The Alice Table: An Example of Fluid Design

 There have been two simple projects described in earlier posts that experienced evolution as their production progressed. I can barely recall a single project where this has not occurred to some degree, and as a matter of fact, I feel that it is the nature of design itself as guided by the creative process that forces fluid change on a project as it evolves from design to actual outcome.

The Alice Table was no exception as the design of the top changed during the course of the project. The top was originally to have edges trimmed with mitered corners. After the base of the table was completed, it started becoming clear that a top with mitered trim would not look right against the four very linear frames that made up the base. I decided therefore to make the top as a sort of frame and panel construction to compliment the basic frame construction of the base. I even ran a cope and stick profile along the entire front and back edges of the central laminated panel to join the mating front and back rails.

The cope and stick technique produced an interesting design element in that it produced a visually appealing exposed joinery detail at the front and back of the side edges of the table top. I had a decision to make at this point, and decided to go ahead and route a quarter round profile around the table top edge. This was done as a period detail to highlight the exposed cope and stick frame joinery, and then mirrored on the inner cross frame shelf to maintain the table within a table design concept.

The table had not taken on any specific design statement until this point, but now it appeared that my former work in producing historically inspired design helped to move the table in that direction. Going back to a time when I practiced woodworking as a profession through musical instrument building, the inclusion of a certain period element produced a design with historical inspiration. My dad used to say that water always flowed to seek its own level. I guess that proved true with the final outcome here.

The design elements as they evolved of basic frame, frame and panel, and profile detail combined to produce a visually integrated whole. I was fortunate in this project to have a client that understood and appreciated the creative process and its application. A better table resulted.

Update: The client posted this to her Facebook page.

THANK YOU EVERYONE WHO HELPED ME CELEBRATE A SIGNIFICANT BIRTHDAY LAST WEEK. THE CARDS, CALLS, EMAILS AND EVENTS JUST CAME COMING. THE HIGHLIGHT WAS THE DELIVERY OF "THE ALICE TABLE" THANK YOU, STEVE. I ENJOY IT MORE AND MORE EVERYDAY. BLESSINGS TO ALL OF YOU.
LOVE, ALICE

There's no better feeling than a good endorsement from a client after completing a project.