Handmade Modern Furniture Features New Construction Techniques

Secreted abroad in a rural valley in upstate New York is a nondescript building, situated between a swath of trees and wild grassland, featuring a few costless-range chickens. From the outside, there's no indication of what's going on inside: The design and creation of amazing modern article of furniture that'southward in demand from coast to coast.

Acrylic "Argon" table. Photo by stockstudiosphotography.com. — Acrylic "Argon" tabular array.

Article of furniture designer Peter Harrison combines modern materials with his own nontraditional joinery techniques to create exceptional express production pieces that feature innovations of his own design such as aluminum brackets, draped cables and concrete components.

The Galway buffet has a door design that uses aluminum to focus the wood movement into a groove in the center. — The Galway buffet has a door pattern that uses aluminum to focus the forest motion into a groove in the center.

The Argon Coffee Table features a Mobius-like wave of stainless steel cables in a base that supports a glass top. Photo by stockstudiosphotography.com. — The Argon Coffee Table features a Mobius-like wave of stainless steel cables in a base that supports a glass top.

The Neptune table is available in Mahogany, Walnut, Sapele dyed black and Maple. Photo by stockstudiosphotography.com. — The Neptune tabular array is available in Mahogany, Walnut, Sapele dyed black and Maple.

Homedit met Harrison at the Achitectural Digest Design Show 2016. We were immediately drawn to his piece of work, specially the Divergence Table and the Oahu tabular array. The latter is one of the pieces in his newest line, featuring unique aluminum joinery. We had the privilege of visiting Harrison's studio where nosotros saw the work in progress and talked with him near his process, his designs, and how his work has evolved.

The Divergence table uses an exposed aluminum corner bracket. The sweeping curves of the cables evoke movement. — The Departure table uses an exposed aluminum corner bracket. The sweeping curves of the cables evoke movement.

In the studio we got a closer look at the Divergence Table in a warmer wood tome. — In the studio we got a closer wait at the Divergence Table in a warmer forest tome.

A glimpse of the artistic joinery that Harrison has developed to create the piece. — A glimpse of the artistic joinery that Harrison has adult to create the piece.

A close-up of how elegantly the cables are attached to the side of the table.

Homedit: Where do you lot get the inspiration for your pieces?

Harrison: Different pieces have different origins. The latest series came about considering a client in Hawaii asked me to design a table that could hands be shipped to Hawaii, but not via freight service. I had to bring it with me on a flying, so I had to pattern something where the longest slice would still fit in standard baggage. The client's apartment is on a high flooring with an ocean view so it had to be light and blusterous. This led to my developing the aluminum brackets that agree pieces of forest. The bracketing is a whole new management and is very different for me.

You lot get ane little thing that pushes you off in some direction and and then yous follow that tangent.

A table in progress at Harrison's studio, destined for a client in nearby Saratoga Springs. — A tabular array in progress at Harrison's studio, destined for a customer in nearby Saratoga Springs.

This is another look at an iteration of the aluminum joinery Harrison has developed.

The completed Oahu Table. Photo by stockstudiosphotography.com. — The completed Oahu Table.

Inside the studio at that place are several pieces that are clearly prototypes. "Before I make a slice I build a full-size mock-up. Information technology allows me to etch in an entirely different style. If I encounter a new problem along the way, I can develop a new component to overcome it," he explains

Mock-up with the glass top in place. — Mock-up with the glass acme in place.

Furniture designer Peter Harrison Picture

Furniture designer Peter Harrison Studio

Homedit: You're known for your unique joinery techniques. How did you determine to pursue this avenue?

Harrison: In 2003-2004, I was looking at the furniture I was making and asking myself what was limiting me. I decided that it was glue, and that if I could practice it without glue, I could theoretically do information technology faster. In that location'south no downtime for pieces and finishing things flat is easier…Over time, the pieces take go more complex. The joinery has get so insanely complicated because information technology'south and so different from traditional joinery techniques.

Furniture designer Peter Harrison Wood working area and machine

Harrison'southward studio is divided into a woodworking area and a machine store, both of which hold numerous vintage machines that have been refurbished and repurposed. "I have been ownership pieces of machinery ever since my senior twelvemonth in higher. For me, more machines mean more creative liberty," he explains.

After earning his BFA from the furniture program at the Rochester Institute of Technology, Harrison launched into making fine art and piece of furniture full time, outset in the Hudson Valley of New York and and so in upstate, outside of Saratoga Springs.

"I like the older machines because they accept a blueprint to them. The newer ones are boxy. That said, the machines are a means to an end. Likewise, the used machines are cheap and well-built. I have rebuilt three-quarters of the machines in this room."

In his car room, Harrison has an amazing array of tools that let him to cut and mill pieces to extremely precise measurements. He as well has an incredible stock of of hardware.

Furniture designer Peter Harrison Cutting machine studio

I of the machines that Harrison acquired and rebuilt is this cut tabular array that he calls a very "sweet" machine. Information technology came from the Hershey chocolate factory where it was originally used to cut printed materials. He converted the pica-based measurement tools on the machine to inch measurement tools, which are much more than useful for a woodworker!

This is one drawer -- of many -- of micrometers that come in graded sizes. — This is one drawer — of many — of micrometers that come in graded sizes.

Homedit: How practice you decide what grade a new design will take?

Harrison: About of my new designs are on spec, where I get to push my imagination. I await to sculpture, architecture, industrial objects, and materials for inspiration. Occasionally commissions push me in a new direction- as the Hawaii client. Most of the fourth dimension my pieces develop around ideas strung together and I attempt not to miss taking abrupt turns as they come together.