Meet Bespoke Furniture Maker Majid Lavasani

Tell us what you do.
I am a bespoke furniture designer and wood-carver, making hand made furniture, doing what I like to do: working with wood. I love the feel, the character of wood, no matter what the species, and I enjoy making objects that are both functional and beautiful.

What's your background?
I studied interior design and furniture making at Manchester College of Art and Technology and after graduating, developed my expertise in traditional cabinet-making techniques before setting up my own workshop at the Mushroom Works in Newcastle in 2012. Today, I am well-established, blending traditional craftsmanship with modern woodworking methods to create bespoke, one-of-a-kind furniture.

How would you describe your design style?
My style blends organic, geometric forms and natural shapes, which are among my favourite elements of design. I tend to design freely, without focusing too much on practicalities or manufacturing limitations, which allows me to create without compromising the integrity of my vision. I relish the challenge of finding innovative, and sometimes complex, methods to transform my designs into functional pieces of furniture.

Where do you source your materials?
My primary material is solid wood, sourced from a local timber supplier, James Latham, based in Gateshead. I am deeply committed to sustainability – a principle I apply to every aspect of my business, from work culture to the raw materials I use. This commitment drives me to carefully source the hardwood, leather and fabrics that go into crafting my furniture.

What’s your typical day?
Most days begin with dropping off my son, Soren, at school. (He has a passion for working with hand tools, especially wood carving, and I try to bring him to my workshop on weekends so he can practice when we’re free.) I also love staying active so try to fit in a run whenever I can but as a full-time woodworker, I spend most of my day in the workshop designing, preparing wood for projects, and meeting with clients. I often find myself wishing there were more hours in the day to achieve all my ambitions!

What’s the hardest part of what you do?
The short answer is that I don’t find things particularly difficult as long as there’s a solid plan in place before starting a project. However, since my primary material is natural, every piece of wood presents unique challenges. For instance, preparing and matching black walnut for a commission can be quite tricky – especially for a tabletop. About 70 percent of my work is done in American black walnut because of its warmth, texture, and the way it works. That said, it can be challenging to find the right grain and colour before planing it, and selecting the perfect timber at the yard often takes extra care.

What’s the best part? Can you tell us about a favourite recent creation?
The best part of my work is meeting clients and discussing new designs that I’ve never created before. I love the entire process, from hand-sketching, drawing a full-size plan to cutting templates and hand-rubbed oil finishing – especially on walnut wood. Delivering the finished piece to a client is incredibly rewarding. My favourite piece is the piece that I am working on; each project feels fresh and exciting in its own way.

What are you currently working on?
One of my latest creations is a mid-century-style side table, which I call the ‘Smiley Table’. It features two piston-fit drawers and a leather thong underlay shelf for the magazine. I recently showcased it at the Great Northern Events at Victoria Baths in Manchester, where it received lots of positive feedback. I’m also working on some custom logos and signs for companies. These are hand-carved in oak, often in a cartouche style similar to my own workshop sign. For me, wood carving is more than just work – it’s a form of meditation that helps relieve stress and manage anxiety.

Find more about Majid’s work at majidfurniture.co.uk