Window Seat

Jacobson Construction was commissioned by artist Michelle DeVilliers to build a window seat that allowed for hidden storage below.

We designed this for her.  The top is made from 6/4 maple to match the craft table that is already in the space.  The base is designed to match the five-panel shaker doors that are throughout the house.

The final result... I feel like sitting down.

The space seen where the shoe mould is missing is for an air vent.  Electrical outlets were brought from the wall to the face of the cabinet.

Each leg of the bench top was laminated as one piece, then cut into individual "lids".  That way the grain of the maple is continuous.

There are two lids on one side and three on the other.  Each uncovers it's own compartment.

Can't see any hinges?  They're invisible.  Each one is mortised in to the back edge of the lids.

A neat trick.  Soft closing stays from Lee Valley add a nice touch.

Make it Flat

I am trying out a new technique for laminating.  Rather than gluing one or two joints at a time, I decided to do all of them at once.

This 6/4 soft maple is for the seat of a bench for client Michelle DeVilliers.  It has been thicknessed and edge-joined and is ready for laminating.

Laid out underneath the boards are some straightened pieces of spruce with taped edges.  The tape keeps the glue from sticking.

Lots of glue.  I spread it on and roll it out.  Both sides of the joint get glue.

Now we use complimentary pieces on top.  These also have taped edges.  Clamping these to each other will force the bench top to be flat.  I can tighten the perpendicular clamps and the entire top is laminated in one session.  Of course, the most important part of the whole operation is a flat work table.  Your laminated top will only be as flat as the table that you assemble it on.

After the lamination, we flatten with a jack plane.