About The Project
This very long nine and half foot walnut media center was built in a mid 1950’s modern style. Its simple clean looks complements the room decor. While it is a freestanding piece, the cabinet is built to fit into a notch in the wall at the end of the fireplace.
The focal point of the media center is the top, which is constructed of two solid bookmatched walnut planks, which were purchased from a sawyer in Pennsylvania. In the bookmatch approach, two consecutively cut boards are opened and glued together along matching edges, much like opening two opposing pages of a book. This results in the two boards creating a mirror image of each other. The cabinet doors are veneered in walnut using the slipmatch approach. In this approach the consecutively cut slices of veneer are laid out and glued together along opposing edges, much like dealing a deck of cards. This results in the grain pattern repeating across the face of the cabinet doors.
Because the top’s walnut and the veneer came from different trees, I dyed them to achieve a uniform color. This process also enhanced the richness and depth of the hue. The piece was then finished with sprayed on varnish.
The cabinet houses audio and video electronic components. Audio speakers are housed in the end compartments. When in use the end doors pull out, then slide and tuck inside the compartment, thus exposing the speakers. The interior shelves and partitions are built to allow for the component wiring.
