Hallway Console

A work associate of our son asked him to contact me to ask if I would be interested in building this console table for her new home.  A few months ago...she also wanted me to build her a coffee table..but at the time, I was tied up with other projects in the shop and the time frame just didn't jive with her schedule and she had to go ahead an purchase one.  However, when this request came in....I did see some open time to build this.  First because there simply was time for it, but also because it would be a quick turnaround and also, the scale of the project intrigued me.  I rarely get to make a table seven feet long.  It adds just a touch of difference to the norm in the shop.

  I was supplied with this picture to go off of in duplicating it.

  At first, it was requested that the top be stained dark to match an existing dining table that would be in close proximity of the console and the rest of the table would be painted by the customer.  Then, I was told to go ahead and stain the complete thing.  And right before I began to mill the parts, particularly the legs, it was requested to make the table taller.  A day later with the request would have been to long as I would have cut the leg blanks about four or five inches shorter than needed.  But, time was a nice person and we raised the table height.  I picked up some very beautiful "ambrosia" maple from my supplier and I wanted so badly to finish the tabletop naturally clear, as ambrosia maple is so beautiful when done so...but the customer could not be swayed.  Hey, the customer is always right and it was all stained.  Had a bit of a problem with some blotching, as will happen with maple, but some corrections and an application of wood conditioner to even out the stain absorption corrected the problem and I really loved the reddish brown hue that resulted.  This stain used was Verathane Cogniac.  Clear coat was Deft high gloss brushing lacquer...diluted 20% and sprayed on.