For the first time ever I was accepted by a local gallery for my furniture a few months ago, and I’ve even sold a few pieces lately!
I sold the two Opposing Arch Tables (hall table and coffee table) as a set, and I also sold the Wishbone Table. Currently the SUMO Credenza, the Stiletto Cabinet and the Graham Nash Sofa Table are in the gallery for sale.
But now the gallery keeps telling me they want a dining table. So I want to make sure I fill that need before someone else does. And since I have sold a few things I had the cash to go on a little shopping spree at my favorite candy store _Global Wood Source
They had this 6×6 foot, 4” thick slab of Claro Walnut that fit my needs perfectly :)
I didn’t take photos of the milling process but I spent the next couple hours there getting it custom milled and choosing lumber for the base which will be Western Maple.
I was able to get enough large book-matched pieces out of the slab for TWO dining tables. Here they are back in my little shop.
First table top:
Second table top:
Maple for the base of table one:
Claro Walnut “Leftovers”
I always prefer to start with the wood before I design anything (unless its a specific commissioned piece). So once I had my lumber, I went to work in Sketchup to make the most of it. I poured over my stash of inspirational images that I keep on my hard drive from other works and artists that I like.
Then the challenge is to make it my own. One of my favorite styles is the one pioneered by George Nakashima. So its easy to see his influence in my designs.
Here is what I came up with:
And as always, it will change and evolve as I start building but this is a starting point. What do you think?
-Blake