How the Way We Work Shapes the Furniture We Make

At Dovetailors, the furniture we make is shaped just as much by how we work as by the materials we choose or the way we develop our designs.

Every piece that leaves our Yorkshire workshop reflects a way of working that values craftsmanship, thoughtful design and practical making. Traditional skills sit alongside modern technology, each playing its part.

It’s not easy to explain in words how this actually works and what difference it makes, so we’ll take our Moor Curve Lounge Chair as an example here. It’s a good case study for demonstrating how we take ambitious designs from concept to finished product. It’s also a product that embraces the Dovetailors philosophy in so many ways.

A well-equipped workshop where technology and craft work comfortably together

In our workshop, traditional craft skills work side by side with modern technology. CNC machines help us achieve the accuracy and consistency that good furniture demands, while skilled hands bring the character, judgement and finishing touches that machines simply can’t replicate.

That balance means we can work efficiently without losing the care and attention that proper making requires. Technology helps with precision and repeatability, but it’s the craftsmanship that ensures every piece still feels thoughtful, balanced and beautifully finished.

For the Moor chair, we worked closely with our friends at Moor and the collaboration showcases Moor’s vision for thoughtful, considered living and Dovetailors’ approach to contemporary design and craftsmanship. By bringing together advanced CNC machining and time-honoured joinery techniques, we’ve created a lounge chair that combines beauty, comfort and lasting durability.

It’s all about the team

One thing that really shapes the way we work is that the same team stays involved from the first idea right through to the finished piece.

What this means in practice is that when we make decisions about a design, we’re thinking practically about how it’s going to be made.  In other words, the people designing the furniture are closely connected to the making process, which means we can refine details and make sure every piece works beautifully.

The Moor Lounge Chair blends sculptural elegance with deep, inviting comfort. Its soft, flowing frame is crafted from solid wood, with precise lines that cradle the tufted seat and create a light, open feel. This striking chair always turns heads when we show it at events and design shows and its creation is a direct outcome of the way we work, our attention to detail, a collaborative mindset and our commercial acumen.

Rather than following short-lived trends, we focus on timeless design and responsibly sourced solid wood chosen for its character and its ability to age well over time. Made in our Yorkshire workshop by skilled hands, pieces like the Moor chair are built properly and have an aesthetic ease that you can live with every day and grow attached to over the years.

What difference does it make to our customers?

Furniture designers and interior specifiers face the daily challenge of turning complex ideas into pieces that work every time and the way we work make the process easier for them so that we can enjoy the journey together.