Interior Design

In Conversation With Alfred Newall

In this edition of In Conversation With we spoke with the fabulous Alfred Newall, a long time collaborator of Salvesen Graham and creator of beautifully designed furniture.

The fabulous furniture maker

What pieces do you enjoy working on most?

I like making furniture which is simple in design, providing visual interest as well as practicality and longevity for our customers.
The beauty of designing and making everything in our workshop means that we can adapt and evolve designs as required. To me, dining tables and cabinetry are always particularly exciting. I love the thought of the life that these pieces have once they leave the workshop. We love a challenge so when a request comes through for a bespoke piece for a large or unusual space it's especially satisfying to combine the aesthetic detailing with the practical requirements. We often make a series of sketches that turn into technical drawings that the workshop can create the pieces from

Where do you get your inspiration from?

I grew up around furniture and works of art, this gave me an early appreciation of objects from the past. I was always drawn to furniture and joinery, more so than pictures and sculpture, and especially those elements hidden away: cabinets, shop fronts, panelling and workplaces. I found a close association with the people who made and used these pieces in their everyday lives, and felt captivated by this connection.
I am inspired by old pieces of furniture that are just as good, or better, than the day they were made. It makes me realise that I can create things that are beautiful and useful today and will continue to be long into the future. Sussex, where I live with my family, is full of creativity; from people experienced in rural craft as well as wonderful, historic places of interest such as Charleston Farm House and Bateman’s, home of Rudyard Kipling. I like to record aspects I see when I’m out and about, these often get translated into drawings when forming new collections

Is there something you refuse to compromise on in the creative process?

All our pieces are made by hand in our workshop near Alfriston, at the foot of the South Downs. This is something I am really proud of and is integral to the overall creative process. Not only is the character of material evident in the furniture, but the hand of the maker is too. I've always preferred to use native hardwoods whenever possible – most of the wood we use is oak – and to source material close to the workshop, to reduce transport and negative effects to the environment. There’s something wonderful about felling wood and making a piece in the same county. I think it's important to not lose the natural identity these pieces carry and retain the beauty and longevity; our pieces have natural finishes that change and patinate over time.

Any tips for someone looking to become a furniture maker?

I wasn’t always sure that furniture making would be a viable career choice as I had been warned by some experienced makers that it was tough to make it work commercially. I suppose it would have been nice to know that the appetite for handmade furniture is strong and that there are many routes you can explore in craft with a good set of skills and passion. I would always give the advice, where possible, to persevere with something you love and to have confidence in your ideas. When thinking about the wider industry and other artisans looking to develop their own practices or run their own studio I truly believe you must have confidence in yourself and most of all enjoy what you do!

What does a typical day look like?

Each day can be quite varied but typically I split my time between the workshop and the studio. I work closely with the workshop team on the pieces they’re working on and am there for advice or troubleshooting in the morning. In the afternoon, when I am not on site installing pieces or out for client meetings, I will be in the studio working with the team on bespoke project quotations and drawings and developing new collections. I’m lucky to live close to our workshop and studio and my evenings are spent with my family.

What’s your favourite part of the job?

Regardless of where things go, it's lovely to think of all the things we've made that serve a useful purpose and provide pleasure each day. It is reassuring to us that the simplicity and longevity of furniture, at its core, appeals broadly to so many. I especially enjoy the furniture assembly. In the early stages there is a lot of preparation of the smaller parts and it can be hard to get a feel for the piece. Once the assembly begins the hard work pays to and the success of the design and quality of the maker's hand really comes alive.

Favourite Salvesen Graham project you’ve worked on?

The Clock house was especially memorable. We made quite a few pieces for the project. We made a beautiful canon dining table for the dining room which had an ecclesiastical feel with gothic windows. The photo from this project is a favourite of mine.

We’ve had the pleasure of working with your wife Tess on some projects, have you ever worked together? How do you manage that creative partnership?

Our work entwines and of course we have a lot of shared interests. This really helps when it comes to travelling and decorating our own home. We also share
a studio and our workshops are in neighbouring buildings. This being said we predominantly work on independent projects so that when we come together to collaborate it's a special treat.

We both bring our shared love of craft to any project. We have recently created our Botanica Mirror together, a mahogany mirror frame inspired by Arts and Craft designs, made in our workshop and decoupaged with papers designed by Tess.

What does the future hold for Alfred Newall?

We have recently moved to a new workshop that has allowed us to reset and reorganise as we have grown to a team of around 20 people. We feel very fortunate to design and make pieces of furniture of which we are very proud of and I always want this to be at the heart of what we do. We have just launched a new collection of pieces inspired by rural life and the gypsy wagon. I want to continue developing new collections and develop the growth in knowledge and expertise within the team that will allow us to take on more complex and adventurous projects.