Riviere Custom Coffee Tables
How I Build Your Table
Every Riviere table is built one at a time, from raw timber to final finish. This page walks you through the full process – the same process I follow for every commission, whether it’s a simple oak coffee table or a statement walnut centerpiece.
01
Understanding Your Space
Before any timber is selected, I take time to understand your style, preferred timber and ideal dimensions. A coffee table is a functional object, and proportions matter – so I help you choose a size that feels balanced and works naturally within your room.
Before I touch a piece of timber, I want to understand:
A custom coffee table is a functional object – height, width, and proportions matter. I help you choose the right size so the table feels balanced in your room.
02
Selecting the Perfect Slab for Your Table
Timber selection is one of the most important stages. I source slabs from trusted sawmills and timber yards, then choose the exact piece for your table based on its grain flow, colour tone, natural features, stability, and overall character.
03
Preparing and Flattening the Slab
Raw slabs arrive rough, uneven, and often twisted. I remove the bark, trim the edges, flatten the slab using a router sled or hand plane, and sand the surface to reveal the grain. This is the moment the table’s personality begins to emerge.
04
Shaping, Refining, and Adding Character
Depending on your design, I may keep a natural live edge, create a clean straight edge, add soft hand‐shaped curves, refine the profile with hand tools, fill cracks and knots with epoxy, or incorporate resin for bespoke designs such as the ocean wave or coffee culture tables.
This stage is slow, deliberate, and entirely done by hand.
05
Structural Craftsmanship That Lasts for Decades
To ensure long-term stability, I add structural elements such as bow‐tie inlays, underside reinforcement, movement‐allowing fixings. This is the unseen craftsmanship that keeps your table stable for decades.
06
Sanding and Surface Preparation for a Tactile Finish
The slab is sanded through multiple grits to create a smooth, tactile surface that feels as good as it looks. This is where the piece transitions from raw wood to finished furniture.
07
Applying a Premium, Hand‐Buffed Hardwax Oil Finish
I apply multiple coats of premium hardwax oil, hand‐buffing between each one. The finish enhances the grain, protects against spills, feels natural rather than plastic, ages beautifully, and remains easy to maintain over time.
08
Fitting High‐Quality Steel Legs With Movement‐Friendly Fixings
Your table is paired with high‐quality steel legs from trusted UK fabricators – strong, stable, powder‐coated, and designed to complement the timber. I position and fix them using movement‐allowing hardware so the wood can expand and contract naturally.
09
Final Inspection
Before delivery, I check:
If it’s not perfect, it doesn’t leave the workshop.
Delivery and Aftercare
Your table is delivered with:
Aftercare instructions Maintenance advice and a lifetime structural guarantee
I’m always here if you need help, repairs, or refinishing in the future.
Get a Custom Coffee Table
Contact me today to start your journey to a unique custom coffee table.