Experiments, amusements, failures, new designs, dead ends, and other random things.

 
Process shots for the plugs on yesterday’s table in case anyone was curious: - Gilding with composition (“Dutch”) gold - Application of patina - Lacquer over patinated faces - plugs cut to size, and - In place It’s a touchy
Trajan dining table heading out for delivery this week. Its footprint was a little large for the shop, so it’s been straddling my assembly table for a while. The top is black walnut (of course), and the base is bleached white oak. The only mod
I am heading out of town to see an old friend, leaving a traffic jam of projects waiting on fabricated parts and curing finish. I’m really excited about this one, though. Patinated depressions in a piece of claro walnut attacked by about everyt
I sort of impulse bought this a couple weeks ago when I visited the yard to pick up material for another project. The yard had a book matched set with figure, and we don’t see dining table-sizes sets lying around like this very often. I took it
I just put the final coat of finish on a custom bench I’ve worked on for the last several weeks. I don’t work on this scale very often, but @eridel_construction_design has been an awesome partner. The bench will receive upholstery on the
A couple shots of a the walnut burl veneer going into Secret Project No. 1. I’m grateful to be able to work with material this insane. This was my first real veneer, and I utterly botched the first try on the first panel. Afterward, I sucked i
New console table in black walnut. Designed and built this for MARA’s gallery in Sarasota. Eroded dovetails are an idea I’ve been kicking around for a while. They turned into eroded mitered dovetails here. I like the way they came out, a
This unreal walnut burl veneer is the first ingredient for Secret Project No. 1. I will be working on this between commissions for the next few months, and it will be the culmination of the skills I have acquired over the last thirteen years. Gorge
A king wasn’t big enough. And my shop isn’t wide enough to capture the bed’s two-mattress width. Very simple, sweet frame and panel design in just-everyday-awesome American walnut. All dimensions are divisible by three. The panels
I liked the way morning light hit this almost-finished black walnut bed yesterday. It’s too huge for me to get good photos in the shop, but I’ll post some more when it’s ready to deliver. . . . #vvfurniture #custombed #customfurnit
VVF’s first commercial project. Custom wrap for a new boutique downtown. The casework is maple and ply in white poly, and the counters and drawer fronts are white oak. If I get some photos of it in its home, I’ll share. . . . #vvfurnitur
All the dimensioned frames for a very overdue bed for a very good friend. A manufacturer of doors for yachts was throwing away this walnut. It’s gorgeous, and I haven’t even sanded it yet. We live in strange times. . . . #vvfurniture #bl
Restored, very old doors. Mixed after-and-before photos. I usually do not do restorations because it’s just not my jam, but I adore the owners. These things are old. The house in which they will be installed will begin their third+ life. The
Maeve said she was overworked. From now on, she’ll be supervising from the floor. With her giraffe. . . . #vvfurniture #shopdog
Nine maple table tops out for delivery tomorrow. The objects I make are usually one of one, so this was as mass-production as things get. The challenge was to devote attention to each 250+ square foot of surface and about the same linear feet of edge
Here is the cabinet that will accompany the vanity from yesterday. Same same on materials and finish, but I liked the way this patination turned out. * * * #vvfurniture #customfurniture #cabinetmaking #customcabinets #woodworking #gilding #patinatio
Bath vanity out for delivery in a couple days. The case is plain-sawn (sides) and quarter-sawn (doors, etc.) red oak. The outside is finished in black poly, inside in an oil/wax blend. Just simple, honest casework that takes a back seat to the patin