Tom Faulkner Award Winner: Phil Berczuk’s Andenes Low Table

Sep 24, 2025 | Furniture Timber, Our Customers

At English Woodlands Timber, we believe every piece of wood tells a story. That story begins in the forest and continues until it becomes part of a beautiful piece of furniture. For the 2025 Tom Faulkner Award for Distinctive Furniture Design, we supplied American Black Walnut to Phil Berczuk. His Andenes Low Table won for its bold, precise, and carefully executed design.

Andenes Low Table: Where Inspiration Meets Craft

Phil Berczuk’s design drew inspiration from the terraced landscapes of Peru’s Sacred Valley, informed by his background in cartographic design. The Andenes Low Table is an organic, free-flowing form made from 98 individually designed components, CNC cut to maximise yield, hand finished and arranged into 12 concentric layers. A 10mm low-iron tempered glass top allows light to play across the layers, showcasing the natural depth, colour, and character of American Black Walnut supplied by English Woodlands Timber.

Custom half-lap jigsaw joints were individually refined for each component, creating a secure yet elegant fit and a captivating vertical rhythm across the layers. Hand-sanded and finished with extra-thin oil-wax, the wood retains a soft tactile quality, while discreet leather pads protect and subtly elevate the table.

Award-Winning Design

The Tom Faulkner Award recognises furniture that balances beauty and functionality. Judges praised Phil’s table as “very distinctive, beautiful and well executed.” They also noted his deep understanding of form and how it relates to space.

The table has also been shortlisted for the Bespoke Award at the New Furniture Makers’ Exhibition. This award celebrates excellent craftsmanship in pieces with a clear and specific purpose, made by designer-makers in higher education. Phil’s Andenes Low Table will be on show at Furniture Makers’ Hall, London, EC2N 2HE, on 29 October 2025.

The exhibition, organised by The Furniture Makers’ Company, is the student equivalent of the Furniture Makers’ Guild Marks. It showcases outstanding new talent and highlights the future of design. Formerly known as the Young Furniture Makers Exhibition, this event gives the industry a chance to connect with creative designer-makers who are shaping the sector.

Why Timber Selection Matters

Choosing the right timber is crucial. At our West Sussex yard, makers can see and handle boards in person. This helps them select pieces that match their design vision.

Choosing the right boards means:

Grain and colour that tell a story
Sustainably sourced wood
A balance of consistency and character where it matters

We supply carefully graded Kiln-dried American Black Walnut. Phil used these boards in sizes from 420mm to 500mm wide and up to 2.80m long, ensuring every layer of the table could be crafted with precision and beauty.

Explore More

If you’re a furniture maker, designer, or architect, we’d love to help you find the perfect timber for your next project. Visit our yard to self-select, handle boards, and choose the timber that will bring your vision to life.