One of a Kind - Live Edge Bench -

By its very nature, Live Edge furniture results in one of a kind pieces.   This one leans a bit farther in the one of a kind direction.  After months and months of building my usual designs, I made this piece as a fun "no rules" exercise.  When I began, I was not even sure that I would make a bench and had planned to make a small table out of one end or the other of this live edge slab.   As I was ready to cut the plank, I started to appreciate the center part of the plank with all of the "character".   So, on a whim, I cut off the ends and left a 57" length with the "character" right in the middle, deciding that it would be a bench.  Realizing that the center would not be strong enough to sit on, unsupported, I decided to give it a center leg.   The stretchers that support that center leg come into it at an angle to echo the curve of the seat.   As I turned the legs,  I designed as I went having nothing in particular in mind.  I turned the straight collar section at the joints, stepped it down for a tapering run to the bottom and top.  I really like the graceful curve of the seat. This would be strange normally but works beautifully as it is the natural curve of the tree.  This bench is available and is priced at $1800.  Let me know if you are interested.  

The knotty section in the center was stabilized with epoxy and while textured at the edge, it is smooth to the touch.

I think of it as a bench for a mudroom or hall but here it works as a coffee table.

Ziggy says- Happy Fall!

Windsor Benches Going Like Hot Cakes

Each year, I seem to have flurries of order activity of certain items. One year, I have a string of beds to do, then a few dining tables in a row or a number of case pieces. Some years, all I do it make chairs.   This year has been the year of the Waltham Bench.  I have been doing these one after the other in different finishes, colors and sizes.  Dare I say, "trend"? We'll see.

I do like making these and while the 5' bench is the one that I make most, I have made it in 6', 4 1/2'. 5 1/2', 3', 3.5' and I am in the process of making a 4' version of this bench.  I make it with a more traditional tall crest rail but the thin rail has been the most asked for lately.  Even though the thin rail has a more modern look, it is still a very traditional form.   Stay tuned for one with arms.  I have a new order for 4 of them.

Here are a few pics of recent benches.

photo by a PA client

6' Waltham Bench in Federal Blue- see Park Hyatt pic below

The federal blue 6' Waltham Bench can be seen at the Park Hyatt in Washington DC.  This color can look a bit gray blue in some light or electric vibrant blue in other light. The bench and three custom low back chairs are off to the left.

pic from park hyatt photographer

Enjoy the wet weather,

Tim

Evolving Windsor Chair Designs at TimothyClark.com

My latest adaptation to the more modern of my Windsor chair designs is the addition of stretchers as a means of supporting the legs.  I will still offer the laminated leg supports but I was ready for a change.  All of my chair designs can be seen on my website here.  The legs and stretchers are rough turned on the lathe and then hand planed to the final shape on the shaving horse.

                     





Enjoy the cool weather.  We have had a chilly week but temps should be more reasonable later this week.
Tim