Hybrid Windsor Bench

My goal for the Hybrid Windsor Bench was to create a bench that ventures beyond Windsor traditions.   Made of sculpted parts of warm wood combined with cool clean steel, it would be inviting to the touch and keep the sitter interested in where they are sitting. 

Windsor chairs and benches are defined by a solid seat that has legs and back mortised into it.  In this piece, I have exchanged the wedged tenon wooden joinery with stainless steel bolts and fittings while the back and leg support structure is swapped for CAD designed parts.

Every new design remains a mystery until it is completed and I am very happy with how this came out. The back has a nice give to it as do the backs of my usual Windsor chairs that have my trademark "Floating Back". This steel supported back is quite flexible in contrast to what may be expected. The wood is warm and inviting to touch. I think that this is the beginning of many new related pieces. 

 

Over the last few years I have taught myself Computer Aided Design or CAD.  For this project, I worked up the design for the piece using the CAD software, but more importantly, I was able to create the files that ran the machine which cut out the stainless steel components.  I emailed the files to a machine shop in the next town over and the files were used to drive a waterjet  cutter to make my parts. Each part is exactly like the next and exactly what I had designed.

The wooden part of the design centers around a seat that is cut from the same pattern as my more traditional Windsor benches and has turned legs that also come from my 

previous work.  The sculpted crest rail is new but is actually bent over the same jig as my other Windsor benches. See my other benches here.

While the steel is cut out by a computer guided machine, the wooden parts are shaped and sculpted by hand and the steel parts are all ground and polished to create touchable edges.  All of the stainless steel bolt fastenings are chosen to create a finished looking surface top and bottom.  The hex heads that are visible on the top of the bench are set flush to the surface. In my mind, these are similar to the look of a traditional,  wooden, through wedged tenon joint.  As in Shaker tradition, joints are not hidden but are celebrated whether they be metal or wood.

I am sure that there will be some opinions on the use of 'Windsor' in the name of this design and I welcome the discussion.

Below is the sketch that led to this design.

 

Enjoy the fall weather!

Tim

6' Waltham Bench with Arms delivered during Covid19

This bench was just delivered last week, during the Covid19 shutdown.  I am luckily still able to work and my usual shippers are also hard at work during this time. Myself and the shippers are sensitive to your concerns about social distancing etc and are open to your thoughts on following protocols that will help you to feel safe about accepting a delivery. 

This is my latest Waltham Bench with arms.  The first benches of this design had my thin crest rail. This one has my traditional rail design that I used on my first Waltham chairs and benches.  I think this one looks very nice and the curves of the rail accentuate the shape of the seat and the curves of the arm rail.  The look is more formal than the thin rail.

This bench has legs added to support the center as do all of my benches over 5' long. 

 Also, the arm rail which floats behind the spindles has a 'knee' brace to support the center of the rail. I add this to all of my arm rails on benches over 4' long.

Try to get out to enjoy Spring a bit. It has been a bit chilly here in Vermont lately but hopefully it will be warming up a bit.

Take care of yourselves and your family.

Tim

Lucy, contemplating the patio that my wife and I built last fall. We are eager to use it this Spring.

Custom Windsor Benches- contemporary and traditional

I have found a nice niche in the furniture making world with my contemporary Windsor benches or settees.  While both lines that I build are rooted in tradition, my New Waltham line features natural finishes that show off the warm wood of the pieces and has a more modern look.  These work well for someone who loves wood everywhere or just wants a warm accent to contrast furniture or surroundings that are not rich in natural wood.   My Waltham line features, pieces with milk paint finishes and hand carved details that give a more traditional look while not screaming "fife and drum".  These pieces also have a warmth that is a nice contrast to an ultra modern decor while blending with a more rustic or period surrounding.  More of my benches and settees can be found at my website. TimothyClark.com 

5' Waltham Bench with thin crest rail

cherry highlights are seen at edges of the rail with a
rubbed out finish

the carved "gutter" detail is part of my
painted  Waltham line.

When I paint a piece, I ask the customer if they want more or less "wear through" of the paint.  As the paint is rubbed out there is sometimes a small bit of rub through.  My favorite look is to rub through a bit more at high contact edges. This adds highlights that define the lines of the piece. You can ask for more or less of this.The bench below is a 3' version of my Waltham bench with the traditional crest rail.    This rail  results in the most traditional look of my designs. 

This last year, I added a bench with an arm rail to my Waltham line.  This design is based on my Waltham Arm chair.  If a bench is to be used at a table, I suggest a bench without an arm rail but this design works well in a hall or a spot where the sitter does not need to slide in from the side.  

The arm rail passes behind the back spindles as in all of my arm chair designs.  This is my "Floating Back" design.

Enjoy the snow,

Tim

Contemporary Windsor Bench with Arms

Waltham Bench with Arms

4 1/2' Waltham Bench w/arm rail

Up until now, my Waltham line of benches did not have arms but I made four of these at the request of a client.  I am very happy with how it worked out.  I made this in a 4 1/2' and a 5' version.  This bench is $3800. and the Waltham Bench (the one without the arm rail) is $3000.
Please feel free to contact me if you have questions and do take a look at the rest of my work at TimothyClark.com
This bench is built of poplar for the seat, cherry for the rails and ash for the spindles, legs and stretchers. It is finished with black milk paint, linseed oil, varnish and wax.

The faceted seat front was new for this design. It shows up in my Waltham Side Chair seats but no where else until now. It just seemed like the right thing to do as I was shaping the seat.

The bench above just had it's arm rail mounted. You can still see the spindle tenons and wedges at the top of the  arms and under the seat. Once these are cleaned up, it will be ready for paint.

Ziggy says "When is Spring coming?"

Happy Winter,

Tim

New 5' Waltham Bench w/ Thin Crest Rail

This is a design that I have wanted to do for a long while now and I was lucky enough to get an order for one and then another order for the same bench and two matching arm chairs to go with it. Below are some shots before painting.  The black bench is very pretty but hard to photograph. Some of the details come out a little better when the bench is in its raw state.  This bench was delivered today to the New York side of Lake Champlain.  It was kind of a wild ride on the ferry crossing. see video below.

the bench in place in its new home. the new owner tells me that the chairs will be replaced to go better with the new table and bench. 

All Work and No Play? Settee Delivery and Sailing

I recently delivered this 6' Cod Rib Settee to a very nice house on Lake Memphramegog in Vermont. 

I was happy to be able to take advantage of being in that part of Vermont with a sail with Paul Donio and his wife Heidi on their very nice little cruiser, Evo.  Paul and Heidi showed me a very relaxing time on the lake,  away from the shop.   Paul is also a furniture maker and we are both members of the Guild of Vermont Furniture Makers.  The Guild is a group of about 30 juried members who while being professionals and competitors also manage to enjoy each others company.  More than making furniture, most of us share a lifestyle that we have chosen and worked hard to make work.  Many of us share, creativity, perseverance, love of figuring things out, stubbornness,  cantankerousness in some cases (no names).  Anyway, we always have a lot to talk about when we get together. You can visit our website at www.VermontFurnitureMakers.com.

Cod Rib Settee all ready to go in my van the night before delivery.  ( I put blankets on it right after this show so that it would not get cold.)

The settee in its new home.

Tim and Paul after a good sail.

Paul and Heidi 

Evo

Looking into Canada from Vermont.

 Enjoy the beginning of fall,
Tim

Benches, benches, benches. and the search for a lazy summer

Below is my latest 5' Waltham Bench which I made for a customer of Edgewater Gallery in Middlebury, Vermont.  

This summer I will be making a bunch of benches.

-Two more of these benches but with a thin crest rail instead of the tall traditional crest rail.  

- A 6' Settee w/ arms in my Cod Rib style

-Three outdoor benches for Shelburne Museum in Shelburne, Vermont. the benches will be 5',7' and 9' long and will be made of cherry and stainless steel. Below is a drawing of the benches. The vertical pieces that support the back rail are the stainless steel.

In the video below, I am working on a mock up to find the proper angles and dimensions for these outdoor benches. 

With all of this work, there goes any chance for the illusive lazy summer. It is good to have lots of work though.
Enjoy the wet weather,
Tim
We had some great irises last week.  This photo is in sideways for some reason. sorry. It was squashing it when I put it portrait orientation.