"There's something mystical about wood and working it for me. I see in it my connectedness to nature and what's real and important, and just as I see the potential to morph the raw material, I see my own potential."
Charles Davies, Furniture and Cabinet Maker
Charles Davies, the owner of Charles Davies Custom Fine Furniture and Built-Ins, specializes in the making of quality one-off furniture pieces and built-ins, including fine wall units and kitchens, mainly for the Georgian Triangle region (Collingwood, Thornbury, Meaford), Toronto, Caledon and Muskoka. Charles Davies' philosophy on furniture and cabinet making is akin to Biophilic Design philosophy; nature is revered and pieces are made eco-responsibly. Only the best quality materials and finishes are employed. For example, Davies chooses to work with Canadian formaldehyde-free plywood verses cheaper alternatives such as plywood from China or MDF (manufactured medium density fibreboard) which both 'gas-off' toxins, not only because Canadian ply is eco-friendlier but because it's much more durable. Furthermore, none of his work is sprayed with heavy lacquers, but rather finished by hand with healthier alternatives that are more durable and aesthetically pleasing.
According to Davies: "It's all about quality and making things that last...making things for families, for generations to come. My legacy is very important to me both in terms of the body of work I leave behind and the footprint I make." On style, Davies has this to say: "Biophilic Design is equated with bringing the outdoors in and using of-the-earth materials (as opposed to synthetics) to accentuate healthy living spaces, especially kitchens, with an organic aesthetic. That's all well and true, but this equation can conjure up images restricted to the very traditional. It is, however, possible to form and shape wood (and ply) along very clean, contemporary lines and for contemporary work to be extremely well-made, and made eco-responsibly."
Charles Davies Custom Fine Furniture and Built-Ins
