A Cherry Drop-front Desk
A cherry drop-front desk with ebony handles and bookmatched panel and drawer-fronts. It has many hand-rubbed coats of oil finish.
This cherry, birch & ebony drop-front desk was a gift for my then-5-year-old granddaughter, who just loves all the drawers and storage spaces for her artwork supplies. She also finds the Maloof-style tall office chair I built to go with this desk very comfortable. This desk is one of a number of pieces I have built for my four grandchildren. The original design called for interior shelves and a single door. I went with drawers and two doors because drawers are more functional for art supplies and the bookmatched doors are just cool. I also used solid wood frame-and-panel construction for the rear panel, rather than plywood, as the plans specified. I could not bring myself to use a plywood back for this desk.
My oldest granddaughter, 12, has a similar desk in white oak, birch and walnut. Both the desks and the children are aging beautifully.
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A cherry drop-front desk with ebony handles and bookmatched panel and drawer-fronts. It has many hand-rubbed coats of oil finish.
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Rear view of the cherry drop-front desk. Frame-and-panel construction was used rather than the plywood back called for in the original plan.
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Interior detail view of bookmatched drawers and doors. The slightly-raised writing surface is baltic birch plywood finished with a half-dozen coats of lacquer. The front is hinged with 1 1/2" x 2 7/8" (open) drop-leaf hinges from Woodcraft.
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Drawer and interior door detail. The door hinges are Brusso brass butt hinges.
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Main drawer & joinery detail
Comments
Jurgen
What types of wood are you using here, can guess but it's a very pleasing combination. Love the grain on the inner doors! A wonderful variation on an older theme. I am curious what type of hinges did you use, can only see a hint.
kevin
OK sorry missed the intro for some reason it didn't show up with your picture so I see the woods now! Birch is a great wood but not used quite as often as I think it could be, instead see more maple. Was Birch a common wood used in Shaker furniture? Your children may not realize it yet but you have been fortunate to have been able to create something for each one of them. No guarantees in life, these will be there when the grandchildren show up, then great grandchildren! Think of how beautiful the wood and finishes will have aged, Nice work!
Thx
bowmkr,
The primary wood is cherry. Secondary woods are birch and ebony. The hinges are 1 1/2" x 2 7/8" (open) drop-leaf hinges from Woodcraft. Thanks.
jurgen01
Wonderful work! What plans did you start with?
Thanks,
Robert
Pumpkin Hollow Woodworks
Running Moose:
The initial plan came from Terry Moore, "Fall-Front Desk", pp. 88-107 in Andy Charron, DESKS (Taunton Press: 2000.
I modified the plan as I have described in tis post.
Many thanks!
Jurgen, Thank you for your comment on my Sheraton desk. I was very flattered, especially since it came from someone so accomplished. I've been woodworking only four years in my spare time but do enjoy it. I use to fish three and four days a week for relaxation (I'm obviously retired - MIS director at a junior college) but have given that up completely for the woodwork. I am very impressed with your work and hope to one day be as accomplished as you (assuming I live long enough). Again, thank you for the encouraging remarks.
Jerry
Thank you for your comment on my wife's pantry cabinet. It means a lot from a skilled craftsman. Your desk is beautiful. The dovetail joinery is gorgeous and the ebony handles are a nice touch. Beautiful, Beautiful desk. Thanks
This is a nice piece of furniture from the wood selection across the faces, the proportion, and feel. Great work and keep it up.
I've looked at several of your projects... and you have a great eye for matching different woods and grain patterns together. Those are the things that many craftsmen (and maybe me too) just never get quite right! Thanks for the pictures and the inspiration!
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