Design Quietly and Simply

The most beautiful furniture, in my opinion, doesn’t try to embellish the wood to somehow make it more than what it is. It capitalizes on grain, texture and natural color. Perhaps that’s why some of the timeless designs are also the most visually simple.

Tage Frid has this to say about simplifying design in his book, Tage Frid Teaches Woodworking:

“The only trouble with designing and working in wood is that it has the advantage—or disadvantage, however you look at it—of being beautiful in itself. It is not like metal. A piece of metal by itself is very cold and has to be hammered, shaped and polished before people even look at it. A piece of clay, which is really dirt, must be shaped, fired and glazed. But take a piece of wood—plane, sand and oil it, and you will find it is a beautiful thing. The more you do to it from then on, the more chance that you will make it worse. Therefore, working with a material of such natural beauty, I feel we have to design very quietly and use simple forms.”

Never underestimate the ability of wood to show its best features if you give it the chance.

Chris Marshall, Woodworker’s Journal

Making Frame and Panel Parts

In this episode, Ian and Lily demonstrate how to make frame and panel parts, using the table saw and the router table. You’ll learn how to make a raised panel.

6 Easy DIY Kitchen Updates

When it comes right down to it, kitchens are the nerve centers of our homes—for preparing meals, gathering and entertaining. How about sprucing up the cabinetry in your kitchen so it looks as great as it works!

Hideaway Bed

This easy-to-build, twin-sized Murphy bed is a space-saving option for your home or cabin.

Miter Saw Station

This space-saving shop solution gives you the capacity to make cuts on your miter saw without sacrificing bench space.

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