Handmade Furniture

Handmade British furniture from our sustainable studio & workshop

A traditional past with a sustainable and innovative future

Inspirational location, aspirational design

Based in rural Bosham on the West Sussex-Hampshire border, our studio and workshop are surrounded by beautiful countryside. On approach, enjoy breath-taking views of Chichester Cathedral and the South Downs, or take a detour along the coast or at the Fishbourne Roman Palace, only a stone’s throw away.

Whether a complete re-invention or just a slight tweak on an existing design, the real art of creating our designs is achieving perfection first time. Our designer-maker relationship is a rare and integral part of how we achieve such high standards, success within our industry and most importantly continued client satisfaction.

Having a creative studio allows Edward to explore his designs and stretch the limits of materials and forms. As an accomplished cabinet maker himself, Edward’s approach to design is steeped in his understanding of his materials. The combination of this experience and his creative aptitude is the driving force behind every high quality project.

The tree-lined driveway leading to Edward Johnson's workshop

Traditionally handmade furniture

Adjoining our studio is our furniture workshop, where we integrate expertise and craftsmanship to turn ideas and aspirations into exceptional handmade furniture and accessories. Typically, each project has a designated lead cabinet maker who works on the piece from start to finish. They hand select the timber, machining each component until the finer craftsmanship begins back on their workbenches and in the assembly space. Although we use high-tech, high-accuracy machines, the end result is only possible through the craftsman expertly reading the timber, whether solid wood or high-quality veneer, and applying skills carefully honed through experience.

The workshop is fully equipped with specialist hand tools that have been collected over the years, including dovetail saws, Japanese saws, chisels, planes and various spokeshaves. They’re complemented by an array of high-tech machinery such as a digital sander, digital dimension saw and vacuum press. Whether traditional or cutting edge, all our tools play an equally important role in the making and fine craftsmanship of our handmade furniture.

Sustainable handmade furniture

We might be saddled with the consumerism tag, but we feel we’re very much removed from fast fashion with our considerately handmade furniture. We are not a production line workshop churning out machine-made copies: we prioritise originality and quality over quantity. Edward’s timeless designs combined with solid handmade craftsmanship and construction means each piece will age gracefully and endure the rigors of life. To coin a well-known phrase, “This isn’t just furniture, this is Edward Johnson furniture”.

Waste not want not

With the exception of a fortnightly bin collection, we recycle every piece of wood through a small product range made by our apprentice and anything left over is used to heat a local workshop using a specially filtered bio-boiler. Not only has this helped reduce our waste, it has created a permanent role for a young apprentice.

VIEW OUR ECO GIFT COLLECTION

Hand cutting dovetail joins with a chisel

Seasoned Collection

As part of our aftercare programme, we offer a refurbish and re-sale service though our Seasoned Collection, exclusively for our patrons who have commissioned or purchased a free-standing Edward Johnson design and wish to transfer custodianship.

Our clients tend to cherish their purchases so it’s not often we have stock, but if we do you will find it in our online shop.

VIEW OUR seasoned COLLECTION

Would you like to visit?

Our clients are always welcome and actively encouraged to visit our studio and workshop at any time during the design or making process to experience first-hand our methodologies, craftsmanship and expertise that bring our ambitious designs to fruition. We also typically hold an open studio each year where we showcase our in-stock furniture and in-progress commissions. Find out more about our next open studio.

You may like to come and view our in stock ‘Made & Ready’ furniture at a time more suitable to you. To book an appointment, please call on 01243 696606 or send us a message and we’ll be in touch.

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