After much thought and deliberation I have decided that I must put this project on hold indefinitely. Life has gotten real and so must I. I hope to continue this project when time allows. Thank you to all those who’s comments have brought this blog to life. During this short time you have helped me become a better designer.
Until next time,
Jamon

No. 47 Cypress Trunk Table - Inspired By...Week

Looking at pictures of different trees I came across a  group of three cypress trees grouped in an interesting configuration. This design quickly followed.

The base would not be made of real cypress as it is not a good wood species for carving or shaping. I'm not sure what species would be used, but it would be stack laminated to allow for its large size. The table top would be the same material as the base and an oil/wax finish would suit the piece well.

Grab a pencil and paper and hold onto those drawings, because the new Furniture Design Blog will be rolling out soon. Stay tuned here for the latest.

No. 46 Bridging The Cabinet -Inspired By...Week

I was looking for pictures of the Longfellow Bridge over the Charles River in Boston, and found the Leonard Zakim Bridge instead. I did not know it existed before I saw it, but it impacted me enough to inspire this cabinet.

A simple, obelisk-esque (without the tip) cabinet, mounted to a flat platform. A bent lamination secured to the cabinet via stainless steel cables sits beneath the platform. The cabinet features a bottom door followed up the it's height by drawers. Cabinet- birds eye or curly maple. Base, legs, lamination and pulls- wenge, walnut or mahogany.

Grab a pencil and paper and hold onto those drawings, because the new Furniture Design Blog will be rolling out soon. Stay tuned here for the latest.

No.45 Utility Table -Inspired By...Week

I'm not sure if this piece can be termed "inspired by". Maybe "literal copy with a twist" is more accurate.

 

Yes, those are utility poles, though not real ones as that would make one huge table. I can see this table made either completely clean and stylized or dirty and real. Maybe a set? Wood species and finish, or lack there of, would be dependent upon which style I built in.

Grab a pencil and paper and hold onto those drawings, because the new Furniture Design Blog will be rolling out soon. Stay tuned here for the latest.

No. 44 Corrugated Roof Table -Inspired by...Week

This is a quick sketch of a table inspired when I looked up at the underside of the gymnastics building roof today.

 

Even though this piece could be easily made from steel components, keeping everything in wood ads to the design for me. Maple, walnut and glass top.

Grab a pencil and paper and hold onto those drawings, because the new Furniture Design Blog will be rolling out soon. Stay tuned here for the latest.

No. 43 Modern House -Inspired By...Week

Welcome to day one of Inspired By...Week. The basic idea is that as a designer I am inspired by every shape, color and texture that I come in contact with. Whether it be man made or natural, these forms are cataloged in my mind and often rise to the surface when designing a piece of furniture. This week will feature examples of such pieces.

This cabinet is inspired by a modern house. Horizontal and vertical strips of wood are riveted to the case in place of siding. Windows are replaced by drawers. The whole piece is supported by crossed planks on edge filling in for concrete support walls. Walnut and maple, oil and wax finish.

Grab a pencil and paper and hold onto those drawings, because the new Furniture Design Blog will be rolling out soon. Stay tuned here for the latest.

No. 42 Seventh Bed -Bed Week

Seventh Bed is the name I've given this, the seventh bed on the seventh day of Bed Week. I know, how do I name these pieces.

This bed represents an attempt to come back from the ultra minimalist platform beds of the past few days. It is minimal, without doubt, yet approachable. Soft curves welcome both eye and hand. I see it built in maple, adding light hues to the light feel of the bed.

Grab a pencil and paper and hold onto those drawings, because the new Furniture Design Blog will be rolling out soon. Stay tuned here for the latest.

No. 41 Concrete and Mahogany Bed -Bed Week

If yesterday's post was an inner awakening about my tastes in bed styles, today's is the beginning of my manifesto.

 

This bed is so basic. Four mahogany planks, two concrete forms and some bolts (and a mid support that I did not draw, but would need). That's it. Mattress optional.

Grab a pencil and paper and hold onto those drawings, because the new Furniture Design Blog will be rolling out soon. Stay tuned here for the latest.

No. 40 Criss-Cross Bed -Bed Week

I'm beginning to think I prefer beds without posts. Headboards and foot boards seem uninteresting to me as well. How peculiar.

This bed has nothing to hide. All the joinery is simple and most of it is exposed. There is not a whole lot to add that the drawing hasn't shown. I think this bed is fairly universal and could work in virtually any wood species.

Grab a pencil and paper and hold onto those drawings, because the new Furniture Design Blog will be rolling out soon. Stay tuned here for the latest.

No. 39 Canopy Bed-Bed Week

This is not your Mother's canopy bed. I like the idea of canopy beds, but am a little weary of the same old style so I changed it up a bit.

 

An oversize platform with solid footings make this is a massive bed. Thin round posts and graceful top overhangs give it a light airy feel. I see the large feet being constructed of either wood or concrete depending on the look desired. Additionally, I think this bed would look best in a dark wood, but I'm not sure which one.

 Grab a pencil and paper and hold onto those drawings, because the new Furniture Design Blog will be rolling out soon. Stay tuned here for the latest.

No. 38 Tapered Leg Bed -Bed Week

Between the firewood and the Super Bowl (ads) this post is getting out a little late. Here then, without further ado we have a tapered leg bed.

Apparently bed design does not come very naturally to me. As with the others, this bed was somewhat of a stretch, which is good for the mind and the experience but not as much so for the clock. I see this built with a solid head and foot boards that sit flush with the slope of the legs. Yes, seasonal movement would allow this to happen perfectly for only a short time each year, but I still think it would look better than if it had a reveal. I imagine it built in black walnut with a few coats of oil, some wax and done.

Grad a pencil and paper and hold onto those drawings, because the new Furniture Design Blog will be rolling out soon. Stay tuned here.

No. 37 Artful Platform Bed -Bed Week

I have called today's bed "artful" not because the design is artistic, rather the bed is like a canvas waiting to be filled with whatever one might desire.

The bed consists simply of a platform on beams, pushed against tiered back panels. The space between the panels makes room for storing bedtime reading or as small display areas. It could also hide a light source for gentle illumination. The panels themselves could be customized to the clients specifications (the included scribbles were just examples off the top of my head).

Grab a pencil, some paper and start drawing your own beds or anything else for that matter. After you're done share them with the rest of us at furnituredesign.tumblr.com

No. 36 Japanese Screen Bed -Bed Week

This week I'll be tackling beds. I'm excited about this subject for a few reasons, of which I'll list the important ones.

1. I have not designed many beds.
2. It was my wife's idea.

 This bed is an unabashed ripoff interpretation of a Japanese screen wall. The design actually incorporates ideas and themes form a number of aspects of Japanese architecture and a little bit of original design (the chamfer of the screen frame). The bed is obviously not made for people under 8" tall, that is just the space saving format I chose to draw it in. I see it in made of cypress (traditional) or some dark wood with interesting grain such as wenge.

Grab a pencil, some paper and start drawing your own beds or anything else for that matter. After you're done share them with the rest of us at furnituredesign.tumblr.com

No. 35 Three Stools -Stool Week

Tomorrow will be the beginning of a new week and with it a new theme: Beds. But before we go lets finish Stool Week with...wait for it...three designs. I know, not exactly the pomp and circumstance you had hoped for but...

 Top Left: This stool has some interesting things going for it, just not all together.

Top Right: I really like this stool. There are some hurdles to overcome to make it durable, but once those are solved, what a fine stool you would have.

Bottom: This simple fellow was reminding me of something, but I couldn't figure out what it was. Then I realized it looks just like the base for my old (sitting in storage if someone wants to buy it) Sears/Craftsman table saw. I do like its simplicity and mod feel though.

Grab a pencil, some paper and start drawing your own stools. After you're done share them with the rest of us at furnituredesign.tumblr.com

No. 34 Corporate & One More Show -Stool Week

These two definitely fall into the "same but different" category that Stool Week has brought to life. But this takes it to the next level.

 Right: "Corporate" is a commentary on the process of climbing the corporate ladder just to reach the lonely little seat at the top. (NOTE: Not hatin', just telling it like it is) The piece is 10' tall (if you hadn't guessed this is for a gallery not a house) and though I initially thought of maple for the construction, maybe a highly exotic wood would be more appropriate.

Left: "One More Show" tells the story of the showman and his last show. The
legs would be actual guitar necks. I would prefer making them, because I never have, however, found necks would fit the story much better. The seat is the best part though: a basic round seat, veneered to look like the body of a guitar with all the inlays/details including those around the sound hole, which would be centered in the seat, and obviously not an actual hole. Amazingly a Google image search of "guitar stool" turned up nothing even close to this.

So, they are both four legged stools with round seats. They both tell the story of the pinnacle and the loneliness that comes with it. I guess they are much more "same" than "different".

Grab a pencil, some paper and start drawing your own stools. After you're done share them with the rest of us at furnituredesign.tumblr.com

No. 33 Slice and Chopping Block -Stool Week

The two stools for today have been called "Slice" and "Chopping Block". Yet again one could easily be adapted to be a table. Odd how that keeps happening...No, seriously it's not planned.

Top: Slice is basic and proud of it. Four pieces of wood and two keys. What you see is what you get. Not getting a feeling either way for wood species on this one.

Bottom: Chopping Block was named after it was sketched because it started with the curved seat. The posts and base came last and ,quite honestly, out of nowhere (read "pure inspiration"). Because It is essentially an end grain chopping block I think maple is the logical species for this piece, though anything would work.

Grab a pencil, some paper and start drawing your own stools. After you're done share them with the rest of us at furnituredesign.tumblr.com

No. 32 Curvy and Square-y -Stool Week

So, I think this two stools a day thing will continue. At least for today. We again have two true contrasters: Curvy and Square-y.

 

Left: Curvy is a fairly basic design: a circle and four compound curved legs. I would probably use cherry for the wood species here (just a feeling, no real reason). This might make an interesting table as well.

Right: Simple, honest Square-y. He's a straight shooter and a real down to earth guy. Any wood species, including certain reclaimed lumbers, would work for construction of this piece.

Grab a pencil, some paper and start drawing your own stools. After you're done share them with the rest of us at furnituredesign.tumblr.com