On the horizon.....

Since I spent some time working on the pre-sold Perception set it doesn't seem like I've had much to post in the past couple of weeks.  I'm working on a very cool set of sculptural United Furniture dressers, one long, low dresser the other an upright chest.  They are pretty much ready to start finishing.  However, also on the horizon is a polar vortex.  With the temps dipping pretty low this coming week I'm not sure how well I will be able to progress with application of finish.  Cold is not very conducive to finish curing and it isn't worth having a sticky finish on a piece for days.  We also have holidays on the horizon as well as shorter days.  I've also lost my babysitter that helped out a few hours a week and gave me a chance to work on furniture (for those who don't know, stay-at-home dad is my full time job).  I'm anticipating my output is going to drop a bit the next few weeks.  Its frustrating because I have some really cool pieces I'm looking forward to working on.  I'll try to fill in the gaps with some other posts.  Please stay tuned.

Update 

I managed to get the first coat of finish on the United pieces before the storm started moving in.  Not sure when I'll get the the second coat.  Here are some quick pics.  These are special!

Cavalier Furnture Walnut 4-Drawer Chest

Cavalier Furniture is not a name you come across everyday when looking for mid mod furniture.  It is most notable, at least for modernists, that Gilbert Rohde did some design work for Cavalier.  Why is this important?  In 1930 Rohde approached D.J. DePree, founder of Herman Miller to try to convince him to make some of his furniture designs.  Herman Miller was in trouble and Rohde argued with DePree that his modern designs were not only more readily manufactured but more suited to modern lifestyles with their more simple designs and smaller scale.  Rohde convinced DePree and he was given a design contract, a move that is credited for saving Herman Miller.  Of course Herman Miller went on to become the most widely recognized name in modern furniture with names like George Nelson, George Nakashima and Charles Eames having designs made by Herman Miller.  Rohde passed away at a fairly young age so wasn't as prolific as many of the other well known designers but was a strong proponent of modern design philosophy.  For more of the Rohde/Herman Miller story take a look at this article.
http://www.themagazineantiques.com/articles/gilbert-rohde-the-man-who-saved-herman-miller/


This 4-drawer chest was thoughtfully designed using many of the modern philosophies that Rohde championed.  Its clean, simple design withstands the test of time.  The inset pulls are subtly highlighted  with a slim bright brass trim.  The sturdy square legs and stretcher are reminiscent of Danish design.  These and the front edge of the case as well as the top and bottom face trim are all made of solid walnut, not something you see on pieces from more well known makers like Lane, Broyhill or American of Martinsville.  It was built to last with good joinery and hardwood case materials, something else Rohde was a proponent of.

This particular piece was very well "traveled" when I acquired it.  The finish was gone from parts of the top, there were missing chunks of veneer and a number of pretty deep scrapes.  Upon close inspection there is still some evidence of these scars but none that take away from the nice design and materials used in the piece.  Although I would not attribute this design directly to Gilbert Rohde, his legacy is clearly evident in it.

Dimensions: 42"W x 34"H x 21 1/2"D

Sold

Lane Perception Bedroom Set

Warren Church's design of Lane's Perception line was so well executed it could be dropped into a West Elm or Crate and Barrel catalog today and still be very successful.  Although many of the pieces from this line incorporated wooden basketweave elements, the pieces in this set did not and they are my favorites of the line.  These have a distinctly Danish feel with their organically shaped wood pulls and legs and rounded, solid case corners and front edge detail.  Like some of Church's other designs walnut was the primary case material with legs, edges and pulls of oak.  As was typical of most furniture made in those days, these were finished with a tinted lacquer that blurred the distinction of the two materials as well as the grain in the nice walnut veneers.

On this set I opted to go in a different design direction from the manufacturer and showcased the contrast in materials.  I lightly dyed the oak pieces, enough to tone them down from the nearly bone white color they would have been but still enough to contrast with the walnut.  Not only does this bring attention to the graceful pulls and legs but it also brings out some of the lighter sapwood coloring in the walnut and exaggerates the grain variation.  The result is a more modern expression of classic mid-century design.

This set was sold before completed.  My photographer friend Michael Nelson of Adoration Pro Photo, recently moved into a new house and they needed to some new pieces to go along with it.  He has been great in helping me elevate my photos from crappy to passable, so I was happy I could return the favor.

Kent Coffey "The Greenbrier" 9 Drawer Dresser

Not only was Kent Coffey Furniture prolific in their furniture designs, they came up with some very interesting and kinda fun names.  It seems every time I'm researching something I find another Kent Coffey design.

This one is a little more "retro" than I normally go for but I thought the design was nice and has the unique feature of the sliding door.  Not only does this feature add style points but I think it also allows for the potential of using this piece as a TV stand.  The center drawers could be removed and electronic components such as cable boxes or video games could be placed there and hidden from view when not in use.  The diamond shaped cane piece can also be removed from the door to reveal remote control sensors, etc.

One thing I've noticed about the Kent Coffey pieces that I've done is they did a great job with the veneer lay-ups.  The drawer fronts are always matched and the color and figuring is pretty.  This piece is no exception.  I would say, judging by the finish that I stripped off, this piece looks better than new.

I did restyle the crescent shaped drawer pulls.  They had a faux wood paint on them which, not only was worn, but was a muddy brown that did not look nice with the newly refinished walnut.  I opted to paint these a copper metallic.  Copper is the currently trending metal finish and I think it also matches well with the retro style of this piece.

Dimensions: 64"W x 32"H x 20"D
Sold

Mid Century Walnut 9 Drawer Dresser by Drew Furniture

This piece has an inspection stamp on the inside of one of the drawers with a date from January 1962 making it nearly 53 years old.  However with its nice, clean design and newly restored finish you wouldn't know.  The walnut veneers now really shine and show off their beautiful figuring.  This mid century piece is ready to stylishly store your things well into the middle of this century.

Dimensions: 60"W x 30"H x 19"D

Sold