Steve Kelly, Aislin Bedside Cabinets (CHESTS, CABINETS, SHELVING 2022)

Photos:

Sarah Wilson

I decided to make two traditional solid timber bedside cabinets after a chat with my wife. We thought about the new furniture we needed for home and combined that with the idea of making something worthy of passing down to our daughter Aislin in the future. Using a full-scale drawing, the design process took several weeks and many iterations to get to a point where construction could begin. I also took time selecting the timber species and boards to use, choosing American Walnut for its natural beauty and rich colour variations. There were a number of construction challenges that I enjoyed while making these cabinets, some that I had prepared for in previous projects like the hand cut dovetail drawers. Others that were new to me and required custom routing and jigs to create the subtle curves around the drawers and doors. I believe that these subtle details bring a softness and flow to the design that make them suitable for our modern home. The finished cabinets have far exceeded my expectations and I am truly happy with the end results, they are the family heirloom pieces my wife and I were hoping for.

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