GEELONG ADVERTISER HOME 19
Fresh-minted
timeless classics
A love of timber and a few four-legged-friends inspire
this furniture venture, as SOPHIE AUBREY reports
Above: David and
Tamara Gorrie;
From left: Sabine W
dining table and
bench seat in
American oak and
wine vat French oak;
triplet coffee table in
reclaimed
blackwood; and
Addis console table.
F
OR many, animals are like family.
But for David and Tamara Gorrie,
man’s best friend is in the spice and soul
of their craft.
The Cape Otway couple left their
corporate careers in Melbourne for a
sea-change five years ago.
‘‘We were very keen to move to this
beautiful part of Victoria where we could
allow our creativity to express itself,’’
Tamara says. ‘‘It gave us the headspace
to begin a business.’’
Their three-year-old Brown Dog
Furniture Company has since been
turning heads across the region, and not
just the dog-lovers.
Many people have been drawn in by
the promise of unique furnishings
custom-made with stunning timber atop
curved, painted steel legs.
Tamara and David tailor the pieces to
each client’s needs, depending on what
timber, tone, leg finish, design and size
they’re chasing.
Within six weeks, it’s built, buffed and
ready for its new home.
‘‘It’s all designed by us and as a result
they’re beautiful solid pieces that will
last a lifetime,’’ Tamara says.
The three-legged side table is their
most popular.
‘‘It’s a signature piece for us. It really
strikes people as different and we’ve
carried its style into many of our other
pieces,’’ Tamara says.
All furnishings are designed in their
home studio surrounded by inspiring
views of the surf, the bush and the
mountains.
David grew up just outside Hamilton
and spent many hours exploring
timbers and meddling with steel.
He always knew he wanted to turn his
hobby into his trade some day, and
admits Brown Dog is the natural result
of that early desire.
‘‘(It’s) the realisation of a long-held
passion for furniture design that has
seen me, over the years, create many
pieces for family and friends,’’ he says.
Tamara says her husband relishes
crafting furniture people will cherish.
‘‘A beautiful piece of furniture really
lifts you and to be able to bring that to
people’s lives brings David enormous
enjoyment.’’
In line with their eco philosophy, they
only use sustainable and reclaimed
timbers. Hot right now is their stock of
300-year-old French oak reclaimed from
old wine vats, uniquely splashed with
tones of chocolate, burgundy and honey.
Messmate and Blackbutt timber are
also popular, which they have recently
sourced from old stables and butter
factories.
One thing is clear, Brown Dog has been
welcomed with open arms by the Great
Ocean Road locals.
Even the couple’s two children, Grace,
9, and Callum, 8, are reaping the
benefits of country living.
‘‘To see their parents working in their
own business, doing something they
adore and are really passionate about
sends a strong message,’’ Tamara says.
‘‘Hopefully it says to them the sky is
the limit.’’
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