit within a space rather than dominate it.

 

At Balmoral House, the kitchen is expressed as a freestanding timber object. Vertical grain runs seamlessly across doors and drawers, and the detailing is minimal. It feels balanced and refined — more like a crafted piece of furniture than a conventional kitchen.

Achieving this level of refinement comes from close collaboration with builders, joiners and craftspeople. We spend time prototyping, sampling and reviewing — aligning tone, grain direction and detailing until everything reads clearly and cohesively.

 

This collaborative process is particularly important in the creation of bespoke pieces. The timber baths we design, for example, are handmade by a woodworker in northern New South Wales using solid oak. Their sculptural simplicity is the result of careful craftsmanship, shaped by precision rather than ornament.

Timber remains an essential part of our material approach — valued for its ability to bring subtle contrast, texture and softness to our interiors. When used with care, it offers warmth without excess, and detail without distraction.