Making the Nordhoff Desk
The Story
I built the Nordhoff Desk at the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship in Rockport, Maine.
It is a secretary writing desk in American walnut on elegant tapered legs with a flip-top lid and two floating drawers for accessories.
The legs are compound tapered and joined into the frame, which is attached to the top with wooden cleats.
The drawer boxes feature hidden magnetized closures and brass splines as a decorative detail. The drawer pulls are leather.
The Sespe Speaker Stands were designed and built the same summer.
Topic
Making
Type
Desk
Materials
Walnut, brass, leather
Cut parts getting ready for pre-finishing and glue-up.
Clamping the complex angles of the compound tapered legs.
Very carefully cutting a mortise for the inset lid hinges.
An elegant solution for propping up the lid, allowing the finish to dry.
Fitting a joint on the bench, with the glue and clamps within reach.
Drawer boxes stacked, with the parts for the drawers on top. Note the brass splines for the miters.
Every design
starts with a
conversation.
Let’s talk
Making the Nordhoff Desk
The Story
I built the Nordhoff Desk at the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship in Rockport, Maine.
It is a secretary writing desk in American walnut on elegant tapered legs with a flip-top lid and two floating drawers for accessories.
The legs are compound tapered and joined into the frame, which is attached to the top with wooden cleats.
The drawer boxes feature hidden magnetized closures and brass splines as a decorative detail. The drawer pulls are leather.
The Sespe Speaker Stands were designed and built the same summer.
Topic
Making
Type
Desk
Materials
Walnut, brass, leather
Cut parts getting ready for pre-finishing and glue-up.
Clamping the complex angles of the compound tapered legs.
Very carefully cutting a mortise for the inset lid hinges.
An elegant solution for propping up the lid, allowing the finish to dry.
Fitting a joint on the bench, with the glue and clamps within reach.
Drawer boxes stacked, with the parts for the drawers on top. Note the brass splines for the miters.
Every design
starts with a
conversation.
Let’s talk
Making the Nordhoff Desk
The Story
I built the Nordhoff Desk at the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship in Rockport, Maine.
It is a secretary writing desk in American walnut on elegant tapered legs with a flip-top lid and two floating drawers for accessories.
The legs are compound tapered and joined into the frame, which is attached to the top with wooden cleats.
The drawer boxes feature hidden magnetized closures and brass splines as a decorative detail. The drawer pulls are leather.
The Sespe Speaker Stands were designed and built the same summer.
Topic
Making
Type
Desk
Materials
Walnut, brass, leather
Cut parts getting ready for pre-finishing and glue-up.
Clamping the complex angles of the compound tapered legs.
Very carefully cutting a mortise for the inset lid hinges.
An elegant solution for propping up the lid, allowing the finish to dry.
Fitting a joint on the bench, with the glue and clamps within reach.
Drawer boxes stacked, with the parts for the drawers on top. Note the brass splines for the miters.
Every design
starts with a
conversation.
Let’s talk