Frances Bradley Live Edge Tables

Frances Bradley furniture arose out of my passion for wood and dislike of waste. Initially, my designs focused on using reclaimed materials and repurposing or upcycling items. It's something of a passion and therefore something I've continued to this day; from recycling Cable Drums used in the nearby M1 widening to saving a whole English Walnut tree from being sold for firewood which is gradually being included into very simple pieces which allow the wood to shine. Now with the help of a team, I've stated producing more contemporary pieces whilst still being focused on using imperfect, characterful woods in an effort to produce sustainable, material led design. These designs start with the wood itself so a lot of my work includes boards with the natural live edge intact (waney) as these edges are often seen as waste. Rather than waste them, I pioneered the resin river design to showcase them against a contrasting material in a bright, modern manner. Alongside sustainable materials, supporting small British craftsmen is also important to me. The team is small and we all have small rural workshops where simple design principles and honest materials are a natural way of working. The timber is often from local trees which have had to be cut down and I keep my designs bright and simple but with a nod to traditional techniques to offset the uniqueness of the individual boards we use. This makes each piece unique and ideal as a standout item in the home, or business environment. My Design Principles Material led design - starting with natural wood. Honest materials and design - every material is clear and purposeful Simple but modern designs Minimising production waste through design Handmade in England As local as possible - most of the wood is within 50 miles of the worskhop and the processes within 5 miles.