Myles Gostelow is a contemporary fine furniture designer/craftsman based in the historical Village of Tharwa set on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River on the southern side of the ACT. Our Services Commissioned pieces of fine furniture are what Myles Gostelow Furniture Designer/Craftsman specialises in. Designing and custom making pieces of fine furniture that are functional and timeless. Myles knows and respects the true value of good craftsmanship and this is reflected in all of the decision making processes within a piece. From the initial consultation and concept sketches, to material selection, sourcing the timber, joinery, glues and finish used, it all matters a great deal now and well into the future. A well considered, designed and made piece of furniture will withstand the riggers of normal use and live on, to be enjoyed by generations to come. Commissions Most of the work that Myles does is by commission and he prides himself on trying to achieve the best outcome for all parties concerned. Firstly the client then the piece of furniture and finally the maker must be satisfied that their needs have been met. Myles says it is the most rewarding feeling to know you have achieved all of these goals. From the initial consultation, the clients’ involvement in the design process is very important. Their needs and desires have to be met, guided and wherever possible enhanced by Myles’ expertise and honesty as a designer/craftsman. Myles is always looking for the best outcome and like most things in life the path to this outcome may not always be the easiest or quickest. The process for each commission no matter how different they may be to each other is essentially the same. Timber Machining Services Myles Gostelow Furniture Designer/Craftsman is a business that offers a fantastic range of timber machining services at reasonable rates. Myles understands that even the smaller jobs are important to those who would like them to be done properly. For this reason services are charged out at a minimum of half an hour and there is a 20% discount for ACT Wood Guild members. This is subject to approval and for non-commercial operators. Myles is also able to facilitate the larger commercial jobs if the timeframe is available. Machining services include: Dressing timber up to widths of 600mm on the jointer and thicknesser. Spindle molder with power feed for shaping, profiling and edge joining boards. Re-sawing timber or cutting veneers on the band-saw. Thickness sanding up to 900mm wide. Veneer press and a vacuum press with bags. Myles is usually able to assist in some way with all other cabinet making, furniture design or timber and woodwork related enquiries. Please respect his time as a craftsman and contact us arrange a visit to the workshop where possible. About Us Myles Gostelow is a contemporary fine furniture designer/craftsman based in the historical Village of Tharwa set on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River on the southern side of the ACT. Having grown up on a remote cattle station in Far North Queensland, the Australian bush has always been a strong influencing factor on Myles and his design philosophy. Myles graduated from the ANU Canberra School of Art in 1999 with a Bachelor of Fine Art, majoring in woodwork and furniture design with sculpture as a sub-major. His four years of study under the late George Ingham, and various other visiting lecturers is something that Myles owes a great deal of gratitude for, due to the knowledge gained from these individuals and Myles hopes to pass that knowledge on through his teaching. In early 2000 the opportunity to care take and work out of David Upfill-brown’s former workshop in Tharwa presented itself, as David set off in pursuit of a successful international teaching career. From this point, Myles and his wife Pen have been running the family business and are now raising their two boys Harry and Will. Primarily working with timber, notably Australian hardwoods, Myles’s versatility as a maker is complemented by a wide range of skills that include drawing, carving, blacksmithing/metalwork and tool making. Myles’s enthusiasm and passion for his craft coupled with the unique character and one-off nature of his work has helped to create a vibrant and successful business. The majority of his work involves commissions for private, corporate, government and ecclesiastical clients. Whatever the design brief or situation Myles believes that there should always be an answer to it it’s just a matter of knowing how to find it. Myles specialises in creating beautiful pieces of functional furniture crafted to the highest standards and he also fosters an environment for learning where the clients are involved with the processes and gain a better understanding and appreciation for why their piece is so unique and special. Myles is currently running wood carving classes from his workshop and is hoping to teach cabinet making and woodwork classes in the not too distant future. From the Artist Myles is passionate about his craft and sometimes jokes that he should have been born in the 19th century when hand tools were King. He says it is a romantic notion to think that they made every thing better in “the good old days” because things have always been made to a budget. It’s just that the well made pieces have lasted as they are respected as true representations of a craftsman’s skill, passion, consideration and time. Myles believes that in this day and age of consumerism and planned obsolescence people are still seeking these values. "I would like to think that one day a piece of my work will emerge from within the hurried mess society has made of itself, and be treasured for everything that it represents. Passion, consideration and time are a few things we should all try and share more often." Myles has a fully equipped modern workshop that has been specifically set up for the type of solid timber work that he does. Much of the joinery and construction process used to make a piece are based on traditional hand tool skills and cabinet making. This is complimented by and enhanced with the use of modern materials, techniques and equipment where it is suitable. Proportions, aesthetics and functionality are extremely important factors in creating a beautiful piece of timeless furniture. The use of beautiful Australian timbers is an added bonus that we still have the pleasure of experiencing. Myles says that all too often you see beautiful timber let down or at least fall short of its full potential by use in a piece that has been badly designed and/or made. Evening Classes Throughout the year evening classes in carving and woodwork are being run from the fully equipped Tharwa workshop. Enjoy a relaxed social atmosphere and share the experience of learning with a diverse and interesting group of people. The classes are held on Tuesday or Wednesday evenings from 6:00pm- 9:00pm for nine weeks at a time, roughly following the ACT school term. The carving project-based classes cover a wide range of associated topics and cater for all levels of experience, whether you are a beginner seeking an interesting hobby or a long time woodworking enthusiast looking to hone your skills and add to your design capabilities. Numbers are limited to eight students per class.