One Week Furniture Making Course

This short course introduces you to fundamental hand tool skills. You'll make a piece of furniture suited to your skills and get a taster for fine furniture making.

Become hooked on the satisfaction of working with wood and making something beautiful with your own hands.

Overview

The teaching is centred on practical furniture projects suited to the student's level of competence and confidence. We begin with fundamental skills, just as our one-year students do.

If this is your first time with us, you'll learn to sharpen and use chisels and bench planes. Using cabinetmakers' marking tools, you'll mark and then flatten timber by hand, before planing square edges. You'll practice making joints. And then you'll work on your project guided by our tutors.

Many of our short course students return for subsequent one week courses to build on their skills and make more complex projects. Many more join us for the full-time course.

Who is this course for?

This short taster is suited to everyone regardless of previous experience. You might be wondering whether you could explore a career in Furniture-making. You may be a returning student looking to build on your previous experience. Or you might be looking to treat yourself to a fun, joyful and satisfying experience. Or perhaps you want to gift this course to someone looking to discover their creative side?

Meet Your Tutors

  • Peter Quin

    Founder & Principal
    Master Furnituremaker, The Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers

  • Andrew Lapthorn

    Designer-Maker, Fellow of the Society of Designer Craftsmen & Owner of Lapthorn Furniture

  • Mark Thomas

    Bespoke Guild Mark holder, Multi-Award Nominee Designer-Maker. Owner of MakerMark

  • Paul Iaquaniello

    Designer-Maker & Owner of Kent Furniture Design

Course Fees

The tuition fee for a one week short course is £525. This includes the use of school tools and materials; the final piece is yours to take home.

Practical Information

We teach small groups of up to 6 people.

The school is set on the grounds of Scotney Castle. The course runs from 9AM until 5PM from Monday to Friday, with an hour lunch break and two tea breaks. Please do bring a lunchbox. You are welcome to visit the school during term by appointment. Make your appointment by contacting us below.

Get in touch.

We’d love to hear from you, where you are in your life at the moment and what is drawing you to furniture-making.

Arrange to come for a visit and we will show you our workshops, students’ projects and you’ll get to meet some tutors. Chat to students, ask them your questions and get to hear their experiences.