Case Study: Konk Furniture

This incredibly special piece of furniture was made by Jed Walker with guidance and design by Konk Furniture. The Bristol based team designed the bespoke cabinet as Jed’s submission to the Young Furniture Makers Awards. Konk are a multidisciplinary design studio and workshop producing bespoke pieces of furniture for both commercial and residential clients. With a background in architecture, these designers are masters of form and material and we love their attention to detail and obvious passion for making.

Complex, interesting and incredibly eye catching, this bespoke piece, named the ‘Malka Cabinet’, is a perfect example of the design skills and craftmanship that the team at Konk Furniture apply to each of their hand crafted pieces.

On the intricate construction –

“The cabinet itself is mitred from grain-matched black American walnut boards and 'hung' on a structure of walnut dowels that protrude through the sides of the carcass. The detailing is emphasised by CNC made 'cones' that house the dowels and pegs. In fact, pegs are used throughout to connect elements together - the only screws used are in the hinges for the doors.”

The door fronts are made using Welsh Mountain Solidwool. The flat sheet material has been laminated onto veneered walnut boards for added depth and structure and lipped with solid walnut. The warm tone of the Welsh Mountain fleece with its natural dark brown flecks sit beautifully with the rich hues of the wood; a pleasing marriage of materials.

Jed’s extraordinary creation was ‘Highly Commended’ by the judges at the Young Furniture Makers Awards. What is so wonderful to see is how engaged young designers are with their material choices and their commitment to craftsmanship and ‘out of the box’ thinking. The Walka Cabinet proves that sustainable materials can not only be used in many ways, but also that there is a deserving place for them in high end design.

Read more about Konk on their website and follow their journey through their Instagram page.

Discover Solidwool Sheet Material here.

 Design: Konk
Photography: Konk
Maker: Jed Walker

Innovative Projects: Uberfrank Guitars

We have seen Solidwool used in some interesting projects over the years, from knife handles to sunglasses frames, but we were taken aback to see Solidwool take form as a guitar through the creative mind and skilful hands of Richard Waddell of Uberfrank guitars. Richard singlehandedly builds unique, heirloom quality instrument in Somerset, UK, favouring sustainable materials where possible.

We caught up with Richard to deep dive into the project, and find out more about the process of making the Solidwool Spellbinder.

What is your background and how did you first get into making guitars?

My background is originally in painting and sculpture, but I came to guitar making after a long period of working as a creative director in the digital world. I was delighted to find something I loved doing that combined my passions for of music, design and woodwork (and didn't involve sitting at a desk all day!).

Photography by Jim Holland

How did you discover Solidwool and what inspired you to use it as part of your work?

On moving from London to the South West, I studied at the Totnes School of Guitar Making in Devon. It was here that I first came across Solidwool where I saw it being used for furniture making. I was struck by how it felt warm to the touch and how each piece was completely unique in appearance, in much the same way as wood. 

 A lot of my early guitars were made from very old stock seasoned lumber that I had been gifted or wood I had reclaimed, but as these stocks dwindled, I hunted for alternative solutions. I love working with wood (and will continue to do so), but started questioning the ethics and sustainability of relying on it so much, particularly tropical tonewood.

Photography by Jim Holland

“I was struck by how it felt warm to the touch and how each piece was completely unique in appearance, in much the same way as wood. ”

How did you find Solidwool to work with?

It machined really nicely with minimal dust. Hand carving it was hard work though, taking much longer than a similar guitar made from wood. 

How does the Solidwool Spellbinder compare to a more traditional wooden model, in sound and weight for example?

It's a fairly heavy material so I made the decision early on to chamber the body for weight relief. The finished guitar weighs 3.5kg, which is around average of a guitar of its type. It took longer to decide whether or not to use Solidwool for the neck though. This the most structural part of a solid body electric guitar and as the material is not as stiff as wood I reinforced it with carbon fibre rods. 

Taking the decision to carve the neck from Solidwool led me to the idea of avoiding the use of wood entirely for the build. In keeping with the sustainability theme, the fingerboard is made from bamboo and the black body binding from cork. Plastic parts are made from recycled acrylic and the hardware is reclaimed - the metal volume knob came from a car boot sale.

Sound wise, the tone of an electric guitar is far less influenced by what it's made from than an acoustic instrument, the pickups and electronics having the most influence. However, how long any guitar sustains for is a good measure of it's quality and I'm pleased so say it sustains really well, in part due to the weight and density of Solidwool. The vintage style gold foil pickups give it a fairly bright tone, not at all 'wooly'!

Photography by Jim Holland

Have you had feedback on the Solidwool Spellbinder? Have you found the guitar community to be receptive when it comes to using sustainable materials?

Feedback on the guitar has been really positive, and it makes a real conversation piece at shows. The guitar building community have been very receptive indeed to the project and whilst guitar players are generally a pretty conservative bunch there is definitely a trend for exploring exciting alternative materials.

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Our hope has always been that innovators like Richard, will see Solidwool as a creative material full of opportunity. It holds so much potential, and we are excited by all the ways in which it can be used – we look forward to seeing the journey that Solidwool takes and the forms it finds itself in. Here’s to the next project.

Images provided by Jim Holland and Richard Waddell

Festive Gathering

Solidwool tells a fascinating story of sustainability and craftsmanship, each timeless piece is designed to be used, cherished and passed down, much like we do with our most loved Christmas decorations. It is this sense of ‘treasuring’ that we think holds the key to sustainable design. Treasuring the moments, people and things you hold dear, always seems poignant during the festive season - we hope we can capture some of that spirit in Solidwool.

Decorating your gathering spaces takes on a new importance during the festive season, as we invite our friends and loved ones to celebrate with us over Christmas and New Year. As the kitchen or dining table becomes the hub of the home over these winter months, we think it’s important to create the most welcoming space.

With every table comes a chair, and the Hembury chair not only offers a stylish design but all the warmth and texture we could need for the season's festivities. The sophisticated grey tones of the Herdwick fleece, the warm marbled monochromes of Welsh Mountain or the joyful shades of our Colour series, all offer an abundance of options to adorn a festive table. The Hembury chair not only adds to the atmosphere, but makes for a brilliant conversation piece whilst showcasing sustainable British design at its best. 

Our placemats and coasters bring a wonderful finishing touch to any festive gathering. Set a place at your table with Solidwool and treat your guests to the visual warmth of our beautiful Herdwick or Welsh Mountain sets - or consider combining the two for a unique and contrasting look. We used natural wood elements, simple foraged greenery, linen napkins and soft candlelight to create a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere at our Christmas table this year.

Our placemats and coasters showcase the beauty of hardy British Wool up close, with each one expertly crafted in Devon. They also make a unique and considered gift.

Whether you are serving a festive banquet for extended family or an intimate meal for two, you can create a calming and considered dining experience with Solidwool. Our Hembury Chairs are designed to complement each other, allowing for playful combinations of colour and natural fleece. Recycled steel stackable legs are a great option for busy festive households - allowing for clever and compact storage. With all the elements to create a customised dining experience, the Hembury Chairs, Placemats and Coasters add a special touch to the festive table.

Case Study: Solidwool Ceramics with Steve Cook

We’re always inspired by creative minds. Thinking of news ways to do things is the key to progress and change, and we recently discovered the work of Steve Cook, a a self-taught potter who is doing just that.

After a successful career in business, Steve launched his studio, Modern Ceramic, in early 2023, citing his influences as contemporary architecture, Scandinavian and Japanese design, biological structures, sci-fi, and avant-garde fashion.

Our introduction to Steve came when he contacted us to ask about using some of our Solidwool off cuts to incorporate into his ceramic work; we were of course intrigued!

Inspired by finding harmony in the combination and juxtaposition of ceramics with other materials such as wood and sustainable plastic, looking at the work Steve created - the choice to incorporate Solidwool all made sense.

Ceramics, although experiencing a modern revival is a craft about as ancient as they come, using materials from the land to create functional ware, or sculptural art pieces. It is this link to nature that connects Solidwool with the considered clay bodies of Steve’s work, resulting in something really quite special.

Ceramic jars with Solidwool lids | Steve Cook Modern Ceramics

Steve uses a combination of techniques such as wheel throwing as well as more modern experimental methods such as CNC to create these refined forms.

We we’re so inspired by Steve’s work we asked if we could feature some of his bowls in a recent photoshoot alongside our placemats and coasters. The natural colour palette and organic forms are a match made in heaven.

Steve Cook Ceramic Bowls and Solidwool Welsh Mountain Placemats

We recently spoke to Steve about how he first came across Solidwool and he shared with us that he was inspired to buy a side table after seeing us on Instagram.

“Once I saw the material up close and it's unique patterning and detail I knew I wanted to make it a part of some of my work. It's great to work with and complements my ceramic glazes perfectly - I'm so glad it's now available in sheet form and I don't have to beg for offcuts anymore !”

Find more information about Steve and Modern Ceramics on his website, where you can find his portfolio and more information about events, galleries and stockists.

Shop Solidwool placemats and coasters or find our more about the possibilities of our Sheet Material.

Introducing Solidwool Colour

At Solidwool we are always looking for exciting new ways to work with our incredible material, but not everything we do needs to be ‘new’ or follow trends. Instead we dedicate our time to creating enduring and functional design that captures our environment and passion for hardy British wool. 

We experimented in colour quite a few years ago now, but stepped away from it to concentrate on perfecting and advancing the Herdwick Hembury chair. With our efforts rewarded, we have found the space to revisit colour in Solidwool, developing an organic and natural palette blending Welsh Mountain wool with seven inspired tones. These colours are a response to our surroundings - from moss and ochre-tinged lichen to the ancient stone and bark they grow on. 

Introducing colour has not come without its trials and challenges, but we have found a technique which introduces colour alongside a recycled wool core and we are so pleased with the outcome. The seven complementary tones sit seamlessly alongside each other as well as our original dark grey Herdwick and marbled Welsh Mountain composites, enabling you to choose any number of beautiful combinations for your home. Create striking schemes by combining Tan and Cobalt alongside grounding neutral tones or use Ochre, Forest and Stone to reflect the colours of our ever changing surroundings.

The Solidwool Colour chairs and side tables are available with the same choices of finish as the Herdwick and Welsh Mountain pieces. With scorched or oiled ash legs available for both chairs and side tables, and the added option of recycled steel stacking legs available for the chairs.