This is my “Sparrow” bench/shoe-rack made to a client’s requested dimensions to fit within their hallway. I decided to make if from a combination of ash and walnut. The ash would give strong grain and if I was lucky it would also provide some interesting colour variations. Walnut is a favourite of mine and I knew it would provide a rich chocolate colour which would act in great contrast to the paler ash.
I was lucky with the ash – the planks that arrived from the timber merchant were of great character and you can see fantastic streaking colouration in the front two legs. I arched the two long rails and between the splayed legs they remind me of the engineering used for bridges over motorways. For a classic joinery detail I pinned the rails in the legs with walnut pegs and they do also add strength. I gently curved the sides of the walnut top and softened the edges for a comfortable seat. I added a contrasting ash bow tie in the top surface to stabilise a shake in the upper face of the walnut. The individual planks that make up the shoe rack are separated with walnut spacers.
This was a fun piece to make – and I love the “Sparrow” name chosen by the customer. It flew down to its new home in Nottingham earlier this summer.
Dimensions (approximately): L 1200 x W 300 x H 450 mm. Finished with Osmo Clear Satin.
