Given the opportunity to craft bespoke furniture for a client during a villa restoration, builder Adam Ward found a new vocation, shifting from building and renovating houses to designing and handcrafting his own range of wooden furniture and homewares. The result was Eastwood Design, now established with a purpose-built workshop in Northland.
What do you make?
Bespoke wooden furniture and products, tables, chairs, shelf units, from dog beds to chopping boards, coasters, and whatever I can think of.
How did you get into your craft?
After building and renovating houses for over 30 years I needed a change of vocation. I have always loved wooden furniture and many years ago while I was restoring a villa for a client, they asked make some one-off pieces of furniture for their house. It was a bit unusual but I gave it a go and they were rapt, and I really enjoyed the process too. It stuck with me and when the opportunity to have a change from building came along, I thought I would give it a go – and here I am.
Do you have formal training or qualifications in your craft?
No I don’t have any formal training, I have always worked with timber, being a builder, but it is a quite a different craft and it has been a huge learning curve that has only just begun. YouTube has been a great resource and just giving it a go – you learn so much by just doing it.
Your favourite materials, tools and processes?
I have always loved our native timbers like kauri and rimu, but I have been discovering and playing with exotic timbers like oak, maple, walnut, and ash, which is so much fun, although pretty expensive to source!
My favourite tool is probably my router – it is such a versatile and precise tool which demands respect. If you lose focus for a second it can all go very wrong in an instant. It’s a tool I couldn’t do without… but I could say that about every tool I have.
Tell us about some of the techniques involved in producing one of your pieces:
My process usually starts with a design in my head or from a client. Then sourcing the timber, usually rough sawn, which I dress and straighten and get to an even thickness, then cut to length for what I need for the project and it goes on from there: gluing, clamping, mortise and tenon joints, sanding, sanding, lots of sanding! And hopefully at the end there is a piece I am proud of.
What inspires you?
Other incredible woodworkers, there are so many talented craftsmen and -women out there and one great thing with social media, is that it is really easy for people worldwide to showcase their products and talents. There seems to be a bit of community of woodworkers who give each other support, which is really cool.
Is there a philosophy behind your work?
To make products that will stand the test of time, not only in longevity but also the design. I really want to showcase the wood itself and make the incredible textures and colours of the grain stand out to be the hero of whatever I make. Hopefully the pieces will last for generations.
What has been a highlight of your maker journey so far?
Seeing the joy from a very happy client with their new piece of furniture and then them becoming a repeat client.
Describe your workspace:
My happy place… I built a 30 square metre workshop on our property where I escape to get creative. Being a one man band, so much time is taken up with pricing, invoicing, promoting yourself on social media, websites, and so on… All essential stuff but I just want to be in the workshop!
Your favourite feedback from a customer:
That I am an artist.
What are you currently listening to?
Whatever pops up on my streaming service at the moment, but my favourite bands/artists would be Beck, The Strokes, Talking Heads, Guts, Blundetto, and lately I am also enjoying Racing, a local rock band.
Tell us about your pets:
We have a rescue street dog from Rarotonga, who adopted us while we were holidaying there. A long story but with a lot of help we ended up with him back here in NZ. He is such a character, super loyal, and rules the house.
What would your advice be for those starting out in a crafty business?
It’s a bit hard for me to advise anyone else at this early stage of starting out myself, but I have found going to local markets and showcasing your products is fantastic for instant feedback on what people like or don’t like. Even when it is tough and people aren’t buying much, they will still give you a compliment on something they like. And being fairly consistent at a market is key, as people often come by two or three market days before they decide to buy.
Why do you think it’s important to buy handmade and/or locally made goods?
To support local businesses, whether it is handmade products, small retailers, growers, artists, or eateries, helps keep the local economy going and people in jobs. You can feel good about yourself when you have purchased from a little business/producer as all the sales, big and small, make such a difference.
What does it mean to you when someone buys your creations?
It is such a great feeling when someone purchases something you have made, crafted by hand and particularly when the purchaser is so excited about what they have bought. It’s a real buzz and it means I’m doing something right.
What was the last handmade item you bought and what attracted you to it?
We always pick up fresh delicious treats at our local market whether it’s pastries, freshly roasted coffee, Thai food, or bread. I also purchase local beeswax for my beeswax chopping board conditioner.
What’s your favourite item in your shop right now?
Probably my double layer coffee table which is proving popular, but I also have a display shelf unit in the works at the moment which I am pretty excited about. I think it will be a hit. I also love making end grain chopping boards, and I need to get more creative with that.
What’s in store for the rest of 2024?
Keep building sales and product lines and build up stock for hopefully a busy summer season ahead.
See more of Adam’s work in his shop, Eastwood Design, and stay tuned on Instagram for a special giveaway later this month!
