Here at Oxenwood, we specialise in semi-bespoke, luxury interior and outdoor furniture. Our products are durable, robust, and low maintenance so that they not only stand the test of time but in fact improve with age, gaining depth and character over time. All of our furniture is made from solid, indigenous FSC and PEFC oak, top grade teak sourced from ecologically managed and sustainable plantations in Indonesia and Belgian Bluestone.
These high-end materials are combined with exceptional craftsmanship to provide stunning, unique pieces of furniture. Every piece is handmade in Hampshire to order by craftsmen blending traditional skills, such as mortice and tenon jointing, with modern technology. This allows you to specify the desired length, width, height and finish of your chosen furniture.
Using Belgian Bluestone in particular is a real passion for us and one of its more popular statement options. The stone has a very rich geological history beginning 359 million years ago when part of Belgium was covered by the sea. Because of the sea levels in this particular area, this led to colonies of living organisms, called crinoids, developing in large quantities. Over time, sediments accumulated in the seabed in horizontal layers, which compacted the limestone mud. The fossils and greyish veins now visible in the stone are evidence of this long history and give each piece a unique character.
The stone is a reliable, durable tabletop material thanks to the fact it is resistant to the effects of frost, pollution, sea air, chlorine and much more. It can withstand decades of wear, gaining its own character and patina as it ages and, thanks to its density, is difficult to damage. Bluestone comes alive when wet, making it ideal for garden furniture, as the moisture illuminates the fossils and veins within the stone.
Depending on the finish applied to the stone, tones can range from almost black through to a powdery blue-grey – all with the unique fossils and small veins throughout. A honed finish, such as ‘Leathered’, will provide a smooth, dark surface perfect for use inside, while a rougher surface, such as the popular ‘Antique’, provides a textured finish and an abundance of real character making it ideal for use outside.
The different finishes also mean Belgian Bluestone can look equally fitting in a historic, rural property as in a contemporary, new-build.
“Quality and durability are at the core of our philosophy,” says founder Charlie Alexander. “This is why we have such a passion for Belgian Bluestone. The inimitable beauty and strength of the material, and the way in which it becomes more beautiful with age, perfectly reflects our commitment to creating low maintenance furniture designed to gain depth and character over time. Our intention is that our Oxenwood furniture will be passed down between generations”
For further information and to see the full range, take a look here
