So I am going to try to build some furniture to sell when I don’t have cabinets to build. This is my first attempt at designing furniture. I would like to get some input on a couple aspects of this coffee table, if you guys don’t mind.
I will be making matching end tables too, but I haven’t drawn them yet. I drew this on Google Sketchup. The plan is to make them out of Oak, and finish with black lacquer. I want the Oak grain to really stand out, and I think the lacquer will really keep the texture I want.
I feel like the design is a mix of modern and arts and crafts.
My question has to do with the lower shelf/stretcher. This is my first design:
My wife wasn’t thrilled with the lack of thru tenons on both sides of the corner posts for the bottom shelf. I kind of like the minimal look of the first design but after I worked up these other options, I’m not sure anymore.
The first is just to remove the thru tenons from the end of the table so they are only on the long sides:
This is the other option, to add stretchers to the length with thru tenons:
One other thing I wanted to get some opinion on is the top:
As you can see, the legs and the boards that run from leg to leg are all chamfered. The rest of the top is therefore lower then the perimeter by about 1/8”. I know this will come down to opinion mostly, but does this design element work, or will it just be too much of a dust catcher?
Thanks for any input you guys might have!
-- I get payed to play with power tools! What could be better than that?
8 comments so far
ChicoWoodnut
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601 posts in 267 days
posted 55 days ago
This is good work and proves the value of Sketchup. It is personal choice and so all of my observations are personal (my own).
I like the idea of leaving the through tenons only on the long side and leaving the ends proud of the top because it makes the ends remeniscent of breadboard ends. The lower stretcher offers a structural component for connecting the legs both visually and mechanically. The only other opinion I can offer is that you might do something with the legs. They look rather thick to me.
Have fun with it.
-- Scott - Chico California http://chicowoodnut.home.comcast.net
Sparky977
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55 posts in 172 days
posted 55 days ago
Yeah, I may change the leg thickness. I had originally planned the table to be 5’ long, so the legs looked more proportionate. But I shrunk it down to 4’ long. The legs are currently drawn at 3 1/2”. I will probably change them to 3”.
-- I get payed to play with power tools! What could be better than that?
EdC
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415 posts in 292 days
posted 55 days ago
How did you come up with your sizes?
It doesn’t look like you used the golden rule?
I think this maybe why it looks a little out of preportion (sp) it’s been a long day and my spelling is going down the tubes.
-- Ed Collinge- Edmonds, WA.
gizmodyne
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1476 posts in 542 days
posted 55 days ago
I don’t see how you can have through-tenons go through each other and still come out their respective sides. Can you?
I also vote for changing the leg thickness. You might also want to play with pulling the legs up even higher above the other surfaces. That would give it the look of a mission ottoman.
-- -John "Do I have to keep typing a smiley? Just assume it's a joke." www.flickr.com/photos/gizmodyne
Sparky977
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55 posts in 172 days
posted 55 days ago
Giz, you are right about the through-tenons. I was going to have one be through, and the other would essentially be a plug.
I wasn’t sure what is “normal” for through-tenons.
EdC, to be honest, I’m not fully sure on how to use the golden rule. I know that sketchup will let you know when your dimensions are at the golden rule, but for this table, at 48” long, the width would be something like 31”, which just seems too wide for a coffee table. Am I figuring that right? Or am I missing something?
Thanks for the input so far. I’ve never designed anything like this before, so I am still learning.
-- I get payed to play with power tools! What could be better than that?
pashley
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278 posts in 169 days
posted 54 days ago
Sparky, you might want to steal some design ideas from my coffee table. It came out pretty well. You can see it here.
-- -Be Blessed!, Patrick
OutPutter
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155 posts in 442 days
posted 54 days ago
Sparky,
I might just put four plugs on each leg, not add the stretchers, and tell my wife to go cook something or darn my socks or something. ;-O
Just kidding. You have a good design started, trust the forstner.
-- Jim
jeanmarc
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1693 posts in 168 days
posted 44 days ago
the project is kool. do not see too L utility to reveal the tenons
-- jeanmarc manosque france