In order to test both the new material choice and the new design option, I made up these two charming little bench-cabinets. They are 17-18in tall — bench height — and serve as both seating as well as storage. And they're for sale… $250 for the set (a significant discount for the prototypes). Imagine these by the door or bed (shoes, etc.) …
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Along with the addition of the Composite Shelf Veneer, we've added the option of integrated door guides into the design of the CSSU. Previously, doors have been added via a rail system on the face of the units. Both have their charms, but with the additional thickness that the veneer adds, making channels into the shelves themselves becomes more of an option.
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We've been busy in the NorCalMod workshop prototyping with new techniques and materials. The basis of them is the use of a resin-cellulose composite veneer on top of our maple multi-ply.
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The original Eames fiberglass chairs were, of course, groundbreaking in many ways: an innovative uses of materials, an interjection of color into businesses and homes, the creation of a "system" of shells and bases… and doing it, originally, at a fairly modest cost. Today, the irony is that these original examples are quite sought after and carry a high price tag. Our friends have a few "rope edge" chairs that are even more sought after, so scour your grandparents' basements, kids.
Avery contacted me to restore a few of her Eames fiberglass shell chairs. She had picked them up at her old University… undoubtedly bound for the skip. Being commercial chairs, they were originally fitted with stacking bases which are the least covetable of the variants. To use other bases, the shock mounts need to be relocated. We've done that before, so we took on the job.
These came to us in fairly rough shape. Someone had tried to relocate the original mounts unsuccessfully and in the process did a bit of damage to the fiberglass. They had used a variety of glues to try to adhere and re-adhere the mounts, but — as I mentioned to Avery: no worries — it's all part of the restoration process and price.
In short: We took the chairs in, (1) removed the old mounts, (2) ground off the original and re-applied glues, (3) affixed new mounts, (4) rejuvenated the surface, (5) fixed the damaged fiberglass spots, (6) balanced the bases, and (7) gave them a final polish… all in all giving new life to the chairs.
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Scott contacted me years ago for some renovation consultation. It was great to hear from him again… with one additional kid in tow and a need for some extra storage. We volleyed a few files back and forth and came up with a design that was a balance of material-efficiency and space maximization. At 4ft tall and 6ft wide, it's also a big unit…
Since he's local, we were also able to assemble with my new favorite VHB-adhered panels. These panels use an extremely high-bond ("very-high-bond' = VHB) adhesive strip to affix the panels which creates a unit that's actually a bit more stable and visually far more sleek. Since it's a one-shot process (once the panels are affixed, they are not going to come off without a fight… and some damage), I'm reluctant to offer it on the home-assembled units, but we'll see. The reward might be worth the risk — the look is nice.
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Phil had some unusual storage requirements and a personal style atypical of NorCalMod… but we delivered something to his liking.
In this build, we powdercoated the legs a satin black and swapped out the zinc hardware for brass (backed with fiber washers) which gave it an aesthetic very different than the other builds we've worked on. The shelves are edge-banded black walnut that, in combination with the black and brass, complements Phil's aesthetic.
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Claire made all of the right (and brave) decisions… and helped to create a few new categories. What started as a simple record/turntable storage unit turned into the +MOV, +XL, +HD, and +MIN …
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The shop has been closed for the summer while I was out for hand surgery (fun!). Now that I can feel my fingers again, we've re-opened the workshop and Jessica's piece is the first out the door. She opted for a good blast of color to offset some of the wood pieces already in her home. Now, all that's left to do is deliver.
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Rebecca dropped us a line and let us know she needed some storage. A few sketches later and we had a 2X3 planned out. It's now ready to box off and send to her…
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Dave contacted us in need of some vinyl storage for his growing collection. We made this one a bit longer (30in) than standard in anticipation that he'll need a bit more space as time goes by. He chose wisely with the red enamel interior — the color really covers well and shows the grain of the wood nicely through the tone. Now to get it disassembled, packed up and shipped off.
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