a couple of challenging projects

 ok, it's good to be challenged, especially when you have an

extremely talented nephew for an assistant on the job.

hats off to Kristian here!

this is the first of two challenges we wrapped up recently

 and i can't wait to see this one in its new home ... 

it's a Moroccan inspired sideboard with lots

 of carved details that all had to line up horizontally and

vertically as they went around the cabinet ...

a bit of a cad drawing challenge ..

 head on view here 

 

inspiration photos above ... our clients decided against

the carvings on the end panels as there is a wall close by on

the right, and a door to another room on the left and the 

cabinet ends will not be very visible ... 

getting the finish right turned out to be a bit of a challenge.

we made lots of samples before we ended (finally) with an

aniline dye, milk paint over that sponged, and a matte finish

top coat .... the gray lends it a bit of a 'not too brand new' feel.

rather than the Moroccan wood details on the doors,

we at first suggested some perforated steel panels, but

the holes allowed too much visibility into the cabinet interior

and did not really 'pop'..

Sam had some square hole material from a previous job 

and when we painted it a bronzy color and put a stained and 

painted mahogany veneer panel behind it, it was an instant winner

a couple of other photos by Kristian on his @vttrees

instagram page below ... quite the piece!

 

custom cast pulls by ball and ball hardware in pennsylvania

we have been making this pull in wood since the mid 80s, 

and i started having them cast about 10 years ago.  fortunately

bob had saved the patterns and once he got the sample i sent

we were good to go ... 

 

and i leave you with a few images from a friends 

recent trip to Morocco

the famous 'goats in  the trees'

it's not photoshopped!

and some other Moroccan carvings and tile work ... 

they like geometric forms!

all for now...