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    Designer’s Notebook: John Reed Fox – Design, slowed down

    A kitchen tansu seen in Japan inspired Fox to combine sliding doors and drawers in his tall dresser. The design process starts with a sketch, then evolves to a full-scale mockup and eventually the dresser itself.

    Author Headshot By John Reed Fox #264-Nov/Dec 2017 Issue
    Article Image

    For me, design evolves slowly. I am not enamored of newness. Instead I use a familiar vocabulary of line and form that I attempt to refine within each piece. My goal is to make furniture that is functional and elegant and helps create a quiet, centered, contemplative environment.

    When I designed this piece, I had it in mind to build a dresser with a not-so-typical front elevation. Originally I was thinking of a long, low piece but in the end I went for something tall. The idea of mixing sliding doors with drawers was inspired by seeing kitchen tansu on a trip to Japan. To my eye the combination creates a very interesting visual rhythm. The doors also gave me a chance to add texture to what is usually a large, flat surface. And people find them very inviting. Almost everyone who sees this piece opens or at least touches…

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    Comments

    1. User avater
      bobjanousek | Nov 01, 2017 07:02pm | #1

      What a beautiful dresser. It's next on my build list.

    2. User avater
      user-2583105 | Nov 04, 2017 11:46am | #2

      Is there a chance of a follow up article with dimensions and some of John's construction details? Or even better, an article showing the actual construction steps?

    3. User avater
      franco88 | Feb 03, 2018 12:44pm | #3

      I don't think mentioning the depth of the case would be giving too much away. It looks very shallow in the front to back dimension... I wonder about the stability. Otherwise, a beautiful piece!

    4. User avater
      DaveKK | Jan 14, 2019 06:23pm | #4

      What are some of the methods in the drawing creation process?

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