Contemporary Arts and Crafts Bed
Updated design combines solid walnut with veneered panels
Synopsis: The design of this bed has many of the details of a traditional Arts and Crafts piece, with one notable exception. The simple lines, tapering legs, and through-joinery evoke the traditional style, but the use of veneers on the headboard and footboard adds a contemporary twist. The bed still appears to be made of solid wood, but the veneered plywood panels offer protection from wood movement and allow for perfect grain-matching and color-matching. This is also an economical way to use claro walnut.
A few years back I made a pair of solid walnut nightstands (FWW #247), and recently I decided to design a bed to complement them. The design echoes the same elements: simple lines, tapering posts, and a touch of through-joinery to evoke the Arts and Crafts period. But here’s the twist—the bed also includes veneer, something you don’t often see in pieces from that time period.…
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Comments
The head and foot panels are listed as 61" wide. The article also states "run the grain of the veneer 90° to the
face plies of the plywood. " Baltic birch European version is 60"x 60". Won't fit the 61" veneer panel. US version is 48"x 96". But the long grain is the length of the sheet. So I don't see how to get to to "run the grain of the veneer 90° to the face plies of the plywood. " In either European or US version of Baltic birch you don't get 60" of plywood grain at 90 deg to the veneer.
Sierramtns,
In the past when ordering some special white oak veneer plywood from Paxton in Cincinnati I've been asked how I want the grain to run. Not sure if your supplier could do the same for you. I'd probably want poplar since I'd be covering it up anyway.
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