This week, I finished up a project I had been looking forward to for some time. It’s a pantry cabinet that will live at the end of the client’s kitchen cabinets where there is open wall space. In its most basic form, its a shelf with doors. However, I took the time to make it beautiful; something they can admire and be proud of each time they cook a meal.
The overall design is post and panel. The sides and back are made of frames and panels that are attached to the posts with tongues and grooves. The front of the case is secured with two rails; one on top and one of the bottom. The bottom rail utilizes a double tusk tenon and mortise for its strength. The moral of the story is that two tenons are better than one. The top receives a dovetail into the top of the post which is extremely strong and prevents the top of the case from ever pulling apart.
The design of the case is heavily influenced by the hardware the client chose. The half moon shaped handles are accented by various design elements. The most noticeable are the half moons on the door stiles which create a backdrop for the handles. I also played off of the round design by adding a large roundover on the outside corner of the legs which carries into rounded corners on the top. I contrasted these soft shapes with small bevels on the frames and panels of the sides, back and doors. You will notice how the light in the room highlights the rounds and the flats of the piece.
This piece was finished with Osmo’s Polyx Oil which is a premium hardwax oil blend. It’s always the most exciting part of the build to see the piece come to life. I noticed that a couple of the boards I bought for the piece were curly maple so I saved those parts for the doors and front rails. Seeing the figure in the maple come alive along with the features of the piece really inspired me. I think I will make future pieces with this design as well. Stay tuned!
Whitehurst Custom Woodworking 