Tambour Sideboard in Blue Gum / Coastal Reds // From The Workshop
March 2024
Last year we designed and built a new piece for our catalogue; one that we’re pretty proud about; the Tambour Sideboard, featuring 106 individual tambour staves and customisable drawer and shelving spaces.
Our first prototype was made in our striking Blue Gum / Coastal Reds mix. It’s since sold, but there was so much interest in the piece that we’ve made another, this time in Blackbutt / Dense Browns.
This new Blackbutt / Dense Browns version is now available to view in our showroom, and we can customise this design to fit your space and needs.
Read on to learn about the design and get in touch if you’d like to discuss your own custom Tambour Sideboard.
TAMBOUR SIDEBOARD: SLIDING DOORS + 8 DRAWERS
DESIGNER: Rohan Hunt
MAKER: Julian Beukers
TIMBER SPECIES: Blue Gum / Coastal Reds
DIMENSIONS: 2000 x 500 x 700mm
FINISH: Clean dressed, Osmo Matt
If you have a project in mind that you would like our opinion on, or a quote, please complete an enquiry form via the button below and we’ll be in touch.
Interested in working with us on your own custom version of the Tambour Sideboard?
Fill out an enquiry form, call us or email us and we will get back to you within 2-3 working days to answer any questions you might have, provide a customised quote, and get designing!
Tambour Sideboard Design & Making Journey
Designing and making our Tambour Sideboard was a vast undertaking.
Designer Rohan Hunt and Thor Diesendorf collaborated on design ideas for around 8 months before Rohan settled on the final design, coming up with at least 10 iterations throughout the process.
The piece had a few key intentions; one, to display a different style of design to the existing furniture up in the showroom; and two, to showcase the beautiful Australian hardwoods we recycle here at Thor’s Hammer (particularly our reds, which we are especially fond of).
While we can make this design in any of our timber species, Thor and Rohan specified this version in Blue Gum / Coastal Reds to visitors to our showroom as a tangible example of what building with red hardwoods can achieve stylistically.
Despite the popularity of mid-century and scandi-inspired designs, red hardwoods shouldn’t be overlooked. They are iconically Australian, and they stand out for all the right reasons. And while seamlessly fitting into our current furniture lineup, the Tambour Sideboard stands out with a distinctive and contemporary flair that is fresh and powerful.
This piece was made by the very talented Julian Beukers from our joinery team (pictured in the photos below).
Design Features: Sliding Tambour Doors With 8 Drawers
As with most concepts in design, the Tambour Sideboard works because it’s simple, and has a clear purpose.
First and foremost, Rohan wanted to design a piece that was beautifully unadorned and simple, yet practical, and so they made sure that the few details they did have would all contribute to its functionality.
Incorporating the sliding tambour doors was a later design decision for Rohan and Thor, based on a popular piece designed by previous Thor’s Hammer designer Chris Dalzell in 2022 (check out the piece over on Instagram).
They decided that this standout feature was a perfect way to showcase the grain and variation in Australian hardwoods in a way that our current catalogue wasn’t currently doing.
The doors include 106 individual tambour staves that are express joined in between each staves, making them seem to almost melt when sliding the doors open.
The design also features ample storage, with 8 drawers with integrated pulls and fixed shelves, making it practical as well as aesthetically pleasing.
This is now on display in our gallery, drop in and check it out!
New Tambour Sideboard in Blackbutt / Dense Browns
We’ve just finished making our second Tambour Sideboard, this time in the recycled Blackbutt / Dense Browns. Here’s the team lifting it upstairs into our second floor showroom, and Thor surveying the handywork! Come and check it out at 10 Mildura St, Griffith (Canberra), from 8 - 5pm Monday to Friday, or Saturday morning 9 - 1pm.
We can customise this design to suit your space & needs.
As with all of our designs, this Tambour Sideboard design can be customised in a range of ways—you might want to add more drawers, or deeper drawers, or longer or shorter drawers, or add more fixed shelving space… the list continues! If you can think it, we can probably make it (or something similar) happen!
We can also offer it in any of our recycled hardwoods—you can come and check out the Blackbutt / Dense Browns Tambour Sideboard in our showroom now. Canberra Local Ash or spotted gum are also good choices. Of course, if you can’t already tell, we love this design in the Blue Gum / Coastal Reds, but it’s up to you!
If you have a piece in mind, please make an enquiry via the button below, or get in touch with us via phone (6282 9900) or email (hammer@thors.com.au) to explore your options. We can’t wait to create something with you.
Photos by Rohan Thomson.
Video by Tideline Productions.
Words by Rohan Hunt & Ellie Keft.