I have been passionate about good quality, well-designed furniture all my life and so it was natural for me to go into the furniture-making industry.

I started my career as a cabinetmaker but soon moved into furniture design and production, which I have been doing for more than 25 years.

Much of my work has been centered around the use of high quality veneer, which is where my passion really lies. I remember purchasing my first veneer bundle, a Bird’s-eye Huonpine, which was the finest quality veneer I have ever seen, and which have kept to this day.

For a veneer to become a part of my collection it must be unique and really stand out as the finest example of its type. It’s colour, grain formation, or scale must get my attention.

I have been greatly inspired by a number of design periods, but the two that really stand out for me are the designs from The Bedmire and Art Deco periods.

The Biedermeier Neoclassical pieces incorporate the architecture of that era, and their use of veneers was exceptional. They paid particular attention to the grain detail ensuring it flowed in one direction like a perfect waterfall.

Designers in the Art Deco period also paid meticulous attention to the pattern and grain direction of their veneers achieving breathtaking results. Both Jacaks Rhulman and Jean Michelle Frank were masters of this technique and among the great designers of this period.

I invite you to share my great passion and to visit my showroom at 9 Danks Street, Waterloo to see for yourself the beauty of a well-designed and beautifully crafted piece of furniture.

The Signature Range

James Salmond is an Australia-based furniture designer who produces distinctive, high quality bespoke furniture. James can customise most designs to suit your individual requirements with the option to customise by size, veneer and fabric.

If you are in the Sydney region, James is happy to visit your home to help you select furniture to suit your rooms.

The International Range

As well as creating bespoke pieces, James Salmond also stocks a range of furniture which is available for multiple-item orders which can be delivered overseas. These pieces are currently available to purchase from both the Sydney store as well as from David Shaw stores in New Zealand.

The first step of the design process is to start getting the concepts on to paper. I mentally gather different styles from contemporary to classic, organic to industrial and try not to get too locked into one style or direction.

At the end of the process I may have sketched over 30-40 different concepts from which I’ll select the two that I feel work best for what I am trying to achieve. I will then draw up in detail the manufacturing methods and materials that I feel will best suit these pieces.

I then work with specially selected craftsmen where there unique skills enhance and bring to life the concepts and designs.

Coming soon.