| 
Michael
Dooley
Kenmore, Qld
Sideboard
silver ash, blue gum
‘This
entertainment unit is my first large piece
since commencing fine woodworking around
18 months ago. My design objective was
to create a cabinet large enough for electronic
equipment and CD/DVD library, but still
convey a sense of light, airy elegance
with clean lines. Cantilevering the drawers
and adding a central arch achieves this
and also gives a sense of something engineered
rather than just constructed. The floating
top contributes to the visual airiness
and allows plenty of ventilation for the
hi-fi equipment. Simple spotted gum handles,
held in place by twin pins complement
the clean lines of the sideboard.
‘The carcase
is silver ash with mortise and tenon joinery
and half lap joints. It incorporates three
divider panels of Sydney blue gum veneered
ply framed with silver ash. The end panels
are of the same construction with rebates
along the stiles to accept the carcase.
‘The top
is blue gum veneer on ply rebated into
a silver ash frame that has a bevel on
the underside to add to the sense of lightness.
The drawers were constructed from Sydney
blue gum and silky oak using hand-cut
dovetails at the back and biscuits to
attach the fronts. Both cabinet doors
are of blue gum veneered particleboard
with blue gum lipping.An electronic sensor,
allowing the doors to remain closed, will
transfer remote control signals to equipment
inside the cabinet.
‘Music
is certainly about inner space and I hope
this cabinet does it justice.’ |
