Keith Crewe

Artists Statement
"To build and design furniture with a sense of heritage and longevity while acknowledging nature and its influence."
After working for years in carpentry I decided to pursue a more creative and artistically challenging career. I have always been fascinated by the functional arts and for me the most appealing way was through furniture and the use of its most natural medium, wood. I feel that the furniture we surround ourselves with should somehow enhance our lives, weather it is through its function or its esthetic appeal.

Dovetailed Chest on Stand Birch with Walnut Handles L24 x W15 x H44 inches $3,800	Dovetailed Chest on Stand (Detail) Birch with Walnut Handles L24 x W15 x H44 inches $3,800

Wood Quarry Designs started in 1996 with the intent to create something better, more beautiful and meaningful than what was generally available. Originally we started building traditional Arts and Crafts styled furniture because of the simplicity and the beauty of the traditional exposed joinery. Since then our work has changed, over time we have developed what has become our signature style. Our current work was once described as being " West Coast contemporary with a definite nod to some Asian influences" I'm not sure if the description is apt but I do love to build! Most of our work goes to galleries either in Kelowna (The Art Ark) or to Granville Island (The B.C. Wood Co-op Gallery) in Vancouver or directly to clients on a commission basis. Some of our work has gone as far as Santa Barbara California and Australia.

I try to use wood from British Columbia species and tend to favour wood with a subtler grain, like birch, so that the furniture's design and form is not distracted by some of the wilder grains found in different species. All the wood is selectively harvested, custom milled and kiln dried by a small bandsaw mill getting the most out of each log. Using local wood does more to help our local economy than using tropical rainforest species. I also favour chemical free finishes such as water based varathane or linseed oil along with my own special blend of wax.

City Telephone Table Birch L36 x W15 x H34 inches $1,200	City Telephone Table (Detail) Birch L36 x W15 x H34 inches $1,200

Clydesdale Hall Chest Birch with Walnut Handles L50 x W15 x H34 inches $3,200	Clydesdale Table Birch L58 x W20 x H34 inches $950

Woodworking fits well with making concrete countertops giving us the ability to built unique moulds and provide a complete custom package for our customers like vanity bases, kitchen islands etc. I discovered concrete countertops at around the same time, since then, the thought has always lingered with me about the creative potential of the medium. So more than two years ago I started researching the best approach to creating the highest quality concrete possible and one that would be suited to countertops and other such products. For the last year we have been testing and developing various forms and techniques with spectacular results and a beautiful finished product. Now we feel the product is ready for our customers.

I do the majority of my work by hand, using a spokeshave to smooth the curves of my Clydesdale table or hand cutting the dovetails of a drawer. I design and build contemporary furniture using traditional joinery. It is always functional, never over embellished and built to last generations.

Table Walnut, Concrete, Copper L22 x W15 x H34 inches $950	Table (Detail of Top) Walnut, Concrete, Copper L22 x W15 x H34 inches $950

Eight Bottle Wine Rack Stained Maple Height 54 inches $185	Vase Concrete, Copper L5 x W3 x H10 inches $65

Entertainment Centre Fir with Dark Walnut Danish Oil L40 x W24 x H60 inches $5,500	Entertainment Centre Fir with Dark Walnut Danish Oil L40 x W24 x H60 inches $5,500

Micro Sideboard Fir with Walnut Handles L24 x W15 x H32 inches $1,200	Stepping Stool Spruce with tinted Varathane L18 x W14 x H22 inches $600

Spruce Blanket Chest Spruce, Cedar Lined, Colonial Stain L60 x W22 x H18 inches $3,000	Tea Table with Kneeling Stools Fir with Maple Inlays L36 x W36 x H19 inches $2,500 table, $250 per stool

Telephone Table Birch with Black Walnut Handles L24 x W15 x H24 inches $1,200	Telephone Table (Detail) Birch with Black Walnut Handles L24 x W15 x H24 inches $1,200

Wall Cabinet Birch with Birds Eye Maple Panels L20 x W5 x H26 inches $550