CasaSugar

Su Casa: Hazelnut Spread's Nakashima-Esque DIY Table

CasaSugar — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 05:30:52 -0700

Well, color me impressed - really, really impressed. The other week, when I answered a reader's question about Nakashima-esque tables, I also read a great message in the comments from Hazelnut_Spread. She shared that she'd actually made this type of table herself.

She writes,

I recently embarked on a DIY project where I crafted a large Nakashima-style (live-edge) coffee table myself. In short, here's what I did. I purchased an Acacia wood slab on eBay. Nakashima routinely used Black Walnut for his projects - but Acacia is actually heavier/stronger than Black Walnut and, from what I've seen, it's more economical. It also has a beautiful grain. I sanded the table down with a random orbit sander in the direction of the grain. (For this particular project, I used a RIDGID 5 In. Random Orbit Sander. It's a tool that's generally well reviewed and I highly recommend it.) I started sanding the wood with 40-grit sandpaper, and worked myself up to 60, 80, 120, 150, and 220.

To see a gallery of Hazelnut_Spread's gorgeous table, as well as find out the rest of the steps, read more.

Hazelnut_Spread continues, explaining that

I also rubbed the edges with a wire brush and stripped away any excess bark. I didn't go to town carving it down because I like a rough-hewn/natural look on a live-edge table. I treated both sides with five coats of clear, high-gloss polyurethane. I lightly sanded the wood in between coats with 220 grit. I wiped off excess dust with mineral spirits and waited for it to evaporate before I resumed the process. I obtained 16-inch round-tapered (Danish-modern style) legs for the table. The legs came with metal feet, but I removed them and sanded around the bottoms a little more. I stained them and affixed them to the bottom with angled top plates. I drilled pilot holes for the angled plates before screwing them to the bottom of the table.

And voila - I had my Nakashima-style live-edge table (66-in.-w x 21-in.-d x 18-in.-h). I was extremely pleased with the results. Although it was a long process that required a lot of patience, it's a fairly straight-forward project. Some important things to remember include: (1) Always sand in the direction of the grain, (2) allow for more than two-hours drying time in between coats of polyurethane, and (3) give yourself plenty of workspace. I didn't spend more than $250 on the wood, legs, and supplies - so it's a great option for anyone who can't spend a lot of money on these tables (many of which I've seen for $800 and up). It might help to be artistically inclined, but you don't have to be a master craftsman to pull this off.

If you're interested in posting pictures of stunning projects like this, make sure to join my Su Casa group!

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Ask Casa: Where Can I Find This Coffeetable?

CasaSugar — Thu, 29 May 2008 05:30:41 -0700

Hi CasaSugar,

I've been looking high and low for a coffee table similar to the one in the image I've attached. Does it have a particular name or style I should be researching? Thanks! Any advice would be so helpful and appreciated.

MJ

Hi MJ,

Great question! The table in question is a style that was popularized in the mid-20th century by US designer and woodworker George Nakashima. Nakashima designed and built furniture for 50 years, from 1940 until his death in 1990, and always worked in a style that emphasized the natural beauty of the wood. You can buy his designs from a number of different antique dealers, such as this one, as well as from his official company.

Another option is to find a talented woodworker who works in this style. I recently commissioned a hand-crafted Nakashima-esque table from a local woodworker. To see my table, read more.

Characteristics to look for in this type of table include using very high-quality wood (my table was made of claro walnut, as were many of Nakashima's works) and working with the wood's natural characteristics. For instance, the woodworker who built my table carved the edges, but left a live edge that emphasized knots, burls, and worm holes, which, in my opinion, only make the table more unique.

Good luck on your search, MJ, and I wish you the best of luck. I guarantee you won't be disappointed if you choose to buy a Nakashima or Nakashima-esque table.

Cheers,
Casa

Crave Worthy: George Nakashima Coffee Table

CasaSugar — Mon, 12 May 2008 05:28:10 -0700

I am a huge fan of George Nakashima. His mid-century designs blend elegance with naturalism in a way that works beautifully. So, of course, I'm also loving this Nakashima coffee table and bench (inquire for price). Custom-built for a private commission in 1957, this table features American black walnut slabs on top of slender, Scandinavian-looking legs, which certainly ups the drama in the contrast between surface and supports. I especially love the raw edge on this piece, which lets the wood speak for itself. You'll have to contact the dealer for the price, but if you're lucky enough to live in Philadelphia, stop in at Moderne Gallery to take a closer look.

How Would You . . .

CasaSugar — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 05:45:00 -0800

This 1960s-era music stand (contact dealer for price) is attributed to famed designer George Nakashima. I love how malleable it looks already.

If you'll remember from the last few How Would You posts, I'd like you to think outside the home-decorating box and find alternate uses for traditional home accents and furniture pieces. How would you adapt this gorgeous wooden music stand so it's used in an unusual way? Leave a comment below and let me know where you'd put or how you'd uniquely use this stand in your home.
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Desire/Acquire: Shaker-Style Chair

CasaSugar — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 15:00:24 -0700

The Nakashima Straight Backed Chair ($634) is a beauty, for sure. It was designed by architect George Nakashima, who was known to describe himself as “Japanese Shaker," for Knoll in 1948. But, this chair doesn't have the simple, possibly antiquated, look of most Shaker furniture; it's fresh and modern. Unfortunately, if you're trying to furnish an entire dining table with this design, you might have to sell your living room furniture. Luckily, there's an equally contemporary Shaker-style chair that's much more affordable. To see it, read more.

The Salt Chair ($98) has a similar Shaker shape, and its glossy black finish gives it a contemporary look. And, at this price, you could buy a full dining set for the price of the Nakashima!

On the Market: A Frank Lloyd Wright Home in Central California

CasaSugar — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 12:00:51 -0700

If you have a love for midcentury architecture and $2.7 million to spare, then consider moving to California's Central Valley to live in the beautiful, wonderfully maintained Fawcett House. This 3,700-square-foot home was designed by the famous modern architect Frank Lloyd Wright in 1955, and it was completed in 1961, two years after Wright died. The six-bedroom, four-and-a-half bath home is situated on 80 acres, and hunkers down into the farming landscape, with a low-pitched roof and angular wings that reach out into the fields.

The home was owned by Randall and Harriet Fawcett, who raised four children lived, worked, and died within its walls. The couple were ardent lovers of Wright's architecture, and even though the home's construction was delayed by a few years, they were always enthusiastic about their house.

To see interior and exterior photos of the Fawcett house, read more.

Designed in a modified U-shape, the home's rooms feature Wright's signature designs, including stained glass windows, concrete walls, built-ins, and expansive walls of glass that look out onto the home's swimming pool and gardens. The impressively large living room fireplace dominates the room, at six feet tall by twelve feet wide. The home also features woodwork from George Nakashima, as well as gorgeous Japanese garden design from Fresno-based landscape architect Jim Kamimato.

A recent San Francisco Chronicle article notes that

The building, while not among Wright's best known, is an articulate expression of his design philosophy at the latter stage of his career. He was attempting to create a uniquely North American architectural lexicon, free from classical and European influences, that also eliminated unnecessary elements to ensure homes were within reach of the middle (or at least upper-middle) class.

Interested? Contact the Fawcett House for information on touring or purchasing the house.

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