A Contemporary Chest design, by Ken Burton, blends well with a variety of motifs from Asian to Shaker to Prairie Arts and Crafts. This 5 drawer chest, with the top row split to yield 6 individual drawers, is 48 inches high with a 36 inch wide by 21 inch deep top and a cabinet form that has a 32 inch wide by 20 inch deep footprint. The side rail V design is asymmetric for more visual appeal and the front bottom rail continues the V shape. The chest top has a heavy under-bevel and large overhang to lighten the overall appearance, while tapered legs with canted bottom sections give the piece a well balanced look. Traditional brass drawer pulls were selected by the owner.

 

African Mahogany was used for all of the show parts with Maple substituted for runners and kickers of the internal frame structures as well as internal side rails that support drawer frames. Classic mortise and tenon joinery is used throughout. The drawers are constructed with Alder for the sides and back, and have drawer bottom slips to broaden the wear surface of the sides. The drawer bottoms are cut from Mahogany veneered MDF which is a bit heavy but way more stable than the alternative Luan veneered ¼ inch plywood. The chest back panel is 3/8 thick Baltic Birch and 1/8 thickness serves for a bottom frame dust panel.

 

The mahogany has been dyed using a diluted solution of Solar-Lux Van Dyke Brown. It should complement any adjacent walnut furniture quite well. The top coat is GF Arm-R-Seal in multiple coats followed by some Bison wax.

Launch Gallery