Osmo - A fixable timber finish creating sustainable furniture

  Our love affair with Osmo began about 4 years ago with the promise of a finish that would leave timber looking and feeling like real timber.  Over these last few years, we have discovered many other things to love about Osmo such as the fact that it protects the wood really well, it is easy to maintain and food safe which is especially important if you have little people eating at your dining table. With our gaining awareness of sustainability and making eco-responsible purchases, it is the longevity of the furniture provided by this finish that has become its most valuable feature. 

Why is a finish needed?

Any wood used to create a piece of furniture needs to be finished or cured to protect the timber and nourish it.  The finish creates a barrier to protect the timber from absorbing liquids otherwise it becomes damaged and discolored. Even water left on raw timber can damage the surface by causing the timber to swell.  As timber expands and contracts with the changing environmental temperatures and moisture levels, it requires nourishment to ensure it is flexible.  If the timber becomes too dry, it starts to get brittle and splits.  

Deeper Protection

Finishes such a two - pack create an impenetrable barrier against liquids and stains. This is all good an well until there is a scratch or wear and tear.  As the barrier is just sits on the top of the timber, as soon as it is damaged, any liquids and stains will go straight into the raw timber.  The benefit of an Osmo finish however is that it forms two levels of protection with the oils penetrating into the timber and the waxes sitting on the top. If there is damage to the top layer of the finish, the deeper layers of the timber are protected by the oils to avoid permanent damage to the timber. It is also these penetrating oils that nourish the timber to ensure that it is adaptable. 

A repairable surface is the ultimate sustainability

It has always been our mission to create furniture for our clients with the longevity of design and construction that will see it last for decades.  Our motivation for this is to contribute in our own small way to reduce landfill and the resources that would be used to create a replacement. We ensure longevity by using the best quality timber, glues, fillers, finish and construction methods. With Osmo, it is not only a high performance finish that prevents damage occurring in the first place, it also is repairable. In the case of a small scratch, an application of the maintenance spray will quickly make it disappear before your eyes and keep the wood protected.  With larger damage such as a jar of beetroot sauerkraut with juices gathered around the bottom left on a dining table top overnight (yep, Ill blame that on baby brain), the surface can be either spot sanded or resurfaced with the finish reapplied.  This means that a piece of Osmo finished furniture can last indefinitely and still look as beautiful as when it was new!

Ease of maintenance 

With our busy lives these days, many clients have been concerned about the maintenance of a natural oil and wax finished piece of furniture.  They didn't want to add another task to their already long to do list. With Osmo, the care of the finish is very quick and simple.  For a heavy use piece such as a dining table, timber vanity or kitchen bench top, the wash and care product can be made up in a spray bottle and used every day to clean the surface as required.  Every 3 months or so for a high use piece of furniture, the spray wax cleaner which contains some of the original finish, needs to be applied to refresh the finish and ensure that it is still a barrier.  This can go out to 6 months or a year for surfaces that are not often wiped. 

To speak to us about your own piece of forever furniture, please contact us here. 

Whats been happening at the workshop this month??

As per usual, it has been a very busy month for us here at Bombora.  We have been completing several large jobs in both commercial and residential spaces which became a game of tetras to fit all the finished pieces around the workshop before the installations! Winter has truly set in for us here on the Victorian Surf Coast with some very chilly mornings and a fire at lunch time a must to warm frozen fingers.  The cooler weather however has brought some very awesome surf which has delighted several members of our team! 

Floating timber vanities 

Our very lovely client sent us this photo of her beautiful bathroom once the timber vanity was installed. This whopper is 2.6m in length and is created from solid recycled Messmate timber. The recycled markings and grain patterns of the timber work beautifully with the subtly textured grey tile in this modern rural property.  I can wait to see the rest of the photos once the remaining 4 vanities from this project are installed! 

8bit cafe Melbourne CBD

We loved working with the designer on another awesome commercial fit out of the 8bit burger cafe in Little Collins Street Melbourne!  We created the timber aspects of the beautiful design such as the table tops, bench seats and the curved bench top.  I look forward to checking out the burgers once it is all completed!

Werribee project 

We have been creating lots of custom joinery pieces for this beautiful home in Werribee over the last 6 months such as the solid timber front door, floating vanities as well as inbuilt beds and wardrobes. Using timber in multiple areas of the interior design of a home creates a cohesiveness and flow throughout the space.  The combined bed, bedsides and storage unit created from American Oak timber has created such a clean aesthetic in this bedroom where everything can be neatly tucked away in its place! 

Industrial dining table

This very special dining table was created for a clients brand new home.  This design is from our new industrial dining table brand Zeele and is named Mr Collins as the very first version was made for our own home! This table has daringly angled matte black metal legs and a beautiful recycled Messmate timber top!  

Contact us here if you would like to discuss your project with us or make an appointment to visit the workshop! 

What is the lead time and how long does it take to make a piece of custom furniture?

The lead time is how long it will take from when a client places their order until we have finished creating their piece. Depending on the time of year and what projects we have in the pipeline, our lead time is usually 10-14 weeks however can go out to 18 weeks leading up to Christmas. 

How do you work out lead time?

Our lead time is basically a queue.  Once we have received a deposit from a client, this then secures their spot at the end of the queue. Once we send off your deposit invoice, we pencil your spot in the queue however if your deposit hasn't been received a week following the due date, then we may move you back if other clients who had been penciled in after you have paid their deposit. 

Lead time is an estimate only

Our lead time is just a guide rather than being exact.  The date we give you is an estimated date of completion rather than guaranteed.  Many things can happen that can put us behind in our production schedule such as illness, unscheduled staff holidays and projects taking a lot longer than originally estimated. With our usual portfolio designs such as vanities and dining tables, we have made them so many times that we know how long they will take to build.  For one off custom pieces and large inbuilt projects however, we can only guess how long they will take to make which can throw out out production schedule. 

Planning ahead for renovations and new builds

As we so often have clients who need their furniture or vanities for a new build or renovation, the timing is challenging as there are often delays in their build and our lead time can change quickly. For these kinds of situations, we can pencil your pieces into our schedule at a later date than the end on the queue which can then be moved depending on the progress of your build.  This way we can guarantee that we can have your piece ready when you need it and avoid the possibilities of damage in storage. One of our customer service staff will contact you regularly to update the dates that you need the piece and then alter our schedule as required. We have had a couple of clients that have been on our schedule for over a year before they where ready to receive their pieces! 

How long does it take to made a piece of custom furniture?

There is a large range of production times depending on the complexity of a piece.  A dining table usually takes around 18 hours or so to construct and something like a Bellbrae buffet can take 35 hours to make!  These hours are usually spread over 1-2 weeks as time is needed for the glue to set or the finish to cure before the next step in the production can happen. We run our workshop so that each piece of furniture is made by a single furniture maker.  We do this as firstly it is much more rewarding for our team members to look at the final piece and know they created it.  Secondly, it is way more interesting for our staff to be doing lots of different tasks in their work day.  Sanding for 7.5 hours really gets old very quickly!  There is of course many times when other members of the team contribute to the production of a piece such as lifting and maneuvering or when a round table discussion is needed to resolve a challenge. 

To find out more about our ordering and design process, please follow the link! 

Introducing - the Iluka wall hung recycled timber vanity

Introducing the latest member in our range of timber vanities - the Iluka! Featuring beautiful recycled Messmate timber, this floating timber vanity would be the standout feature in any modern bathroom. 

The medium brown tones of the recycled Messmate timber works beautifully with todays on trend bathroom colours of white and gray. The organic textures of the swirling grain and black sap lines are a lovely contrast to the flat surfaces of mirror, tiles and glass. Using timber in the design of your bathroom brings that "sign of life" that creates a welcoming sense of warmth and luxurious spa like feel that is so desirable.  It has a timelessness that transcends the trends whilst being malleable to changes in tile and wall colours. 

The Iluka vanity is created from solid timber including the internal structures and drawer boxes.  We use solid timber rather than melamine as it is way nicer to look at, renovatable, enables us to build a sturdier vanity and better for the environment! 

Using solid timber to create your bathroom vanity rather than the commonly used alternatives of laminate, melamine and veneer ensures longevity.  Unlike the other materials, the usual wear and tear of daily use can be easily repaired with a new application of oil. In the unfortunate event of a major scratch, the solid timber surface can be lightly sanded and re-coated with the finish rather than requiring replacement. 

All with all of our vanities, the Iluka is made to order to your requirements of size, configuration and also allowance for plumbing. Prices start from $2400. 

Contact us here to discuss your project with us!

Eco-responsible furniture

After having my two children, my awareness of the importance of sustainability and reducing my impact on the planet has grown enormously. In the past, I have bought and thrown out a huge amount of "stuff" without a second of thought on the resources used to make the item and what would happen after it went in the bin. Only now that it is so vital to me that my children and their children will have a world to live in, have I started to stop and think about the purchases that I make and what, as a business, we are creating. 

Timeless design = Sustainable design

At Bombora, we do not want to be trendsetters. Our furniture is designed to be timeless with a simple silhouette that allows the natural timber to be the key design feature of the piece. This simplicity paired with the styling malleability of solid timber ensures that our furniture will always work with current trends as well as our clients personal tastes.  We design our furniture to fit perfectly into the style of our clients homes now as well as for many decades and even generations to come. 

Custom furniture is forever furniture

In my journey of reducing what I buy and throw out, I have realized how important it is to make the right choice when purchasing an item.  Something that is just OK, ticks only some of the boxes or is not of good quality always gets thrown out or just sits around hidden away and unused.  The beauty of custom made furniture is that you get to create something that is perfect for you and your home.  We work with you to design your furniture so that it ticks ALL of your boxes and also has the quality of materials and construction that ensures longevity. 

A natural renovatable finish

Timber has been used in interior design for centuries as it is calming, beautiful and also fixable. Our pieces are created from solid timber with a natural oil and wax finish that is renovatable.  Any small scratches that occur vanish with an application of the maintenance spray.  In the case of more significant damage such as a small child taking to your dining table with a fork, the damage can be spot fixed or the entire surface can be re-sanded and the finish reapplied. 

Contact us here to inquire about creating your own piece of forever furniture. 

Introducing our range of floating timber vanities

Over the last couple of years, solid timber vanities have exploded in popularity. In the last two years, we have gone from making only a couple of vanities a year, to making a couple per week!  The reason for this marked increase in popularity is simple... a solid timber vanity has a beauty and longevity that is unrivaled by the laminate, veneer or melamine alternatives. The addition of a solid timber vanity to your bathroom ensures to create that spa like sense of a luxury that is so desirable in a home. 

As well as our custom timber vanities, we have been developing a range of portfolio designs.  These vanities are all modern with that sense of timelessness that timber always creates.  All of our vanities feature quality Hettich soft close or push to open drawer runners, solid timber internal structures and drawer boxes as well as our high performance finish that protects the timber whilst leaving it looking and feeling like timber.  Each vanity design can be customized to suit your space, basin, tap ware, configuration needs and budget. 

The Tathra Vanity

The beautiful modern The Tathra timber vanity combines feature filled recycled Messmate timber with a white stone top.  To add to the contemporary look of the Tathra, the shadow lines have been finished with a black stain that extenuates the black sap lines of the timber.  This vanity would look stunning with the matte black tap ware that is so on trend right now!

The Iluka Timber Vanity

The Iluka vanity shows off stunning recycled Messmate timber in all its glory.  This floating timber vanity is created with a thick shell and lots of drawers for storage. The grain patterns of the recycled timber flow across the front of the piece and waterfall down from the top to the sides of the shell ensuring that each vanity is completely unique. 

The Avoca timber vanity

The Avoca vanity is constructed from solid hardwood timber and features a mitred bench top. The vanity shown in the image is created from Australian Chestnut timber which is wood from a range of different species of Eucalyptus.  This timber is a warm light brown in tone which goes with any style of bathroom. This vanity can also be created with a second layer of drawers or shelving. 

Wategos freestanding timber vanity

The Watego's freestanding timber vanity is the the mother of all bathroom storage solutions!  This beautiful piece features stunning recycled Messmate timber full of swirling grains and sap lines.  The front of the vanity is created from single pieces of timber to ensure that the grain flows from one side of the piece to the other.  The push to open drawers and cupboards remove the need for handles to create the clean lines of the piece. This vanity can be configured as desired to perfectly fit your storage requirements whether it be drawers, cupboards or shelves. 

Ballina timber vanity

The Ballina floating timber vanity is in a class all of its own.  The subtle waves of the grain lines creates a beautiful depth that doesn't overpower the other elements of your bathroom design.  The ash blonde of the American Oak timber complements every colour scheme making this vanity very adaptable.  The piece pictured has 9 drawers however the configuration can be customized to your particular needs and budget. 

Contact us here to discuss your project. 

Introducing Bomora's sister company - Zeele

It's official!

With many months in the making and years worth of Luke tinkering with designs, we are so very excited to share with you Bombora's little sister... Zeele!!

The Zeele style

Zeele is a brand new furniture and homewares company built around a bold yet malleable luxe industrial aesthetic. A Zeele industrial dining table is elegant, sophisticated and a foundation piece, just like that wardrobe staple, the little black dress. It is perfectly angled with contrasting materials of timber and matte black steel. It is refined, luxurious and bold. And the best part, as you would expect any sibling would, Zeele shares Bombora's integrity for creating high quality furniture and a love for timber. 

Meet the Zeele artists and makers

When preparing to style the first shoot, it became very clear that in our local Surf Coast community, we are surrounded by many very talented artists, photographers and makers. As well as having an opportunity to showcase their beautiful wares in our imagery, we also wanted to further support their businesses by creating an online platform for our fellow creatives to sell these pieces.  This collection of artworks and prints by our talented artists range from the stunning contemporary bird photography of Amelia Anderson to the vibrant abstract paintings of Rowena Martinich.  

Our selection of decor items created by our talented makers add personality to any space. The beautiful pieces that we have collected such as a colorful pot handmade by Olive Green or a cotton wick candle by Concrete Crush  perfectly complement a Zeele luxe industrial dining table and add an unmistakable touch of luxe. 

Exploring all things luxe, industrial and dining

On the Zeele blog, we will be exploring all things luxe industrial. We will take a journey back through time to examine the evolution of the industrial style and see how the aesthetic is applied in today's restaurant scene throughout our home city of Melbourne and the rest of the world. 

Following a similar theme as our blog, we will be using Zeele's social media platforms such as facebook and instagram to investigate all things luxe, industrial and dining on a daily basis. We will also share our day to day adventures, asking for your feedback on new designs and sharing our latest news. We would love you to be part of the zeele story!

Click the link to find out more about Zeele. 

What makes a Bombora timber vanity so special?

Timber is a material unlike any other with its unrivaled uniqueness, aliveness and touch-ability.  A solid timber vanity is a beautiful way of bringing visual warmth and luxury to a traditionally stark space made up of tiles, glass, mirror, stone and concrete.  Timber naturally comes in a variety of tones from the ash blonde of American Oak to the dark chocolate of Walnut, the flowing sap lines of recycled Messmate to the Scandinavian minimalism of Australian Chestnut.  There is a timber that will suit every aesthetic, style and palette. 

Why is a solid timber vanity better than the alternatives? 

 With a quality hardwood vanity, your home is instantly more valuable in comparison to a veneer, melamine or laminate alternative simply because it holds its value.  Over time, the other materials once scratched, stained or water damaged will have to be replaced to look new again.  A solid timber vanity with our natural oil and wax finish is easily repairable. With a coat of the maintenance spray in the case of a minor scratch and a light sand and reapplication of the Osmo Polyx oil in the case of major damage, your vanity will remain looking beautiful for a very long time. 

Why is the quality of construction important in your vanity? 

 The Bombora philosophy of furniture creation is that we build it to last. Our greatest desire is for each and every piece of furniture that we design and create to become a heirloom piece that is passed down to the next generation rather than into hard rubbish.  Rather than just cladding a melamine box with timber, our vanities are constructed solidly from hardwood timber including all of the internal structures and the drawer boxes by our team of talented furniture makers. 

Custom is best! 

Every one of our vanities are not only made to order but also designed to order.  In our design process, we collect from you the dimensions of your basin, tap ware and plumbing to personalize the design just for you.  You can choose the look as well as the configuration of your piece such as drawers, cupboards or open shelving. Your vanity is optimized for storage space, is visually balanced and the perfect fit for your space, plumbing and basin.   Not only is your design personalized, you also get to choose the type of timber and the character levels.  Here is a link to the most common types of timber we use to create our furniture. 

Why is an Osmo finish better than polyurethrane (two pack)?

Polyurethrane is a plastic coating that is commonly used to seal timber.  It creates a complete barrier against moisture however, once a scratch occurs on the surface, the barrier is gone and there is no protection against water damage with staining, cracking and lifting of the coating resulting. The only way to fix the problem is to completely sand the surface back to raw timber and start again.  This is not a process that can be done in situ.  An Osmo natural oil and wax finish penetrates into the timber as well as creating a resistant barrier on the surface, if minor scratching occurs, the timber is still protected and can be easily fixed with a coat of the spray wax cleaner.  In the case of more major damage, the area needs only a light sand and reapplication of the Osmo Polyx product which is easily applied with a roller and can be done in situ.   An Osmo finish also leaves the timber looking and feeling natural with a very touchable silky soft surface. The polyurethane however as it just sits on the surface leaves the timber feeling like plastic. 

View our range of solid timber vanities here. 

Contact us to discuss your project here. 

Recycled timber furniture on sale - 12% off EVERYTHING!

Wow what an awesome year it has been here at Bombora Custom Furniture!  We have moved into a lovely new, and thankfully much larger workshop, created hundreds of beautiful custom made pieces of furniture for our clients and completed several large joinery projects! We have welcomed a new member into our team, had lots of laughs, a game or two of bare foots bowls,  and thrown well over a thousand tennis balls at the multitude of dogs that come to the workshop every day!  To celebrate the wonderful year that was and well just because we absolutely LOVE Christmas, we are having a once off SALE on all our custom made recycled timber furniture! 

 The sale includes our recycled timber dining tables such as the beautiful Jan Juc dining table below. I love reviewing the year and seeing what have been the most popular designs!  This year our industrial dining tables such as the Southside and the Centreside with their matt black metal legs have been really popular as well as the classic Sunnymead box leg dining table. 

Timber vanities have also been incredibly popular this year and for good reason!  They create such a beautiful warmth within the bathroom and soften the look of all the harder materials such as the mirror, tiles and glass!  Last year we only made a couple of these sporadically and now we are making at least one every week!  All of our timber vanities are on sale including any custom commissions we receive up until the 31st of December! 

Solid timber bed frames have been as popular as ever this year however we have also started creating some beautiful custom timber bunk beds for clients this as well as for our own Children! Luke created a recycled timber bunk bed with a slide off the top bunk for our 3 year old sons birthday.  Ever since our 4 year old daughter has insisted in sleeping on the top bunk even though he created a beautiful American Oak timber single bed for her birthday earlier in the year! 

  Our once a year sale is on all of our portfolio designs but also all custom pieces commissioned between now and the end of December with 12% off every single piece of furniture sold! Please note that the discount does not include the delivery or Osmo products. 

Contact us here or call Alison on 0407906799 to place your order! 

Alison is the co-owner of Bombora Custom Furniture and in charge of all things other than creating furnture! 

Beautiful timber childrens bed - timber single bed frame

When our now 5 year old daughter was ready to move out of her toddler bed into a "big girl bed" she was very fortunate to have a furniture maker for a dad to create her a very beautiful solid timber bed frame. There was much excitement all round at the creation of the design, the choice of the timber and of course the big reveal! 

Longevity of design and construction

When we where designing the king single bed frame for Emma there where several requirements we had.  Firstly, we wanted something with longevity. For us this meant creating a quality piece from solid timber rather than veneer. This ensures that even if it gets scratched or dented in some crazy game of hide and seek, tea party or flying dragons, it is very easily repaired.   Secondly, the style of the bed frame was a very important factor in the longevity of the piece.  It needed to look gorgeous in a little girls room now but also needed to work in a teenagers room as well. The final design took elements from our Zeally Bay bed with the solid head board, the angled tapered legs and timber grain detailing. The timber choice was the beautiful American Oak because of the subtle grain patterns and the lovely ash blonde tone that works so well with the girly colours. 

An natural finish  

The finish is another vital aspect of the bed for us as parents.  It is not necessarily what is in the finish, it is what is not in the finish.  Osmo is a natural oil and wax based product that is non-toxic and approved for children's furniture.  With the ever increasing information out these days about VOC's (volatile organic compounds), it is vital to us that our little princess is sleeping soundly breathing clean air. 

Why should you choose a king single bed for your child?  

One very great piece of advise I got from the fabulous stylist Julia Green from Greenhouse interiors, is to take the plunge and always buy a king single rather than a single bed for your child.  This way the bed frame will last all the way up to the teenage years.   Although your tiny little one will look even tinier in a king single, it makes sense in the long run. 

The size difference between a single bed and a king single mattress is as below in Australia.

Single bed mattress: 915mm wide x 1880mm long

King single mattress: 1070mm wide x 2030 long

Contact us here if you would like to discuss creating a beautiful solid timber children's bed for your little one, we also create custom made bunk beds! 

Alison Collins is the co-owner of Bombora Custom Furniture and in charge of all things other than making furniture!

Image credits - 

1 & 5 -Monika Berry // Geelong Creatives

2, 3 & 4 - Cricket Studio

South Melbourne project | custom timber cabinets and joinery

As well as making beautiful pieces of custom timber furniture for our clients, we also love creating solid timber joinery and cabinets. To me, great interior design is when each room feels new and true to the inhabitants whilst tying in with the rest of the house.  Timber is a subtle and timeless way of achieving this continuity and personality throughout your home whilst introducing a visual warmth and softness that is very appealing to the eye.  As well as solid timber having an aesthetic timelessness and styling malleability, it is also hard wearing, sustainable and renovatable making its longevity a thrifty choice when compared with other materials used to create cabinetry. 

South Melbourne Project

We recently completed a large project in South Melbourne creating multiple pieces of recycled timber joinery and furniture for our clients renovation. The palette for the design of the space is polished concrete, white walls, black highlights and recycled timber cabinetry and joinery. In nearly every room of the house there is a wooden element created from the same recycled Messmate timber. 

Open Plan Kitchen | Living room 

In the large open plan kitchen and living area, the recycled Messmate timber joinery ties in beautifully with the furniture to create a cohesive space.  The built in entertainment unit spans from one end of the room to the other creating a sense of warmth in the large space that balances the harder materials of the polished concrete and metal window frames. This is an aesthetic that we absolutely love and would describe as luxe industrial.  The same recycled Messmate timber is then used on the doors and drawers of cabinets in the kitchen.  The final element to finish off the space is a bespoke Southside dining table with its matte black metal legs and recycled timber top. 

Bathroom and Powder Rooms

Recycled Messmate joinery has been used in all of the bathrooms and powder rooms in the South Melbourne house to create the floating timber vanities. These pieces reflect elements of the design of the cabinetry in the Kitchen and living areas to create a flow throughout the home.  Stone is used for the tops of these vanities however solid timber is also a very functional choice if preferred. The mirrors in all of the bathrooms are surround in the same recycled Messmate timber.  

Please contact us here if you wish to discuss using solid timber joinery or furniture in your project with us. 

Alison is the co-owner of Bombora Custom Furniture and is in charge of all things other than making furniture!

Custom made timber doors

As that old saying goes, first impressions count and a solid timber door certainly makes a big one.  When it comes to your home, the front door is the focal point of your frontage and sets the scene for what is to come inside, getting the design right is vital in creating a lasting first impression. A solid timber front door is not only impressive to look at, it has a heaviness when swinging open that is just not comparable to the other hollow options.  This solidness also makes the door much less likely to  be dented or scratched and therefore a more long lasting option. 

A warm welcome

As the majority of frontages of houses are created from materials like brick, concrete or render, a timber door visually breaks up these harder materials to bring a welcoming and homely warmth. It creates a beacon that draws visitors to the entrance of your home.The beauty of having a timber front door made to order is that you can choose all aspects of the design including the size, wood type and finish.  A large, impressive statement size door looks amazing with some homes whilst others suit a more subdued, minimalistic and almost camouflaged door.

Custom made timber door jamb

A custom made timber front door also provides an opportunity to play with the design of the frame whether it be using matching or contrasting timbers or an alternative material. For our front door, we chose a heavily featured recycled Messmate timber that matched our floor boards and then solid Jarrah timber to create the frame to provide a contrast and tie in with the red timber cladding of the garage.  We also wanted to allow as much light into our entrance hall as possible whilst maintaining privacy so created a window to the side and above the door all within the same frame.

Which type of timber for solid front door?

The timber that you choose to create the front door greatly influences the aesthetic.  For example, If you home is a minimilastic Scandinavian or contemporary style, a clean ash blonde toned American Oak would look stunning.  If however your home is more of a modern coastal style, a character rich Red Ironbark or warm brown Messmate would be perfect.   As with all of our furniture, we always encourage our clients to choose a timber that is naturally the tone they want rather than using a stain. This greatly increases the longevity of the piece and enables it to be easily renovatable in the case of any scratches.

It is important when designing your custom made timber door that you consider the exposure of the doorway.  The amount of sun and water will influence what type of timber is suitable to use.  If the door is has no exposure to either direct sun or water,  any hardwood timber is fine.  If the door is exposed to water however, the timbers that are suitable for outdoor furniture would be recommended such as Ironbark, Jarrah, or Red Gum.  

Which finish for a timber front door?

Exposure to lots of water and direct sunlight would require a different finish, the UV protector.  You will also need to consider how often you want to maintain the door.  The clear product lets the natural beauty of the timber tones shine through but has much less UV protection so will need to be reapplied more often to prevent the timber from greying.  The other option is a tinted finish that will change the colour of the timber but will need a reapplication much less often then the clear version. 

Bombora Custom Furniture is located in Torquay on the Victorian Surf Coast 20 minutes from Geelong and 1 hour from Melbourne.   

Contact us here if you would like to discuss your project! 

Timber shower base - the latest trend in bathroom design

Yes, as always I am a little bias but I love using timber in the bathroom whether it be a solid timber vanity, a mirror surround or a shaving cabinet.  The latest trend in timber in the bathroom is as a shower base!  It is a lot more comfortable on the feet than cold tiles, a great way to visually divide the shower from the rest of the space and well, it just looks really beautiful! 

    We have had a couple of people ask us about timber shower bases recently as they love the look of it but are concerned about the water and timber combination. It is a common misconception that timber and water don't mix however with the right sealing product and species of hardwood timber, a timber shower floor is very durable. 

The finish that we would recommend when sealing the timber in a shower base is a coat of the Osmo wood protector followed by a coat of Osmo Polyx.  The wood protector is highly water repellent due to its high content of natural waxes.  As with all of the Osmo products, the wood protector is made from a combination of oils and waxes and is non toxic. 

I have wandered around the wonders of the internet and come across some images of timber shower bases that I love! 

decoholic.org

I love the combination of the dark charcoal tiles with the warm toned timber floor. The scale of this bathroom is just magnificent! 

http://schulbergdemkiw.com/project/beachavenue/

The lighter toned timber is this walk in shower design works so beautifully with the concrete rendered walls.  The wide slat design allows for easy water drainage and also delineates the space perfectly. 

https://www.dwell.com/article/amazing-house-is-half-historic-and-half-modern-86e03e34

In this bathroom design, I love how the exposed aggregate concrete floor runs flush with the timber shower base.  The luxe industrial design is continued with the solid concrete vanity with the timber drawers and the towel shelf.  

http://www.aba-architects.com.au/

Lovely combination of grey and timber in this bathroom.  I love how the timber shower base is continued throughout the entire bathroom and how the boards line up exactly with the boards outside. 

Alison Collins is the co-owner of Bombora Custom Furniture and in charge of all things other than making furniture! 

New vs Recycled Timber Furniture

What is the difference between new and recycled timber furniture?

In creating our custom made furniture, we use both recycled and FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified timber.  Both have their place, their positives and their negatives. We love creating recycled Messmate furniture for its unique character of flowing grain lines, variable tones and sap lines.  This type of timber looks beautiful in a luxe industrial style dining room, a modern coastal or naturally styled home.  The low feature new timbers look fantastic when creating a minimalist or Scandinavian style home. Here is a summery to help you choose what it the right timber for your style and budget!

Aesthetic of recycled timber furniture - character filled or clean

Recycled timber has usually been reclaimed from old buildings, bridges and piers.  This timber tends to have been harvested from the wild and because of this, it shows the signs of a harsher life with lots of unique character.  Reclaimed wood tends to have wavy rather than straight grain lines, varied tones, sap line and pockets. The other feature of recycled timber are the markings of its previous use whether it be nail or bolt holes, rust or water staining.   

New timber is usually plantation grown and because of this, it has a sheltered life protected from winds, drought and nutritional deficiencies.  New timber tends to have straight and even grain patterns, a consistent tone and less sap lines and pockets. New timber is the better choice if you wish to have your custom made furniture created with low feature or character.  This is the best choice if you want a Scandinavian or minimalist style for your furniture.  

What is the price difference between new and recycled timber furniture?

Recycled timber is approximately 30% more expensive at the timber yard than the same wood that is newly harvested. This is because of the additional time required when milling the timber to remove nails, bolts as well as to machine it into straight lengths. Wormy Chestnut is a new timber that has the appearance of a recycled timber so a great option for those wanting the look without the price tag.

In the workshop, creating recycled timber furniture is more time consuming than new timber furniture.   This is because we hand fill all of the sap lines, pockets, nail and bolt holes to ensure a totally flat surface. The extra time required for these piece also leads to an additional labour cost.  

Timber availability 

Although a client may come to us with an existing preference for new or recycled timber to create their piece of custom made furniture, we cannot always comply with their request.  We usually only have access to recycled Australian timbers such as Messmate, Jarrah, Blackbutt or Iron Bark.  Timbers that are not native usually haven't been used to create buildings and piers in the past and therefore are not available reclaimed.  

New timbers that we often use to create our custom made furniture are American Oak, Australian Chestnut, Wormy Chestnut and Walnut. These are timbers with tones differing from ash blonde to chocolate brown. The only limitation with these timbers is they are not always available at the thickness that a client desired which is when we need to find something similar in a recycled timber.   

Please contact us here if you wish to discuss creating your own piece of custom made furniture! Alternatively you can call Alison on 0407-906-799.

Cafe Fitout Geelong - Secret Society Cafe - Bar

Having previously done bits and pieces of commercial work, Bombora has recently dived head first into the cafe fitout seen with the interior design of a Geelong cafe Secret Society Cafe - Bar. Combining what we love most, Australian hardwood timber, community vibes, delicious coffee and inspired food, this project was a perfect fit for us. Working closely with the owners of the space, a couple inspired by clean classic designs, open space, light and a high quality finish; we designed, built and installed timber fittings and furnishings to create a truly local hangout with attention to detail.

The design was based around the different type of clientele; a group of friends who come to hang out around a cafe table and chat about their life, the local office worker popping in for a quick bite to eat perched at one of the lunch benches, the coffee addict passing by for a shot of the delicious Fabretto coffee and a take away cake at the counter and the remote entrepreneur looking for a spot on the communal table to pass the time working and taking in the atmosphere. 

Different areas of the space were intended to best look after these clients while being playful with the design, and bringing warmth and life to the space. 

Wormy Chestnut timber was used to bring warmth and contrast the cool speckled concrete flooring and hexagon shaped white tiles.

The gum vain and character of this hardwood links in nicely with the black metal window and door frames. 

This black metal theme was then followed through in the striking metal legs of the communal cafe table, based on our Southside dining table. 

And also in the custom designed and fabricated stilt legs of the lunch benches.  

Cafe tables with 3 sides sophistically held together by a clean mitre joint. This joint showcases the continuous grain of the solid Wormy Chestnut timber that flows along the whole length of the table. The classic, simple silhouette design seats two people. 

The crowd stopper tree shelving was designed specifically and painstakingly for the cafe for the aesthetic effect as well as an alternative shelving solution. Custom black powder coated metal hangers hold smoothie jars and wooden serving boards. 

Timber countertop and fridge casing has a light fresh look, easy to clean and maintain in this busy work area. 

If you are ever in Geelong, go check out this fabulous place and taste their inspiring delights while taking in this stunning light filled cafe. 

Elina Gault is Bombora's admin extraordinaire who splits her time between her native city of Melbourne and beloved adopted city of Barcelona. 

Custom Dining Tables

Rounded rectangular dining table

In todays fashion of open plan living, the dining table has become a very important part of styling our most lived in spaces.  Having a custom dining table made ensures that the table is perfectly suited to your personal style, the aesthetic of the room, the size of the space as well as the dining chairs.  

The "Mr Jarman" dining table, is a unique rounded rectangular shape with perfectly angled and tapered legs.  The piece is made from beautiful creamy coloured select grade Blackbutt timber with its subtle grain lines and silky soft texture. A blackbutt timber dining table is a beautiful neural tone that will work with many styling colour palettes from bright to pastel to dark and moody.  

The bevelled edge dining table top links the rounded shape of the top with the angles of the legs. The top is finished with our much loved natural oil and wax finish Osmo.  This finish is hard wearing, non-toxic and easy to care for.  Follow the link here for more information on Osmo. 

We where very excited recently to be involved in this photoshoot organised by Geelong Creatives shot at the home of Concrete Crush by MB Captured.  The shoot was styled by pieces made by our fellow very talented Geelong Creatives such as the awesome large paintings by Studio Intrica and floral display created by buds by sophie. 

Alison Collins is the co-owner of Bombora Custom Furniture and in charge of all things other than making furniture! 

The Centreside Industrial dining table

At Bombora Custom Furniture, we sure love an industrial dining table with black legs and a beautiful reclaimed timber top! Our latest dining table design, the Centreside dining table, is simple, bold with a touch of luxury. 

Curved, tapered and angled steel legs fit snugly under a character filled recycled Messmate timber top. The reinforced powder coated legs make for an extremely solid dining table which will last a lifetime. 

Suited for both a dining or meeting table, this practical modern industrial design considers the placement of legs to allow for a maximum number of diners while being economical in space.

The combination high character Messmate timber with matte black metal legs enhances the black recycled features in the timber creating a perfect balance.

All Bombora Custom furniture, pieces are made to our clients specific dimensions, timber type and character level. For this reason, the legs for this bold statement dining table are make to order by fabricators in Melbourne creating a perfect fit for every piece. Please contact us here if you wish to discuss commissioning Bombora to create your dream industrial dining table.  

Elina Gault is Bombora's admin extraordinaire who splits her time between her native city of Melbourne and beloved adopted city of Barcelona. 

Crafted With Care - when handmade furniture and art collide for charity

We are very excited to be involved in an inspiring initiative, Created With Care. It isn't every day that Luke gets to indulge in his artistic side in collaboration with an artist. Over the last few months, he had the pleasure of working with Tanya Keenan on a piece of furniture to be auctioned off with all proceeds going to their local charity of choice, the Spirit Foundation. 

The created with care initiative

The Created With Care initiative is the brainchild of two Australian online marketplaces Handkrafted and Bluethumb.  The two creative companies believe very strongly in the value of partnerships; that together we can have greater impact than going it alone.  Fred Kimel (Handkrafted founder) and Edward Hartley (Bluethumb co-founder) paired a furniture maker with an artist and left the rest up to them. 

The artist - Art By Tanya

Luke's collaborator, Tanya Keenan is a self-taught artist and mother of 3 from Geelong. Tanya’s art is inspired by her love of life, nature and is a reflection of her inner self. Tanya loves to experiment with different textures, applications and colour combinations that evolve into what she refers to as “landscapes of her mind”. You can check out her work here. 

The piece of furniture- Wye River Buffet

As is so often the way in a close knit community as it is in Geelong and the Surf Coast, an instant connection was found between Luke and Tanya, with a shared love of the region as well as knowing some of the same people. They wanted to create a piece that reflected the natural environment that they love so dearly.  To convey that feeling of a perfect summer day where the sun, sand and water all blend together into an almost dream like state.  Acting as both the canvas and frame, the buffet is based on Bombora's Wye River Buffet. Luke’s timber selection of the light and clean American Ash accentuates the sand colour and bold blue tones of Tanya’s beautiful painting. Perfectly spanning across the 4 cupboard panels, the painting extenuates the clean, simple and classic silhouette of one of Bombora’s signature designs. 
 

The Charity- The Spirit Foundation

With the intention of supporting the local communities of Wye River and Separation creek after the 2015 Christmas Day fires, Luke, Tanya and everyone involved happily donated their time to create both awareness of and funds for our chosen charity The Spirit Foundation. The foundation was initially established as a charitable trust in 2013 as the Casey Tutungi Future Fund.  It was set up to raise and manage donations that were given in support of Casey Tutungi and his family after an injury sustained playing football resulted in quadriplegia. The trust was also set up to be able to provide support for other local community members in need. Following the bush fires in the Wye River and Separation Creek in on Christmas Day 2015, the fund branched into assisting these communities. “We are providing funding to the members of the community who have suffered hardship as a result of the fires” says one of the foundation's directors Peter Spring “the directors of the Spirit Foundation are working closely with community leaders at Wye River and Separation Creek to identify the best ways in which we can assist the wider community and individual members, including direct financial support to individuals as well as for infrastructure projects including refurbishment of first aid facilities at the Surf Club”.

The charity auction

The Created With Care auction is open and final bids must be received before 5pm on Friday the 10th of June. Bids can be placed at www.createdwithcare.com.au. Thank you to the fabulous Britton Timbers for the donation of the beautiful timber used in this piece.

 

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Elina Gault is Bombora's admin extraordinaire who splits her time between her native city of Melbourne and adopted home city of Barcelona. 

Gibson Blackbutt sideboard

Tight in grain and creamy light brown in colour, this recycled Blackbutt sideboard is bold and contemporary. Special attention was taken to create a balance between the altering tones of each individual piece of timber used in the door of the piece. 

 The black angled legs ground the light toned carcass which are further linked visually by the dark shadows created on the sliding doors by the slats and finger holes. The legs are constructed from matte black powder coated steel to ensure longevity and to support the weight of the piece whilst maintaining a top heavy aesthetic. 

The position of the shelving is adjustable to allow for alteration of the height and configuration for a perfect fit for your possessions. 

Lower than a traditional sideboard, this piece is versatile for your requirements whether it be dividing up a space or sitting below a windowsill. These dimensions can be customized to fit perfectly in your home.

Finger holes where used rather than handles on this piece to create a streamlined look and as another point of visual interest. 

As this piece is made to order, clients are welcome to specify size, timber type and the character level of the timber. Please contact us here if you wish to discuss commissioning Bombora to create your dream piece of furniture. 

Elina Gault is the admin extraordinaire at Bombora Custom Furniture who's passions are design, travel and creating efficient systems! 

Why should I choose custom made timber furniture for my home?

There are so many options to consider these days when you are purchasing furniture for your home or office.  You need to make choices around the size, the style, the material, off the shelf or custom and of course the budget. I believe that taking into account the sustainability, the beauty, the longevity and value for investment, a custom made piece of timber furniture is the only choice and here is why..... 

Sustainability of FSC certified or recycled timber furniture

Choosing furniture constructed from recycled or sustainable FSC certified timber greatly reduces the impact your purchase has on the environment in comparison to pieces created from man made products such as veneer, chipboard, steel or plastic.  There are very few resources used to convert the timber from a building, pier, bridge or tree into a stick of timber.  In addition to the low amount of resources required to produce a piece of solid timber furniture, the longevity and durability of the piece also ensures that it will not need to be thrown away and replaced, the ultimate sustainability. FYI, the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is a global not for profit organisation that provides certification for the responsible management of forests and forest products.  It promotes the environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable management of the worlds forests. You can look for their logo on all sorts of forest products including printing paper, toilet paper and timber. 

The aesthetic beauty of recycled timber

Creating beautiful surrounds is something that we as humans crave.  Timber is a material that is very versatile, malleable to styling and most importantly beautiful. It is unique, alive and has a story.  Most often these days our homes are created from materials such as tiles, metal, stone and concrete, timber brings a warmth and life to this palette, creating a sense of home.  Alongside the usual timber furniture such as dining tables and tv units, we also create pieces of "fixed furniture" such as solid timber bench tops, timber vanities, inbuilt storage and bookcases. These pieces of timber cabinetry and joinery bring a sign of life to these spaces, balancing out the harder building materials.

Longevity - a wise investment

The two factors that contribute to the longevity of solid timber furniture is the timelessness of the style as well as the durability of the material. With a well considered design, a piece of solid timber furniture will always be in style as timber is very malleable to changes in styling fashion and the material itself is timeless. 

 Durability is the other vital aspect of longevity, the construction of piece and the finish needs to be able to last the tests of time and use.  The natural oil and wax finish that we use on our furniture is very hard wearing and ensures that the piece gets better with age with the development of a patina. The solid timber used in the construction as well the the choice of finish enables the piece to be spot fixed in the case of a scratch or sanded back and refinished in the case of more substantial damage.  This is not possible with man made products that overtime become worn, scratched and dented, only fit to be thrown out. 

Custom made - creating perfection and quality

Getting a piece of custom made furniture provides you with the opportunity of perfection, the ultimate choose your own adventure. At Bombora, we see the design process as one of collaboration, combining the functional and aesthetic needs of our client to create a piece that they don't just like but love. Aside from creating completely unique designs, we also adjust all of our portfolio pieces to ensure that they fit perfectly into our clients home.  This can mean looking at the dimensions of your chairs to create a dining table that is just the right size, altering the design of a timber vanity to fit perfectly into your bathroom or creating the shelving in your TV unit around your technology.  

Want to discuss working with us to create a piece of custom made timber furniture for your home or office?  Please contact us here!

Alison Collins is the co-creator of Bombora Custom Furniture and in charge of all things other than making furniture!