50 Years of WL: #30 Our Furniture Designers Bring the Outside In

Yes, yes, making furniture out of wood is nothing new. (€œHave you heard of chairs?€ you've probably screaming at us right now.) But hear us out: there'ssomething uniquely West Coast about the celebration of this material in all its raw, rugged glory€”and there'sno one who does it better than Brent Comber.

Credit: Carlo Ricci

His now-iconic Alder bench took wood that would have once been considered trash€”smaller alder trees€”and intricately pieced them together in a design reminiscent of the forest itself. Comber is an artist and designer, and also a scavenger, up-cycling wood sourced from the community. From the humble T-Cup side table to the sleek, organic Chelsea stool to the invitingly hefty fir Soma table, each work puts the wood itself€”alder, but also Douglas fir and Western red cedar€”front and centre.

Brent Comber's Alder cubes and bench; the Soma dining table; and the T-Cup stool.

More West Coast Furniture Designers

MTHwoodworks

Michael Thomas Host pairs offcuts and found stumps with poured resin to create pieces that blur the line between rustic and modern.

Barter Design

The charred pieces from this Sunshine Coast studio highlight the beauty of the local timber.

To read about more great people, designs, homes and innovations that shaped Western Living, click here.