CasaSugar

Casa Verde: Nick Stagg's Turned, Reclaimed Wood Bowls

CasaSugar — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 13:00:06 -0700

Woodworker Nick Stagg lives in rural Oregon, where he operates Moonraker Turning from his farm-based studio. Using reclaimed wood whenever possible, Nick shapes rough pieces of wood into beautiful, turned wood bowls, vessels, and vases. I recently had the chance to ask Nick about the craft of woodturning, and he explained the ins and outs of the craft. Also, check out his shop to order some of his beautiful turned wood pieces.

CasaSugar: When did you start woodturning?

Nick Stagg: I started woodturning in 2003 after seeing some turned tool handles in someone's shop and I thought that I could do that! I had an old, inferior lathe and poor tools, but was able to make some small oil-filled lamps for family members. Shortly after that I upgraded my lathe and slowly purchased better tools and continued to turn. I joined a woodturning club and checked out all the books and videos I could from the library and spent my spare time trying to improve. As time passed, I've hosted instructors from Engalnd and Australia in my shop to give classes to other turners. I'm now confident enough that I can offer help to beginning turners and, perhaps, make their journey into the woodturning arena less painful than mine!

To hear about how Nick makes his turned wood vessels, read more.

CasaSugar: How long does it take you to make a bowl? Nick Stagg: The time involved with a bowl varies on several things. Most of the time I twice turn my bowls. This means I turn them to a thickness greater than the one I need and coat them with a wax to minimize cracking as excess moisture evaporates. They are then left to air dry, in our climate that's about 13 percent moisture. Different woods take longer to dry and can distort and crack. Oregon white oak is very difficult to dry without some degradation, Pacific madrone needs to be boiled to stabilize it. Big leaf maple is in abundance in Oregon and dries quickly and has more character than oak. I like to turn maple. The rough turning of a 12-x-5 inch shouldn't take more than 30 minutes. The finish turning and sanding, depending on the style of the bowl, should be accomplished in 45 minutes. I don't apply any finish to the bowl on the lathe. I sign the piece and give it several coats of Danish oil over a period of days, depending on how porous the wood is. The oil is left to thoroughly cure and it then goes through a three-stage buffing process.

CasaSugar: What type of wood do you use? Nick Stagg: Most of the wood I use is reclaimed. I gather wood from power line trimmings, trees cut down for safety reasons, or as a result of building/ housing developments. Other turners hear of trees coming down in their neighborhood and the homeowner wants it cleaned up in a day, so we gather a group of people and clear the area. None of my bowl or vessel pieces have ever originated from a tree that's been cut down for the sole purpose of turning. Wood turners are generous and are always willing to share.

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Crave Worthy: Gregor Jenkins Profile Table

CasaSugar — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 10:44:53 -0800

The Profile Table ($4,500) from South African studio Gregor Jenkins Design combines the traditional, curvy look of turned wood with the striking edge of industrial steel. It's a sophisticated compromise for a couple with tastes on opposite ends of the classic/contemporary spectrum. I'd love to see it surrounded by classic café bentwood chairs to add some depth and a natural texture. Although this South African stunner is built to outlive me, I'd still have a hard time convincing myself to drop nearly five grand on a table.

Crave Worthy: Jonathan Adler Drysdale Chair

CasaSugar — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 15:00:27 -0800

I can't believe that I've never noticed the Jonathan Adler Drysdale Chair ($1,595) before; it's so me. Button tufting, check! Turned legs, check! Throw in white wood and pale-blue upholstery and you've swept me off my feet. The regal, oversize back of the chair is oddly, but fittingly, proportioned to its small legs. I also love how the back legs are so simple; it brings attention to the chair's wonderful turned front legs. And, this is a strange analogy, but do the slightly splayed back legs remind you of an athletic wheelchair, or is it just me? Regardless, I'd kill to have this knockout in my living room.

Designer Spotlight: Robert Austin Gonzalez

CasaSugar — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 08:03:45 -0800

This weekend I stopped by the impressively well-curated FIVEten Studio as part of my monthly traipse through Oakland's Art Murmur open studios night. FIVEten was filled with gorgeous art and design work by the likes of Nolan Niu and Ross Lovegrove, but my favorite pieces were the turned wood furniture crafted by designer Robert Austin Gonzalez.

As you may already know, I'm a big fan of turned wood. I used to love watching my grandfather create turned wood furniture on his lathe when I was little. Robert Austin Gonzalez's turned wood finds have a distinctly contemporary feel, and the chameleon-like combination of clear glass tabletops and reclaimed wood in his tables would make them perfect for a variety of interiors.

To see a gallery of work and to find out more about Robert, just read more.

These turned wood (and turned lacquer) creations are part of Robert's series "Grace." Robert also designs, builds, and constructs furniture and interiors for both professional design clients and homeowners alike. When he's not working or spending time in Brooklyn Heights with his family , he can be found, depending on the season, pursuing his passions of surfing and skiing.

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Trend Alert: Turned Wood Reborn

CasaSugar — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 10:00:30 -0700

Thanks to AT:NY, I've been turned on to the turned wood trend. You might be thinking that these shapes are a thing of the past—and you're right, they date back to at least 1300 BC. Curvy furniture legs and turned wood home accessories have been experiencing a renaissance in modern furniture shops as of late, though.
The classic wooden shape has been re-imagined with a modern twist, as well as in other materials like glass, cork, and aluminum. There are plenty of alternatives at various price ranges, and you can even DY a shapely legged coffee table if you're up to the challenge. Click the images below to see the good looking furniture pieces and accessories that I've turned up.

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Ask Casa: How Can I Create an Old Hollywood Starlet Pad?

CasaSugar — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 10:00:39 -0700

Twitter user DefDulce asked me a question which, judging from current trends, I think is on a lot of young decorators' minds: "How can you turn an ordinary apartment into an old Hollywood starlet pad?"

Without seeing her apartment, I can't offer specific, tailored changes or updates. So I thought I'd respond by offering a few key elements essential to any old Hollywood home. Choosing just a few of them will give your home that overtone of glitz and glamour so evocative of Old Hollywood style.

Lacquer your furniture! And if you can't afford to, high gloss paint will do.
Choose rich materials like silk and velvet for drapery and tablecloths.
Bring in luxe details: crystals on chandeliers, fringe on lampshades, gilt accessories.

See more of these.

Found It! Bella's New Moon Ornate Floor Mirror

CasaSugar — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 07:00:18 -0700

In behind-the-scenes photos from the upcoming and highly buzzed New Moon, Bella Swan's bedroom boasts a fancy ornate wooden floor mirror, in addition to beautiful flocked bedding. Another photo from the set suggests that it may actually be a mirror that attaches to a dresser. But for the sake of the illusion, I hunted down a similar ornate wooden floor mirror for you. Want to see where you can buy it? Then read more.

The Isabella White Cheval Floor Mirror ($749) is nearly an exact replica with a turned wood base and filigree at the top. If you'd prefer something more affordable, the PBteen Lilac Floor Mirror ($199) is similar in style, although it is rounded.

Photo courtesy of David Strick/Los Angeles Times

Before and After: An '80s Hutch Gets Up-to-Date

CasaSugar — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 08:00:01 -0700

I love a well-executed furniture makeover, especially when a piece that's this ugly can turn out to look so good! Crafty lady Erin explains, "My brother-in-law frequently comes across discarded furniture. The other day he found this hutch and asked if we would like it. It was pretty darn ugly, so hubby and I decided to give it a makeover."

To see the unbelievable results, read more.

Erin explains that, "We removed some of the decorative wood, painted it, and frosted the glass. I think it came out pretty awesome!"

There's no arguing with you there, Erin. This hutch is virtually unrecognizable from its earlier incarnation. Nice work!

Coveted Crib: Judy Aldridge's Textured Texas Home

CasaSugar — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 12:00:40 -0700

It's no secret that fashion designer Judy Aldridge (mother of Jane, the high school "It" girl fashion blogger, aka Sea of Shoes) has a passion for design - take a gander at her blog, Atlantis Home. Each ensemble she puts on is more innovative than the next. So, it comes as no surprise that her home is equally chic. After spotting some stunning furnishings in the background of one of Jane's photos, I was determined to get a peak at the fashion-centric family's Texas digs. As it turns out, the Aldridge home is more crave worthy than I imagined.

After a divorce, Aldridge snatched up a home in Trophy Club, Texas that had great bones including cathedral ceilings and a big galley kitchen. Before dressing it to the nines, she had to do some major gut work. "There were railings everywhere, like a country-Western bar; beige carpet; creepy, hideous ceiling fans with little flowers painted on them," she told Dallas News. With a base of white walls and pretty sealed floors, she curated a mix of Pottery Barn upholstery, vintage finds, and some designer pieces (including Philippe Starck's Louis Ghost Chairs and Verner Panton's S Chair). Overall the design is heavily white and natural in tone, with plenty of texture thanks to fur accessories and well-worn wood. Aldridge was really disciplined in designing in her home and it paid off: the result is utterly relaxing, chic, and full of personal style. Take a look when you read more.

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Love It or Hate It? Modern Chairs With a Traditional Dining Table

CasaSugar — Fri, 29 May 2009 12:00:01 -0700

In this dining room, classic modern Vitra Panton Chairs ($262) are paired with a traditional dining table with turned wood legs. I think this little touch of modernity is refreshing, especially for a place which, judging from the wainscoting, isn't a contemporary home. Do you like this mix-and-match effect?