David Emery has been designing and making fine furniture in his studio/workshop at Kyneton, one hour north of Melbourne in the Macedon Ranges, since 1975.

The workshop is now producing furniture, both domestic and corporate, of a clean uncluttered nature, with an emphasis on balance and proportion.

Workshop skills are mainly in the use of timber, with an emphasis on veneering, as this enables greater flexibility in design by avoiding the limitations of solid timber construction. All veneers are pressed in the workshop, after components have been cut to size and had timber lippings applied to their edges. This process, standard with quality European makers, gives a better edge detail than can be achieved using pre-veneered board, and gives greater versatility in the ways that the veneers can be applied within a project. Materials other than timber - glass, metals and stone - are used extensively in the work, but the specialist application of veneers is still an area with much to offer within the small workshop. Whatever the materials or techniques, the focus of the workshop is always on the end user, so that he or she enjoys using and owning the furniture produced. Working in conjunction with architects and designers is a special interest, especially when it is possible to become involved during the design process. The designer is then able to exploit the benefits associated with the techniques used to achieve results not possible using more conventional methods. From this work over many years, the pyramid and 4D tables, and the seraf entertainment unit, have evolved into the "Studio Collection". These, as well as some other pieces are now being made as small production runs, retailing in Melbourne through Image Interiors, Church Street, Richmond.

CURRICULUM VITAE - MAJOR COMMISSIONS

2006
Currently working on the complete joinery requirements for private homes in North Firzroy and East Brunswick, in conjunction with form architecture design.

Manufacture of the Reception desk for the CH2 project, City of Melbourne, from elm reclaimed from street trees by the City of Melbourne. Architects: Design Inc.

Conference table for Langham Hotel, Southbank. Architects: Webb+.

2005
Design development and manufacture of furniture items for the New Age Veneer display at Designex 2005, Melbourne Exhibition center.

2004
Completed the new Giallo store within the re-developed Melbourne Central, incorporating mechanised "sushi train" shoe display in the store front. Also completed the new Edward Meller store within the same complex. Both stores designed by Luigi Rosselli, Architect, Sydney.

Continued production of "Studio Collection" - including the Pyramid dining table, the Seraf entertainment unit and the 4D coffee table, all for retail through Image Interiors, Church Street, Richmond.

2003
Design development, manufacture and installation of display furniture, reception desk, and research library joinery and furniture at the Tarrawarra Museum of Art, Yarra Glen, as well as joinery within the new wine tasting/ restaurant facility on the same site. Architect: Alan Powell, Melbourne.

2002
Manufacture of furniture for private home in Vaucluse, Sydney; comprising bedhead and nightstands, drawer chest and audio/ video cabinet in ebony, lacewood, bone and silver leaf, all in Art Deco style after Jacques Ruhlmann. Designs by Frank Grill & Associates, Sydney.

Manufacture and installation of fittings and free-standing furniture, together with site management, for the new Giallo store, Chadstone Shopping Centre, Melbourne. Architect; Luigi Rosselli, Sydney.

2001
Design, manufacture and installation of fittings and free-standing furniture for Giallo, 313 Little Collins Street, Melbourne.

Manufacture and installation of fittings and free-standing furniture for Edward Meller stores at Chatswood, Sydney, and for Giallo at Chadstone Shopping Centre, Melbourne. Architect; Luigi Rosselli, Sydney.

2000
Design development and manufacture of major furniture items in Art Deco style for private apartment within the Westin Hotel complex, Collins Street, Melbourne; including desk, bookcases, dining table extending to seat twenty, entertainment cabinets and bedroom furniture. Design; Frank Grill & Associates, Sydney.

Design and manufacture of display cabinet, lighting and display systems for private collection of Judaica; Toorak, Melbourne.

Manufacture of a pair of Art Deco style cabinets in ebony solid and veneer, shagren and bronze for installation in a private residence, Parkville, Melbourne.

Re-development of the 1985 Pyramid dining table, and the development of the Seraf entertainment unit and the 4D coffee table, all for retail through Image Interiors, Melbourne.

1999
Manufacture and installation of fittings and free-standing furniture for Edward Meller shoe stores at Chadstone Shopping Centre, Melbourne; Knox Street, Double Bay, and Doncaster Shoppingtown, Melbourne.

Design development and manufacture of reception sofa for Vault Restaurant, The Rocks, Sydney.

1998
Design, fabrication and installation of Japanese style study within an existing home, including shoji and tokonoma, Melbourne.

Reception counter and en-suite fixtures for Shizuka Ryokan, Daylesford, Victoria.

1997
Design and manufacture of five illuminated cabinets in birds-eye maple veneer and silver leaf for the display of ceramic and glass artifacts: private residence, Toorak, Melbourne.

Theatre ticket desk and coffee counter for theatre lobby: Shire of Macedon Ranges, Kyneton.

Freestanding furniture items for Hermann's shoe store: Chatswood Chase, Sydney.

1996
Freestanding furniture items for Crown Casino, Southbank, Melbourne.

Manufacture and installation of fittings and free-standing furniture for Edward Meller shoe store: 276 Collins Street, Melbourne

Loans desk: Marcel Nyholt Library, Braemar College Woodend. Architect: Ian Scott, Melbourne.

Manufacture and installation of fittings and free-standing furniture for Edward Meller shoe store; Military Road, Mossman, Sydney

1995
Executive level furniture for Pratt Industries, Melbourne, including Reception, chairman's desk and return, board room table, dining table and servery. Subsequently, additional furniture including desk, coat and file cabinets and meeting table for executive offices

Manufacture and installation of fittings and free-standing furniture for Edward Meller shoe store; Toorak, Melbourne.

1994
Manufacture and installation of fittings and free-standing furniture for Bruno-Magli shoe store; Union Square, San Francisco, USA. Architect - Marcus O'Reilly, Melbourne.

Curved bookshelf/wall unit for the 'new' Raheen, Kew, from white lacquered MDF Reception and public area furniture for the new office of the Shire of Kyneton; (now the Shire of Macedon Ranges)

Executive and meeting room furniture for I.C.M Australia Pty Ltd, Jolimont

1993
Reception and Boardroom furniture associated with Clemenger Harvie relocation to new offices in St Kilda Road, Melbourne.

Awarded Graduate Diploma - Interior Design; RMIT

1992
Manufacture and installation of fittings and free-standing furniture for the Bruno Magli shoe store; Rodeo Drive, Los Angeles, USA Architect - Marcus O'Reilly, Melbourne.

Reception and executive office furniture for I.C.M Australia Pty Ltd, Jolimont, Melbourne Fit-out of a bar and wall units for Basilea Restaurant, Hawthorn.

Participated in exhibition to coincide with the publication in Australia of 'Making Fine Furniture - Designer/makers and their projects' by Tom Darby, in which own work is featured.

1991
Manufacture and installation of fittings and free-standing furniture for Hermann's shoe store; Melbourne Central, Melbourne. Architect - Marcus O'Reilly, Melbourne.

1990
Reception desk; Melbourne City Council, Lt Collins Street, Melbourne

Boardroom furniture associated with Hospital Benefits Association relocation to Camberwell Junction

Assessment Committee Member, - Artists Development Grants- VCAB/Australia Council.

1989
Design and manufacture of desk and desktop items for the Speaker - House of Representatives, New Parliament House.

Canberra Guest lecturer - July - Canberra School of Arts - Woodcraft

Received Australia Council grant to investigate the use of veneers in the making of craft furniture, with the emphasis on obtaining veneers from minor Australian timber species

1988
Completed the commission for design and manufacture of all furniture and joinery for the private office, dining and sitting areas of the Speaker, House of Representatives, New Parliament House; Canberra.

1987
Commissions for design and manufacture of conference tables for Lincoln Institute, Melbourne; and for boardroom and conference room furniture for Clemenger Harvie, Melbourne, and I.C.M Pty Ltd, Rutherglen.

1986
Return to own workshop, Kyneton.

Appointed to Board of Management, Meat Market Craft Centre, North Melbourne.

Commissions including Boardroom furniture at HBA, Melbourne and Sanctuary furniture for The Church of the Resurrection, Macedon.

Received commission for design and manufacture of the furniture for the offices of the Speaker, House of Representatives, Parliament House, Canberra. Architects: Mitchell,Giurgola &Thorp

1985
Commissioned to make a series of conference tables for the Royal Institute of Architects - Victoria Chapter, based on the "Pyramid" table exhibited at the Meat Market Craft Centre - Easter Survey, 1985.

1985/84
Appointed Workshop Supervisor - Wood, at the Meat Market Craft Centre, North Melbourne, and managed that workshop during 1985.

1985/74

Established own workshop on Kyneton producing domestic furniture. Numerous commissions for private clients, as well as smaller commissions for Hospitals, Colleges, Chapels and private companies were completed through these years.