THE FINISHED DESK..............

Here are a few photos of the finished desk, shown without the drop front panel in place.
Our customer chose a custom finish to match an existing piece in their home.  The hardware  has also been antiqued to give the piece a vintage look.  The desk is finished on all sides so that it can be used within a room, and does not need to be set against a wall.

This desk was custom designed,  based on photos of original Wooton desks while incorporating space for a computer. The lower section of the center portion resembles an authentic desk, but serves a different function. The four drawer fronts are actually two compartments. The top two drawers are a false front that conceals a space for the power cord.  The lower two drawers are actually one panel the reveals a file drawer. The small pigeon hole drawers on the side cabinets are also false fronts concealing larger drawers, making the desk more functional for todays needs.

We feel this modern adaption is a design solution in providing a functional piece for todays use, while reflecting the history of a classic Victorian piece of furniture.  I wonder what William Wooton
 would have thought of this updated model of his design.

MIRROR,MIRROR.........

This Arts and Crafts mirror is a little smaller project I recently designed. I really like this period, and wrote about an  A&C desk I designed in an earlier post.
The  frame is styled after the British Arts and Crafts period. Their designs feature more carved elements and details, which I like.

The frame is made of quarter sawn Oak, and is finished with an authentic fumed oak finish. The frame measures 26 3/4"W. x 36" H.  It will make a  great accent  for a hallway or small room.
The top center pediment block is styled after a motif I found on a Liberty & Co. piece of furniture that I really liked, a stylized leaf and berries.

This  one of a kind piece is currently for sale.  Please contact me if you are interested in this frame, or any other custom piece made just for you.

ALMOST COMPLETE......

Construction is coming along nicely.  The gallery side brackets,  finials and overlays are all in place, and the exterior is now completely finished.

The lower center interior cabinet is almost complete, with the exception of routing decorative cutouts and adding knobs on the drawer fronts. There are four drawer fronts, nicely booked matched with Satinwood veneer to match the Satinwood  used on the drop front panel above them.   The top two drawers are a false front to hide the power cord. The lower two drawer fronts disguise a small file drawer.  The shelves and dividers on either side of the drawers are typical of a true Wooton desk.

The left hand cabinet interior will be completed within the next week, and then the desk can be finished. Once finished, we will add a leather writing pad to the interior side of the drop front panel, and reassemble the components into there locations.  The person that commissioned this piece has not seen it, and did not want to see it until it was completed.  I think he will be surprised, and hopefully pleased.

THE WORK CONTINUES.........

See the progress since the last post.  The side brackets and finials of the gallery, and three rosettes are all that is left to complete the exterior of the desk.

Bob has started working on the interior cabinets.   Lots of precision required here too, since this piece must fit inside if the side cabinet. It has been made this way so that it can be finished separately, and given a uniform finish without spraying into an enclosed cabinet.

The right hand interior is nearly finished.  The lower three openings are for drawers. Each drawer is hand fit into its space.  This cabinet should be completed in the next few days.

The lower section of the center cabinet is next. Stay tuned.

PROGRESS.......

THE Wooton Desk project has been moving along very well since my last post.

The first thing you may notice is that the quarter round moldings have been stained and assembled to the case.  The front cabinets now are attached to the case, and moldings and other details have been added.  The Satinwood stiles, and various rosettes and moldings will all be assembled next week, as well as the carved overlay door panels.

Final work on the gallery will complete the exterior, and Bob will begin the interior cabinetry. Each interior section will be unique with special features for various functions.  It's all coming together nicely, and should be completed before the end of November.

THE WORK CONTINUES.....

The front two cabinets are now being built, and the hinges machined to fit each cabinet. The hinges selected are solid brass and are cast from original molds adding to the authentic Victorian look.

The inside end panels of the front cabinets and the drop leaf writing panel are decorated with marquetry.  The panel background is Satinwood, the same material used by William Wooton on his most expensive desks, the Superior Grade Desk.

The writing panel features a diamond matched panel, inlaid with rosewood and English sycamore.

 If you look closely, you will notice that the flowers in each corner are shaded to create a 2D effect.  The Gothic styled  letter "G" in the center represents the customers last name.  When the cabinet is open, the actual writing surface is inlaid with a leather surface, outlined with gold tooling.

More progress and photos coming soon.

MOVING FORWARD.....

Progress on the Wooton desk.  The design features are renaissance revival and Eastlake elements since the customer wanted a piece not as ornate as the earlier Neo Gothic designs. The desk will certainly be Victorian, but more refined.

We are using a variety of woods and veneers on this piece, as well as black accent quarter round molding around each burl panel. Cherry solids are used, with Maple Burl panels on all side and door panels. All burl panels are matched in a set, from top to bottom and from the left side cabinet to the right, giving this piece a very uniformed look.

As you can see in the photo, the back cabinet is almost complete. The cabinet is shown without the writing surface, the gallery on the top, the drawers for the lower portion of the cabinet, and of course the front two cabinets.  The open top section will store the computer.
Bob Berghorst is the remarkable craftsman veneering, machining and building this piece, and now
 working on the front two cabinets. The curved panels have been veneered and more information will follow soon.