Hello!
I come here by way of fine homebuilding. I am an overly ambitious novice to put it lightly.
I am interested in furniture and built in projects for my family’s farmhouse we recently purchased but I have to admit I’m not sure how to find a good repository of plans to look through (happy to pay!).
Do you all have suggestions on where to gun up some ideas for (more modern-ish) projects? I am not a FWW subscriber yet but assume that will be soon. Are there effectively many plans in the back issues of the magazine?
Thanks, Jay
Ps- one current and perhaps permanent limitation is my own creativity and ability to create. I am good at trying to execute at a high level, but really not very good at design/inspiration. Just know my weaknesses.
Replies
The magazine would probably have the best modern inspiration. Artists and styles could be gleaned from within and get you started on the trail.
There are a few contributors to the magazine who have published books with a few plans in them. The plan books I’m familiar with are period focused.
I'd say FWW is a good place to start for plans. There are many articles and plans that might inspire you at the very least.
From there, you can subscribe to all the great woodworkers on YouTube. They often have many great plans for you to look through.
Furthermore, tool sites often have very neat plans. I have purchased a few plans from Woodpeckers, Blue Spruce, and I'm sure some others.
Lastly, for even more inspiration, you can load up Chat GPT and ask it for some popular books on modern-style fine furniture. I'm sure it will give you some great places to look.
My advice is to balance out what you make from plans and what you make on your own.
Plans are great, sure, and you'll learn from them. But you'll learn more and faster by forcing yourself out of your comfort zone and confronting those weaknesses you're aware of.
Also, don't worry....I think most people suffer with design. it's a different kind of talent.
Try keeping your designs simple. Modern is a good sytle for simple anyway.
There is safety in straight lines. stay with straight lines and even angles until you are happy with your designs. then add some angles. then try some dangerous, scary curves.
Personally, I'm still in my straight lines and even angles phase, LOL. I've ventured out a little with decent results. Still much to learn where i am though.
Design is complicated and difficult in general. Don't beat yourself up about that.
There are many plans on this website, if you are a FWW "member".
FourEyes on YouTube had what I would consider modern or mid-century. They have a website at https://www.foureyesfurniture.com. From a brief look at the website, the plans are part of courses, which may or may not be what you want.
Lots of used books have plans; I typically use AbeBooks.com to find used books. This website has a list of "27 Books Every Woodworker Should Read" at https://www.finewoodworking.com/2005/01/01/27-books-every-woodworker-should-read
Thanks all, this is very helpful!
I started with Fine Woodworking. After a while, I figured out what specific furniture styles or woodworkers I liked and then purchase books that had measured drawings in them. After making furniture for a 4 or 5 years, I got the hang of understanding the common joinery used and need less info than when I started. Now, if I have the measurements (front, side, top), I can figure out the joinery. It may not be 100% identical joinery that is used on the piece but that is usually fine by mine.
I don’t know if I should say this here but I think over the years Woodsmith has had the best plans, especially for beginners. I have built many pieces of furniture from their plans but I prefer Fine Woodworking for the tools and techniques.
Once you subcribe, here's a great how-to on built-in's:
Built-In Basics
Level bases, modular construction, and scribing to walls are keys to success
By Tony O'Malley #166–Nov/Dec 2003 Issue
https://www.finewoodworking.com/2003/12/01/built-in-basics
I missed a few comments here. Just wanted to come back and say thank you! Really appreciate the feedback from everyone!
I've run into issues with dimensions not adding up on some purchased plans. You can usually work backwards to make it come together but I make my own most of the time. If you can figure out a pleasing proportion on a full size drawing or model and only need inspiration, Instagram is a good place to go. The collage of the Redwoods Instagram feed has a modern feel to a lot of the pieces the students are building. Find a pro in the magazine whose work you like and follow their Ig fee.
Hope this helps.
Be Safe and have fun
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