Shaker-inspired vanity

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  • ChrisD
    Senior Member
    • Dec 2004
    • 881
    • CHICAGO, IL, USA.

    #1

    Shaker-inspired vanity

    Friends,

    It’s been a while since I last contributed a post, let alone a project, to this place. The shop itself had been dormant until about a couple of months ago when LOML and I decided to renovate the 2nd floor bath. Although we hired contractors to do majority of the work, I managed to convince her that I would do the woodworking.

    So here’s Phase 1 of my Second Floor Bath Project. The primary wood is panga panga and the secondary wood is white oak.

    Click image for larger version

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    The Base:

    The aprons have haunched tenons that join into 1.5” mortises on the legs. I made the tenons as long as possible which required them to be mitered.

    The taper on the two inside edges of each leg begins 0.25” from the bottom of the apron.

    The front apron and the drawer fronts were cut from a single board. The gap between the drawer openings was determined by the diameter of the drain pipe.

    Click image for larger version

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    The drawers run on a very simple guide system, which consists of two pairs of runners that sit on two rails glued on the front and rear aprons. The runners sit about 1/32” above the bottom of the drawer opening. Each runner has a strip glued on to the appropriate side to serve as a drawer guide.

    Click image for larger version

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    The Top:

    I had three 8” wide boards for the top, two of which came from the same board. (That explains why the rear part of the top is darker.) I jigsawed the edge-glued top to length and routed the ends straight with a flush-trim bit and a straightedge. The amount of overhang on the side was determined by a soffit that would be constructed on the corner of the wall to hide the pipes (hole in the wall is partly visible in the pics).

    Button blocks join the top to the base.

    The Drawers:

    I made the drawers last because they required the most guts: I hand-cut the half-blind dovetails. They’re not perfect, but I’m happy with them . The sides, bottom, and back are made from 0.5” white oak. The back is dadoed into the sides.

    Click image for larger version

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    The Backsplash:

    The backsplash that you see in the pic is not how I originally designed it. The middle portion was only going to be as high as the sink, but Murphy reared his ugly head when the faucet was being installed. The escutcheon on the faucet would not tighten up to the wall, creating a 0.25” gap. The plumber suggested caulking the gap and that was when I very politely asked him to leave and come back after I had figured out and implemented a solution. Well, the solution is what you see in the pic: I removed the already installed backsplash that was constructed according to the original design, resawed it, planed the resawn pieces to 0.25”, and edge-glued them to create an entirely new backsplash. It is quite plain but I’m sure it looks a lot better than caulk. In retrospect, I think the brushed-nickel faucet looks a lot better coming out of the dark panga panga than out of the taupe wall.

    The vanity is finished with about six coats of spar urethane and several coats of paste wax.

    I’m glad to have finally completed this project as I have Phase 2 (a medicine cabinet) and Phase 3 (a built-in cabinet) to work on next!

    Thanks for looking!
    Attached Files
    The war against inferior and overpriced furniture continues!

    Chris
  • Wood_workur
    Veteran Member
    • Aug 2005
    • 1914
    • Ohio
    • Ryobi bt3100-1

    #2
    ummm.... WOW!!!!! very, very, nice. The style fits perfectly with the faucet, and the front apron matiching the drawers (one board) is a very nice detail. I also like that it looks mobile, which is very cool.
    Alex

    Comment

    • JR
      The Full Monte
      • Feb 2004
      • 5636
      • Eugene, OR
      • BT3000

      #3
      That is just outstanding, Chris! A beautiful design, wonderfully implemented. Oak as a secondary wood! Too cool. The legs look great. And that modern sink in contrast to the shaker style vanity is awesome.

      Great job!

      JR
      JR

      Comment

      • bmyers
        Veteran Member
        • Jun 2003
        • 1371
        • Fishkill, NY
        • bt 3100

        #4
        Do you think you could convince your wife into you coming over and do the woodworking in my bathroom too? I don't think it would take much to convince my wife...

        Really nice idea and execution.


        Bill
        "Why are there Braille codes on drive-up ATM machines?"

        Comment

        • gerti
          Veteran Member
          • Dec 2003
          • 2233
          • Minnetonka, MN, USA.
          • BT3100 "Frankensaw"

          #5
          I don't think I should show that to my wife...

          Nice work!

          Comment

          • drumpriest
            Veteran Member
            • Feb 2004
            • 3338
            • Pittsburgh, Pa, USA.
            • Powermatic PM 2000

            #6
            Wow that is nice. Well done. The variable spacing on the drawers and the continuity of the drawer face grain pattern is fantastic.
            Keith Z. Leonard
            Go Steelers!

            Comment

            • Ken Weaver
              Veteran Member
              • Feb 2004
              • 2417
              • Clemson, SC, USA
              • Rigid TS3650

              #7
              Very nice work Chris - you have to be proud of it!
              Ken Weaver
              Clemson, SC

              "A mistake is absolute proof that someone tried to do something!

              Comment

              • RayintheUK
                Veteran Member
                • Sep 2003
                • 1792
                • Crowborough, East Sussex, United Kingdom.
                • Ryobi BT3000

                #8
                Great design, great pics, great write-up, great job, Chris - well done!

                Ray.
                Did I offend you? Click here.

                Comment

                • Ken Massingale
                  Veteran Member
                  • Dec 2002
                  • 3862
                  • Liberty, SC, USA.
                  • Ridgid TS3650

                  #9
                  That's very beautiful, Chris. Hand cut half blinds, wow.
                  ken

                  Comment

                  • lrogers
                    Veteran Member
                    • Dec 2002
                    • 3853
                    • Mobile, AL. USA.
                    • BT3000

                    #10
                    Sweet! I have to say you out the "fine" in fine furniture with that one!
                    Larry R. Rogers
                    The Samurai Wood Butcher
                    http://splash54.multiply.com
                    http://community.webshots.com/user/splash54

                    Comment

                    • Pappy
                      The Full Monte
                      • Dec 2002
                      • 10463
                      • San Marcos, TX, USA.
                      • BT3000 (x2)

                      #11
                      That is beautiful work, Chris.
                      Don, aka Pappy,

                      Wise men talk because they have something to say,
                      Fools because they have to say something.
                      Plato

                      Comment

                      • GeekMom
                        Senior Member
                        • Dec 2004
                        • 752
                        • Bonney Lake, WA.
                        • Shopsmith Mark V

                        #12
                        That is simply beautiful, Chris. The 'fix' on the backsplash adds more contrast and interest. Nice idea!
                        Karen
                        <><

                        Comment

                        • Imadunatic
                          Established Member
                          • Feb 2005
                          • 217
                          • Barryton, Mi, USA.

                          #13
                          Holy Crap, That looks wonderful. Ive always thought the "bowl" sitting on the counter look, was really cool. and youve taken that to the next level with the shaker style base. Fantastic, just fantastic. Thanks for sharing the pics.

                          Kevin
                          \"Run Varnish, Runnnnnn\"

                          Comment

                          • atgcpaul
                            Veteran Member
                            • Aug 2003
                            • 4055
                            • Maryland
                            • Grizzly 1023SLX

                            #14
                            Great project! Thanks for introducing me to a new wood, too.


                            Paul

                            Comment

                            • Turaj
                              Veteran Member
                              • Dec 2002
                              • 1019
                              • Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
                              • BT3000 (1998)

                              #15
                              Wow

                              This is a great job! Nice design and beautiful workmanship! Thanks for sharing!
                              Turaj (in Toronto)
                              "When I read about the evils of drinking, I gave up reading!" Henny Youngman

                              Comment

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