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McMullen Master Vanity

Project by Todd A. Clippinger posted 487 days ago 1284 views 4 times favorited 39 comments Add to Favorites Watch

This vanity was made for friends of mine that were finishing up some remodeling just in time for the Billings Heritage Home Tour. The key elements to making the vanity look like a piece of furniture were the legs and the unbroken faceframe.

The construction is of Baltic birch for the cabinet boxes and hard maple for the frame, doors, drawer boxes, and drawer faces. The total counter top height is at 36” for greater comfort.

Drawers are dovetailed but I did not get fancy with that. The drawer glides are Blum undermounts.

The cock bead moulding is an applied feature.

The finish is antiqued but not too heavily distressed. I have to admit that the finish appears a bit more blotchy in the photos than it does in person. I don’t know why this is. When viewed in person it looks great.

The stain is Sherwin BAC wiping stain which can be top coated in 30 minutes. The finish is a CAB Acrylic that is rated for resistance against water for such locations as a vanity or kitchen sink base. It is better than a pre-catalyzed lacquer but not as durable as a conversion varnish.

The clients are very happy with the project and we are currently talking about more projects.

SV103327

SV103323

-- Todd A. Clippinger, Montana, http://amcraftsman.com


39 comments so far

View thetimberkid's profile

thetimberkid

1944 posts in 581 days


posted 487 days ago

Great job!

Thanks for the post

Callum

-- For wood working podcasts with a twist check out http://thetimberkid.com/

View Roger Strautman's profile

Roger Strautman

534 posts in 1012 days


posted 487 days ago

Todd, a very nice look!

Did you build this in place or at the shop?

-- " All Things At First Appear Difficult"

View Keni's profile

Keni

38 posts in 763 days


posted 487 days ago

I love the way you inset the face frame from the case! Do you have any construction pictures? I would like to see how you put it together.

-- Making Quality Homes Better!

View trifern's profile

trifern

7890 posts in 645 days


posted 487 days ago

Stunning vanity Todd. Thank you for sharing.

-- My favorite piece is my last one, my best piece is my next one.

View Critterman's profile

Critterman

545 posts in 688 days


posted 487 days ago

I have to disagree Todd, the finish looks perfect. I like the way you got it darker around the moldings etc. Excellent work…like always. I really lke this one the color of this one the coloring and antiquing is super. I like too the 36” height, the one in my new house is shorter and at 6’ tall for me it’s kind of a pain. Again, outstanding work.

-- Jim Hallada, Chesterfield, VA

View Greg Wurst's profile

Greg Wurst

713 posts in 710 days


posted 487 days ago

What can I say? You do good work. All your pieces inspire me to do better.

-- You're a unique and special person, just like everyone else.

View teenagewoodworker's profile

teenagewoodworker

2470 posts in 646 days


posted 487 days ago

thats beautiful Todd! it looks wonderful! thanks for the post.

View DanTheLumberJockMan's profile

DanTheLumberJockMan

26 posts in 488 days


posted 487 days ago

Wow, looks great. This is the kind of cabinetry I hope to be able to do some day. How did you do the drawer fronts? Is it a flat panel with an edge molding applied?

-- Dan, San Diego, CA

View PaBull's profile

PaBull

292 posts in 543 days


posted 487 days ago

Very nice woodworking. Thanks for sharing with us.

-- http://www.twinoaksgrowers.com

View ND2ELK's profile

ND2ELK

6065 posts in 652 days


posted 487 days ago

Great looking vanity. You did a beautiful job on it. Thanks for posting.

God Bless
tom

-- Mc Bridge Cabinets, Iowa

View DaytonB's profile

DaytonB

119 posts in 744 days


posted 487 days ago

Very sharp. I like the way you inset the frame around the doors. It adds one more simple yet elegant aspect to the piece. I’m almost finished with a furniture style vanity for our bathroom remodel and I’m sorry I didn’t see yours earlier : ) what type of vanity top did they go with?

View Bigbuck's profile

Bigbuck

1366 posts in 541 days


posted 487 days ago

Very nice, that is a beautiful vanity.

-- Glenn, New Mexico

View John Gray's profile

John Gray

1722 posts in 764 days


posted 487 days ago

Great job!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-- Only the Shadow knows....................

View gbear's profile

gbear

102 posts in 977 days


posted 487 days ago

Ditto…all of the above

-- gbear, Carmichael, CA

View Danielle's profile

Danielle

6 posts in 613 days


posted 487 days ago

Very nice! Looks great!

-- www.Exclusivecellars.com

View Brad_Nailor's profile

Brad_Nailor

1192 posts in 835 days


posted 486 days ago

Nice piece Todd. Great look, although I am not a big fan of the “furniture” look that is hot now. But this is a great example of it.

-- David, South Windsor, CT "I love the smell of sawdust in the morning"

View CharlieM1958's profile

CharlieM1958

7466 posts in 1096 days


posted 486 days ago

Gorgeous. And the finish looks great to me in the photos.

-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"

View Todd A. Clippinger's profile

Todd A. Clippinger

5590 posts in 978 days


posted 486 days ago

Sorry guys, I fell short on construction photos for this one.

I built this in pieces in the shop and installed them onsite.

The boxes are separate but the faceframe is one piece and was completely made and finished in the shop. I had to make a template to fit the walls and transfer that to the frame for a good clean install.

With the finish being “antiqued” it was supposed to hang up in the corners and be lighter on some of the wear areas.

The top is solid surface, Corian.

The drawer fronts are rectangles of wood with the moulding applied to the sides.

-- Todd A. Clippinger, Montana, http://amcraftsman.com

View Grumpy's profile

Grumpy

14852 posts in 729 days


posted 486 days ago

Excellent job Todd.

-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python

View blackcherry's profile

blackcherry

711 posts in 701 days


posted 486 days ago

This is the complete deal from craftmenship to finishing work this deserve a Bravo!!! Nice work around the horn Todd…Blkcherry

View steveosshop's profile

steveosshop

208 posts in 504 days


posted 486 days ago

Very nice vanity!!!

-- Steve-o

View Dave T's profile

Dave T

89 posts in 498 days


posted 486 days ago

Nice! I don’t see a thing wrong with the finish, I really the look. Great work

View gizmodyne's profile

gizmodyne

1659 posts in 968 days


posted 486 days ago

Nice project and great install. Did you use filler strips on the sides?

-- -John "Do I have to keep typing a smiley? Just assume it's a joke." www.flickr.com/photos/gizmodyne

View ChicoWoodnut's profile

ChicoWoodnut

894 posts in 693 days


posted 486 days ago

Glad to see someone else making inset doors and drawers for cabinetry. My friend who makes kitchen cabinets for a living thinks I’m crazy for not making overlays.

-- Scott - Chico California http://chicowoodnut.home.comcast.net

View Todd A. Clippinger's profile

Todd A. Clippinger

5590 posts in 978 days


posted 486 days ago

Giz – I did use a scribe moulding against the wall on both ends. Since I made and installed the faceframe in a single piece, there had to be a little room to swing the frame into place. That means it had a gap on each side a little bigger than caulking would take care of.

Chico – I seem to do a lot of inset doors. They are more difficult, but that just sets me apart and, hopefully, above the rest ;)

-- Todd A. Clippinger, Montana, http://amcraftsman.com

View Chip's profile

Chip

1058 posts in 971 days


posted 486 days ago

Beautiful work as always Todd. No matter the function of your pieces, they are always inspirational. And I don’t think one can ever get enough inspiration. Thanks.

-- Better to say nothing and be thought the fool... then to speak and erase all doubt.

View Texasgaloot's profile

Texasgaloot

467 posts in 578 days


posted 486 days ago

Inspiring, Todd. Wonderful details! I have a question: you mentioned using a “conversion varnish” in your description, which is a term I’ve not heard before. What is a conversion varnish?

Thanks so much for sharing with us!

-- There's no tool like an old tool...

View Sparky977's profile

Sparky977

56 posts in 598 days


posted 486 days ago

Great looking vanity! Love the details on the face frame.

Edit: At first I thought the border of the face frame was stepped two levels, but looking at the original size pics on your flickr site, I notice that it is actually a kerf cut. Did you cut that with a router? Is that border piece applied to the inset face frame?

-- I get payed to play with power tools! What could be better than that?

View Jimboe's profile

Jimboe

81 posts in 628 days


posted 485 days ago

very nice todd

View Chris 's profile

Chris

1454 posts in 869 days


posted 485 days ago

Wow… I have not yet tried my hand at cabinet making. Beautiful work Todd!

-- Chris

View griff's profile

griff

897 posts in 640 days


posted 485 days ago

Great job no the vanity Todd, it`s beautiful . Very good build.

-- Mike, Bruce Mississippi = Jack of many trades master of none

View DAN 's profile

DAN

6396 posts in 861 days


posted 485 days ago

nice work … always high quality

-- work from your heart and your spirit will live forever

View Bigdogs117's profile

Bigdogs117

1759 posts in 499 days


posted 484 days ago

Nice vanity Todd. Your work is an inspiration to all who see it.

-- Rusty

View Dorje's profile

Dorje

1768 posts in 875 days


posted 484 days ago

Well done!

-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA

View Les Hastings's profile

Les Hastings

948 posts in 651 days


posted 480 days ago

Hey Todd! Kuddo’s buddy,,,,,,,,nicely done!

-- Les, Wichita, Ks. (I'd rather be covered in saw dust!)

View Sonny's profile

Sonny

110 posts in 731 days


posted 439 days ago

very nice….....

View Eddy's profile

Eddy

19 posts in 238 days


posted 237 days ago

Wow that vanity is fantastic. I inspires me to try a few different things on my next vanity.

-- Edward

View Eddy's profile

Eddy

19 posts in 238 days


posted 237 days ago

what type of joinery did you use for the face frame?

-- Edward

View Todd A. Clippinger's profile

Todd A. Clippinger

5590 posts in 978 days


posted 237 days ago

Eddy, I used the Kreg Jig for the face frame.

-- Todd A. Clippinger, Montana, http://amcraftsman.com

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