I’m planning to build a dresser/chest of drawers for my daughters’ bedroom. We want it to be “appropriate” for young girls, but at the same time don’t want it to look too young for them as they get older.
As a general, broad, conceptual question: What makes children’s furniture children’s furniture? Barring the obvious like size, or colorful appliques of bunnies.
As a last resort I could try to knock off something from Pottery Barn Kids, but I’d like it to be a little more original.
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Please fight this temptation. Build your daughter a beautiful, full-sized suite of furniture that she can use her whole life. The woodworking is no less onerous, so why not do it right?
They grow so fast.
Edited 5/21/2004 5:20 pm ET by cstanford
I concur with cstanford.
If you build something "small and cute" now, she'll want to get as far away from it as possible by the time she is 16-18.
Gather all your skills, and do the best piece you can -- and she will treasure it always. Just try to make it as bulletproof as you can, so it will survive the childhood and adolescent years.
I have chest made by a my great-great grandfather, and you can imagine how much I love it.
I concur on building something full scale, but I would add that if she's still very young, i.e. very small, pick a design that's naturally low, something like a low boy or a dressing table, instead of a 60" or taller chest of drawers. Or go ahead and build something tall plus a step stool to get into the top drawers.
I agree
Don't 'build down'.
But this string got me thinking - I wonder how many of the people who contribute to this forum build 'family' furniture? The sort of stuff you'd like to think some future descendant will point too and say "my grandfather built that'?
Wouldn't a representative collection of that stuff make a great article? The pieces we build that we like to think will stand the test of time, and make someone, way down the line, proud to be the owner.
I'm going to take a contrarian position on this one. Depending on the age of the kids, I think it's a good idea to "build down". Styles, tastes, and needs will change as they grow up and whatever you build for them at 5-6 yrs old will probably not be what they need or want at 18-20.
I made several pieces for my daughters over the years and most of the stuff wound up being sold or given away as their tastes and needs changed. A couple of things are still around and may become "heirlooms" but most of it has been passed on.
Besides, upgrading their stuff every few years gives you a chance to show off your improved skills. I was really proud of some of the stuff I made 15-20 yrs ago but now I'm sorta glad it's gone. - lol
I'm still making stuff for them but now I'm dealing with adult tastes - and my work is way better these days.
Edited 5/22/2004 8:36 am ET by Dave
Yes, I take your point Dave.
Don't agree - but I do hear what you're saying.
I've just been down to the bedroom to check on a little box I made in the late 70s when I was only a year or two into a self-taught furniture-making business. I wanted to remind myself how I fitted the slip lining and to confirm the dimensions, and although I haven't looked closely at this item for a few years, it still works for me as a piece of dressing table furniture, and I did do a neat set of mitres!
But a lot of the experimental stuff I made at that time was sold off at craft fairs as 'seconds' and as trial pieces. I guess if I'd made furniture for the kids, it would be long gone! They certainly are. So maybe you're right!
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