Reader's Gallery

Kara's Shoe Bench

comments (5) February 20th, 2011 in Reader's Gallery

johara34 johara34, member
thumbs up 22 users recommend
The contrast of the Black Walnut and the curly Maple provides an interesting visual appeal...perhaps none better than when viewed on end as this shot is.
The shelves, the aprons, and the top all have the same radiused curve, so when viewed from above, they blend right into one another.
The shelf supports are joined to the legs with a simple, clean dado, reinforced with screws, and plugged with curly Maple from the same board as the shelves.
Both shelves are made of bookmatched solid curly Maple which was resawn in my shop on my bandsaw.
The top is made of a single, wide Black Walnut board which was ripped in half and glued back together with a nice piece of curly Maple sandwiched between the two pieces.
The contrast of the Black Walnut and the curly Maple provides an interesting visual appeal...perhaps none better than when viewed on end as this shot is. - CLICK TO ENLARGE

The contrast of the Black Walnut and the curly Maple provides an interesting visual appeal...perhaps none better than when viewed on end as this shot is.

Photo: Albert Jurina
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When my wife asked me to make a bench that we could store our shoes under for the entryway of our home, this may not have been what she had in mind.  But I say, if it's worth doing, it's worth going overboard on it.  So, in lieu of making sketches as I normally do, I went into the shop on a Saturday morning and just started building, letting the wood guide my decisions on the fly.

It helped to have some wonderful, clear Black Walnut and curly Maple lying around to inspire me, and I'm quite fond of the finished product.  Since then I've made it a few more times for customers who saw it and wanted one of their own.  I suppose that's my confirmation that the design came together well.  Now, if I could just remember to actually put my shoes on it when I come home....

(The piece is finished with catalyzed conversion varnish)


Design or Plan used: My own design
posted in: Reader's Gallery, , walnut, bench, maple, asian inspired
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Comments (5)

noviceneil noviceneil writes: I love Asian inspired furniture design and you really captured it. The combination of the two woods is beautiful. Personally I would only allow Italian made shoes to sit on this beautiful piece of work.
Posted: 9:02 am on June 7th

FHW FHW writes: I love the combination of maple and walnut and I think you've done a commendable job of arranging the boards to achieve an attractive symmetry of grain. Best of all, your graceful use of curved lines allows the piece to escape the totally linear look without resorting to the use of materials like bending plywood or veneer.
Posted: 9:07 pm on May 21st

RicksWoodCrafts RicksWoodCrafts writes: Very nice !
Posted: 6:49 pm on March 29th

johara34 johara34 writes: Thank you kindly for the compliment. Regarding the shoes, I already have been for the past two years and it's held up great. You're not alone in your question though...everyone seems to wonder the same thing.

I had a customer commission a daybed based on the design of this bench, and I hadn't thought about occasional tables. Might be worth pursuing that idea. Thanks.
Posted: 3:37 pm on February 22nd

wbillmc wbillmc writes: Great piece! Are you sure you want to put your shoes on it? I think the design would work well for a set of occasional tables.
Posted: 8:03 am on February 22nd

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