Business Details
Authentic Furniture | Woodcraft Training & Bespoke Furniture
Authentic Furniture is a dedicated community of skilled craftsmen and educators committed to advancing the art of woodworking. Established to provide comprehensive training for both novices and experienced professionals, we offer immersive courses ranging from foundational hand skills to advanced furniture-making techniques. Our philosophy of 'Learning by Making' ensures students gain practical experience from day one, producing tangible projects while mastering traditional and modern methods. With a focus on personalized instruction in small classes, we combine expert guidance with state-of-the-art facilities to nurture individual growth.Our team of seasoned artisans brings decades of industry experience, ensuring students receive both technical expertise and creative inspiration. Beyond education, we craft bespoke furniture pieces that reflect our commitment to quality and innovation. Whether through our courses or custom creations, we strive to preserve and evolve the legacy of fine woodworking for future generations.
Services
Furniture Making Courses
Bespoke Furniture Design
Woodworking Training
Custom Joinery
Timber Technology
Highlights and features
- We offer 15+ years of professional expertise in fine furniture craftsmanship.
- Our courses combine traditional techniques with modern design principles.
- Small class sizes ensure personalized instruction and individual attention.
- We provide hands-on learning with immediate practical project experience.
- Our instructors are award-winning artisans with royal commission experience.
What people say
Expert instructors
Hands-on learning
Confidence building
Beautiful finished pieces
Supportive environment
Services
Furniture Making Courses
Our furniture making courses provide structured training in traditional and modern woodworking techniques. Students learn hand skills, joinery, and project planning through immersive projects. Ideal for beginners and professionals, the courses emphasize practical experience with personalized instruction. Graduates gain the expertise to create custom furniture independently.
Bespoke Furniture Design
We craft tailored furniture pieces using premium timbers and time-honoured methods. Each design addresses specific client needs while maintaining aesthetic and functional excellence. From royal commissions to personal heirlooms, our bespoke service combines innovation with heritage craftsmanship for unique, lasting creations.
Woodworking Training
Our training programs develop proficiency in hand tools, machinery, and design principles. Students master material preparation, joinery, and finishing techniques through progressive projects. The curriculum balances technical precision with creative expression, preparing individuals for professional woodworking careers or advanced hobbyist practice.
Timber Technology
This service focuses on understanding wood properties, selection, and preparation. Students learn about grain patterns, moisture content, and timber treatment methods. The knowledge ensures optimal material use for durability and aesthetics in furniture making, combining scientific principles with practical application.
Custom Joinery
Specialized joinery techniques create strong, elegant connections in furniture. We teach and apply traditional methods like dovetail and mortise-and-tenon joints alongside modern approaches. This service ensures structural integrity and visual appeal in bespoke pieces, reflecting both craftsmanship and technical mastery.
People
Liam O'Connor
Founder & Master Craftsman
With 15 years of experience, Liam O'Connor is a renowned furniture designer-maker trained at the John Makepeace School. He has created pieces for Kensington Palace and the Victoria and Albert Museum, blending traditional techniques with innovative design.
Questions
What woodworking courses do you offer?
We provide 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month courses covering hand skills, joinery, and advanced furniture making techniques for all experience levels.
Can I commission custom furniture?
Yes, we create bespoke furniture using premium timbers. Our process includes design consultation to ensure pieces meet your specific requirements and aesthetic preferences.
Are courses suitable for complete beginners?
Absolutely. Our introductory courses start with basic hand skills, making them ideal for novices with no prior woodworking experience.
What payment methods do you accept?
We accept debit and credit card payments through our secure online booking system for both courses and furniture commissions.
Where are your workshops located?
Our workshops are situated near Farnham on the Surrey/Hampshire border, offering easy access for students across southern England.
Reviews (6)
Adam Hartley
May 03, 2021
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We purchased an item earlier from this company after seeing an advertisement, however we were scammed out of 5000 currently this is being investigated buy the OMDB Authority please stay away from this company we cannot believe this has happened to us!
Mcallister White
Apr 18, 2021
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Please do not use this service, very racist telephone operators who will mimick your ethnic minority accent for a laugh and will laugh in the background with their colleagues extremely upset by this service please do not use.
Andrea Fitzgerald
Jul 15, 2020
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Be very wary when buying. Customer service stops at point of sale. If you have a problem do not expect to get it resolved quickly, if at all. 10 months on and despite numerous emails to staff and the MD still waiting for replacement cushion infills as the ones fitted in my sofa were incorrect
Blueizaac
Oct 12, 2019
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Fantastic showroom experience, however I havent given it a 5 as the sofas took too long to make, almost 3 months, however we were given 2 free cushions as compensation. The comfort and quality is amazing and I would recommend this company
Bernie Bolt Bernie
Jun 01, 2019
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Initial communication with Authentic was excellent, attentive and willing to go above and beyond to ensure the ordering process was painless and clear. Unfortunately our order of a two seater tufted glove sofa took almost three months from order to delivery. We were initally given one delivery date, which we could not make and despite us providing numerous other dates it was several weeks later before they were delivering in our area. This included one date, where they cancelled on the actual date of delivery siting vehicle issues( we had only the day before got rid of our old sofa to make room
Chris Whirledge
Jun 28, 2014
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I have to say that I am not usually one for giving reviews, especially for furniture, but the experience has been so good felt I had to share it. Authentic provided us with a quality sofa which we are over the moon with. Comfortable as well as attractive we are thrilled and feel these people really go the extra mile making the whole experience painless. Well done
