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C h r i s t o p h e r N a t a l e
Furnituro
Dosign
and
construction
for the
Intorior
Dosignor
Furnituro
Dosign
and
construction
for the
Intorior
Dosignor
Fairchild Books
Ncw York
caatsTorasa NATAts
Tc ArL InsLiLuLc o Phocnix
DirccLor o Salcs and AcquisiLions: Dana MclLzcr-BcrkowiLz
FxccuLivc FdiLor: Olga T. KonLzias
AcquisiLions FdiLor: 1oscph Miranda
Scnior DcvclopmcnL FdiLor: 1cnnicr Cranc
ArL DirccLor: Adam B. Bohannon
AssociaLc ArL DirccLor: Frin FiLzsimmons
ProducLion DirccLor: Cingcr Hillman
Scnior ProducLion FdiLor: FlizabcLh MaroLLa
ProjccL Managcr, DcvclopmcnL: PaLricia Shogrcn, CFX Publishing Scrviccs
ProjccL Managcr: 1c Homan
CopycdiLor: Nina HnaLov
Covcr Dcsign: Mark Suh
Covcr ArL: iSLockPhoLo
TcxL Dcsign and Pagc ComposiLion: Andrcw KaLz
IllusLraLions and phoLographs: ChrisLophcr NaLalc
CopyrighL :oo Fairchild Books, A Division o Condc NasL PublicaLions, Inc.
All righLs rcscrvcd. No parL o Lhis book covcrcd by Lhc copyrighL hcrcon may
bc rcproduccd or uscd in any orm or by any mcansgraphic, clccLronic, or
mcchanical, including phoLocopying, rccording, Laping, or inormaLion sLoragc
and rcLricval sysLcmswiLhouL wriLLcn pcrmission o Lhc publishcr.
Iibrary o Congrcss CaLalog Card Numbcr: :oo8::8
ISBN-: ,8--66,-6-:
CST R oo:
PrinLcd in Lhc UniLcd SLaLcs o Amcrica
TPo
v
FxLcndcd ConLcnLs vii
InLroducLion :
Part I: Tools for Dosigning Furnituro
i SLylcs o FurniLurc j
z Tc Dcsign Proccss :
j MaLcrials: Woods and McLals
q 1oincry ,
j Finishcs j:
Part II: Dosigning Furnituro for Iiving Spacos
6 Dining Room FurniLurc Dcsign :::
y Bcdroom FurniLurc Dcsign :
8 Iiving Room FurniLurc Dcsign :8:
q Homc O cc FurniLurc Dcsign io
io Dcsigning OLhcr Picccs o FurniLurc ii:
Clossary i:
Indcx i6j
AbouL Lhc AuLhor i,
contonts
vii
InLroducLion :
Dcsign Philosophy
Tcaching Philosophy
AcknowlcdgmcnLs
Part I: Tools for Dosigning Furnituro
i SLylcs o FurniLurc j
Major FurniLurc SLylcs TaL Inucnccd Amcrican Dcsign :o
Gothic :o
Elizabethan :o
Renaissance :o
Pilgrim ::
Jacobean ::
Louis XIII ::
Louis XIV ::
Early American ::
William and Mary :i
Queen Anne :i
Louis XV :i
Louis XVI :i
Colonial :
Georgian :
Pennsylvania Dutch :
Bxtondod contonts
viii [ FxLcndcd ConLcnLs
Chippendale :
Adam :
Hepplewhite :
Federal :
Sheraton :
Empire :
Shaker :
Biedermeier :
Victorian :
Arts and Crafts :6
Art Nouveau :6
Art Deco :6
Mid-Century Modern :6
Scandinavian Design :,
Typcs o FurniLurc :8
Chairs :8
Sofas i:
Desks i
Dressers i
Dining Room Cabinetry i
Tables i
Bedroom Furniture i,
ChapLcr ProjccL and Quiz i8
Project i8
Quiz ij
z Tc Dcsign Proccss :
Human Frgonomics i
Programming 6
SchcmaLics: SkcLching ,
FxLcndcd ConLcnLs [ ix
Dcsign DcvclopmcnL o
DraLing o
Drafting in Orthographic Projection i
Isometric Drawing
Perspective Drawing
Creating Shadows in Perspective ,
Marker-Rendering j
ConLracL AdminisLraLion o
FvaluaLion :
ChapLcr : ProjccL and Quiz :
Project :
Quiz
j MaLcrials: Woods and McLals
Hardwoods and SoLwoods 6
Vcnccrs 6i
Plywoods 6
Dimensions of Plywood 6
Fibcrboard 6
Medium-Density Fiberboard 6
High-Density Fiberboard 6
WhcaLboard 6
Bcndcr Board 66
IaminaLc 68
McLal 6j
Ferrous Metals 6j
Nonferrous Metals ,o
ChapLcr ProjccL and Quiz ,:
Project ,:
Quiz ,
x [ FxLcndcd ConLcnLs
q 1oincry ,
Basic Typcs o Wood 1oincry ,6
Butt Joint ,6
Loose-Tongued Joint ,8
Rabbet Joint ,8
Dado Joint ,8
Edge-to-Edge Joint ,j
Tongue-and-Groove Joint 8o
Loose Tongue-and-Groove Joint 8o
Mortise-and-Tenon Joint 8o
Trough Mortise-and-Tenon Joint 8:
Wedged Mortise-and-Tenon Joint 8:
Loose-Wedged Mortise-and-Tenon Joint 8i
Dowel Joint 8i
Biscuit Joint 8i
Finger Joint 8
Dovetail Joint 8
Buttery Joint 8
Bridle Joint 8
Lap Joint 86
ChapLcr ProjccL and Quiz 8,
Project 8,
Quiz 88
j Finishcs j:
Prcpping Lhc Piccc ji
Wood Finishcs j
Pigment Stains j
Glaze j6
Paint j6
FxLcndcd ConLcnLs [ xi
Oil j,
Clear Coats j8
Wax jj
McLal Finishcs :oo
Oxidation Process :oo
Heat Treated :oo
Abrasive Finishes :oo
Powder Coat :o:
Basic FurniLurc Hardwarc :oi
Door and Drawer Pulls :oi
Door Catches :o
Glides :o
Shelf Supports :o6
Casters :o6
ChapLcr ProjccL and Quiz :o,
Project :o,
Quiz :o8
Part II: Dosigning Furnituro for
Iiving Spacos
6 Dining Room FurniLurc Dcsign :::
Dining Tablc ::i
Table Parts ::i
Table Types ::8
Dining Chair :i
Upholstery :i
Chair Back Construction: Zigzag Spring or
Sinuous Wire Spring :i,
BucL :i,
xii [ FxLcndcd ConLcnLs
Door and Cabinet Hardware :o
Custom Design and Modular Design ::
China CabincL :
Wine Rack :8
Pic Sac or Food Cupboard :j
ChapLcr 6 ProjccL and Quiz :o
Project Residential dining table with leaves :o
Project Pedestal dining table ::
Project Dining chairs ::
Quiz :i
Bcdroom FurniLurc Dcsign :
Bcd :,
Headboard and Footboard :o
Platform Bed :
Daybed :
Trundle Bed :
Commercial Headboard :
Antique Beds :6
NighLsLand :,
Drcsscr and ChcsL o Drawcrs :6o
Highboy :6i
Armoirc :6
TV IiL :,i
Standard TV Lift :,i
Flat-Screen Lift :,
ChapLcr , ProjccL and Quiz :,6
Project Modular Design: Bedroom Set :,6
Project TV Lift :,,
Quiz :,,
FxLcndcd ConLcnLs [ xiii
8 Iiving Room FurniLurc Dcsign :8:
Cocc Tablc :8i
Fnd Tablc :8
Soa Tablc :86
FnLcrLainmcnL CcnLcr :88
Armoire-Style Entertainment Center :8j
Wall Unit Entertainment Center :jo
Corner Cabinet Armoire :j:
Bifold Door :j
Giant-Screen TVs :j
Soa and Iovc ScaL :j
Ioungc Chair :j,
Chaisc Ioungc :j8
OLLoman :jj
ChapLcr 8 ProjccL and Quiz ioo
Project Living Room Set ioo
Project Large Furniture Problems ioo
Quiz io:
q Homc O cc FurniLurc Dcsign io
Tc Dcsk io
Kneehole Desk io
Secretary Desk io
Rolltop Desk io
Modular-Style Desk io6
Creating a Dramatic Look with a Simple Design io6
Hotel-Style Desk ioj
O cc Chair i::
Filc CabincL i:i
Bookcasc i:
Bookcase/Curio Cabinet i:
xiv [ FxLcndcd ConLcnLs
ChapLcr ProjccL and Quiz i:6
Project Desk Design i:6
Project Bookcase Design i:,
Quiz i:8
io Dcsigning OLhcr Picccs o FurniLurc ii:
Drop Ica Tablc iii
Gateleg Table ii
Restaurant-Style Drop Leaf Table ii
Camc Tablc ii
Flip-Top Game Table ii,
Fold-Out Table ii,
Hall Chair ii8
Bcnch iij
BarsLool io
PicLurc Framc or Mirror io
FloaLing Shcl ii
RcccpLion Dcsk i
Basic IighLing FixLurc ConguraLion i
RTA FurniLurc i
ChapLcr o ProjccL and Quiz i
Project Drop Leaf Table i
Project Game Table i6
Project Barstool i,
Project Mirror i8
Quiz ij
Clossary i:
Indcx i6j
AbouL Lhc AuLhor i,
caArTsa z
To Dosign
Procoss
1nis cntr1cr wiii show Lhc dcsign proccss as iL rclaLcs
Lo urniLurc dcsign, ollowing Lhc Council or InLcrior Dc-
sign AccrcdiLaLion (CIDA) dcsign proccss guidclincs LhaL
includc Lhc ollowing:
Programming: UndcrsLanding Lhc clicnLs nccds and
problcm idcnLicaLion.
Schomatics: CrcaLing quick skcLchcs and dcvcloping
rough idcas.
Dosign Dovolopmont: DraLing imagcs in scalc,
drawing in pcrspccLivc, and markcr-rcndcring nish
maLcrials.
contract Administration: ConLracL documcnLs and
dcLailing o Lhc urniLurc dcsign
: [ Tools or Dcsigning FurniLurc
Bvaluation: UndcrsLanding Lhc uncLion, durabiliLy,
and Lhc cnd uscr.
Tis chapLcr bcgins wiLh a discussion abouL how human
crgonomics dicLaLcs Lhc dimcnsions o dicrcnL picccs o
urniLurc, cxamplcs arc shown. Tcn ollows a sLcp-by-
sLcp proccss or crcaLing simplc skcLchcs, draLs, pcrspcc-
Livc, and nishcd markcr rcndcrings wiLh cxamplc illus-
LraLions o cach sLagc.
Human Brgonomics
Tcrc arc many dicrcnL ways Lo dcsign a piccc o ur-
niLurc. Tis book vicws urniLurc as a piccc o uncLional
sculpLurc. To bc ully uncLional, Lhc piccc musL rclaLc Lo
basic human crgonomics. Frgonomics is Lhc scicncc o dc-
signing objccLs or human usc by maximizing c cicncy
and qualiLy.
For cxamplc, Lhc work suracc hcighL o a dining Lablc
or kiLchcn nook Lablc should bc : Lo o inchcs (scc Fig-
urc :.a). Tis dimcnsion is bascd on Lhc hcighL o a pcr-
son scaLcd in a dining chair. Tc scaL hcighL o Lhc dining
chair is bascd on Lhc popliLcal hcighL, which is Lhc dimcn-
sion rom Lhc oor Lo Lhc hcighL bchind Lhc kncc. TaL
dimcnsion rangcs rom , Lo inchcs or adulLs. Tcsc
Fig. z.ia Tc work suracc hcighL o a dining Lablc or kiLchcn
nook Lablc should bc : Lo o.
Tc Dcsign Proccss [
parLicular mcasurcmcnLs arc ncccssary bccausc o human
crgonomics and bccausc o Lhc way onc objccL accLs an-
oLhcr. Tc sizc o Lhc Lablc is bascd on having : inchcs
o minimum spacc or Lhc scaLcd pcrson and 8 inchcs o
spacc on cach sidc, alLhough o inchcs o spacc or Lhc
scaLcd pcrson and : inchcs on cach sidc is prccrrcd
(scc Figurc :.b). Tc : inchcs o minimum spacc or Lhc
scaLcd pcrson and Lhc prccrrcd o inchcs is Lhc samc or
a rccLangular Lablc (scc Figurc :.c). Circular Lablcs havc
dicrcnL issucs whcn iL comcs Lo spacing bccausc a pcrson
scaLcd aL a circular Lablc has a pic-shapcd spacc on Lhc
suracc o Lhc Lablc, Lhus ncccssiLaLing a largcr diamcLcr
Lablc comparcd Lo a squarc or rccLangular Lablc bccausc
Lhc spacc in Lhc ccnLcr o Lhc Lablc is di culL Lo acccss
(scc Figurc :.d).
Fig. z.ic Tc : o minimum spacc or Lhc scaLcd pcrson and a prccrrcd o is Lhc samc or a rccLangular Lablc.
Fig. z.ib Tc sizc o Lhc Lablc is
bascd on having : o minimum
spacc or Lhc scaLcd pcrson and 8
o spacc on cach sidc, buL o and
:, rcspccLivcly, arc prccrrcd.
Fig. z.io A dcsks hcighL is similar Lo LhaL o a Lablc. Fig. z.id Circular Lablc wiLh a pic shapc o spacc on Lhc Lablc suracc
and hard-Lo-acccss spacc in Lhc ccnLcr o Lhc Lablc.
Tc Dcsign Proccss [
Similar Lo Lablcs, Lhc hcighL o a dcsk should bc : Lo
o inchcs. Onc main considcraLion whcn dcsigning a dcsk
is Lhc armchair LhaL will bc uscd wiLh iL. Tc hcighL o
Lhc armrcsL nccds Lo bc lowcr Lhan Lhc boLLom o Lhc Lop
drawcr, a basic rulc is Lo havc aL lcasL inch o clcarancc.
Tc plan vicw dimcnsions o a dcsk can vary, Figurc :.c
shows Lwo basic sizcs or a dcsk. (Plan vicws arc discusscd
laLcr in Lhis chapLcr, in Lhc sccLion DraLing in OrLho-
graphic ProjccLion.)
Bcds arc dcsigncd bascd on sLandard maLLrcss sizcs.
Tcsc sizcs rangc rom crib (:8 : ), Lwin ( , ),
ull ( , ), quccn (6o 8o ), king (,6 8o ) up Lo
Lhc largcsL maLLrcss, Lhc Caliornia king (,: 8 ). Tc di-
mcnsions o sLandard maLLrcss sizcs includc lcngLh, which
is bascd on Lhc hcighL o a pcrson, and widLh, which is
dcsigncd or ciLhcr onc or Lwo pcrsons. (Scc Figurc :.:.)
Tc dcpLh dcpcnds on Lhc manuacLurcr, Lypically, a maL-
Lrcss comcs wiLh a box spring LhaL adds Lo Lhc ovcrall
dcpLh. Tc box spring is an upholsLcrcd ramc, on Lop o
which Lhc maLLrcss is posiLioncd and which Ls bcLwccn
Lhc bcds rails, ooLboard, and hcadboard. Tc LoLal hcighL
rom Lhc oor Lo Lhc Lop o Lhc maLLrcss rangcs rom :o
Lo o inchcs.
A common misLakc wiLh sLudcnLs drawings is incor-
rccL proporLions, such as making Lhc LablcLop hcighL Loo
Lall. Onc way Lo sLarL visualizing dimcnsions o an objccLs
work suracc hcighL, or cxamplc, a dining Lablc, is Lo basc
Lhc proporLion on somcLhing you mighL alrcady know
LhaL is sLandardizcd, such as cabincLry. KiLchcn cabincLs
Fig. z.z MaLLrcss sizcs.
6 [ Tools or Dcsigning FurniLurc
arc 6 inchcs in hcighL, and baLhroom cabincLs arc Lo
6 inchcs. A dining Lablc hcighL is : Lo o inchcs. Whcn
you sLarL Lo skcLch, visualizing Lhc objccLs spacc will hclp
Lo dcvclop Lhc corrccL proporLions. Tc drawing in Figurc
:. shows Lhc dimcnsions o a kiLchcn cabincL and a baLh-
room vaniLy cabincL.
Programming
Tc dcsign proccss sLarLs wiLh programming, which mcans
undcrsLanding Lhc clicnLs nccds and idcnLiying any pos-
siblc problcms. Tc rsL sLcp is Lo lisLcn Lo clicnLs and dc-
ciphcr Lhcir idcas, wanLs, or nccds. Tis is also Lhc parL
o Lhc proccss during which Lhc dcsigncr can brainsLorm
idcas wiLh Lhc clicnL so LhaL cvcryonc is on Lhc samc pagc
rom Lhc bcginning. SomcLimcs clicnLs may bc vaguc in
whaL Lhcy wanL or Lhcy may havc so many idcas and sLylcs
LhaL Lhc dcsigncr will nccd Lo cdiL Lhc idcas inLo a clcar
vision.
Fig. z.j FlcvaLion vicws o a kiLchcn and baLhroom cabincL.
Tc Dcsign Proccss [ ,
Schomatics: Skotching
Tc schcmaLic parL o Lhc proccss is abouL dcvcloping
rough idcas by crcaLing quick Lhumbnail skcLchcs in ronL
o Lhc clicnL so LhaL Lhc dcsigncr and Lhc clicnL can sLarL
Lo visualizc Lhc idcas. OLhcr skcLching can bc donc Lo dc-
vclop idcas urLhcr by adjusLing Lhc proporLions o clc-
mcnLs and dimcnsions.
SkcLching is a quick way Lo crcaLc and modiy idcas.
Using a pcncil, you can crcaLc lighL lincs showing Lhc ba-
sic shapc o a piccc Lop, lcgs, drawcrs, and so on. Tcn
you can draw on Lop o Lhc skcLch wiLh a darkcr linc whilc
alLcring Lhc proporLions and dimcnsions Lo changc Lhc
look o Lhc piccc. Tcsc iniLial skcLchcs should bc quick
and loosc Lhumbnail gcsLurcs, abouL Lo inchcs Lall and
widc, crcaLcd wiLhouL worry abouL crasing misLakcs. To
changc Lhc dcsign, crcaLc anoLhcr Lhumbnail skcLch. Dc-
signcrs oLcn skcLch bcLwccn :o and o Lhumbnails Lo crc-
aLc a dcsign. Tcsc skcLchcs cach Lakc abouL o scconds Lo
a minuLc. Tc advanLagc o crcaLing mulLiplc Lhumbnails
is LhaL you can oLcn scc parLs in dicrcnL skcLchcs LhaL
you can combinc or Lhc nal Lhumbnail. Tc Lhumbnails
in Figurc :.a show how quickly an idca can dcvclop, sim-
ply by using a sLylc as an inucncc. Tc rsL imagc shows
a gcomcLric basc crcaLcd by drawing Lhrough Lhc objccL Lo
hclp kccp iL round, Lhcn changing how Lhosc parLs arc ar-
rangcd or Lhc oLhcr dcsigns.
Fig. z.qa NighLsLand wiLh an ArL Dcco inucncc.
8 [ Tools or Dcsigning FurniLurc
SkcLching Lhc sidc vicw hclps Lo show Lhc propor-
Lions o Lhc objccL. Tc imagc in Figurc :.b was markcr-
rcndcrcd wiLh basic Loncs. Using basic Loncs can bc an im-
porLanL parL o Lhc skcLch whcn conLrasLing maLcrials or
colors nccd Lo bc shown. You do noL nccd Lo show dcLail
Lo gcL your poinL across Lo a clicnL or buildcr. Figurc :.b
Look abouL minuLcs Lo complcLc.
SomcLimcs a clicnL may havc di culLy sccing a Lhrcc-
dimcnsional objccL likc urniLurc as a aL skcLch and will
nccd Lo scc Lhc volumc o Lhc piccc. Tis can bc donc
airly casily by crcaLing Lhc ull volumc o Lhc objccL and
Lhcn subLracLing Lhc spacc. Figurc :. shows a Lhumb-
nail skcLch wiLh a doLLcd squarc around iL. TaL squarc
is Lhc LoLal volumc LhaL Lhc Lhrcc-dimcnsional objccL will
sLarL wiLh. Figurcs :.6a Lo sLarL wiLh a LransparcnL cubc
skcLchcd in :-poinL pcrspccLivc and Lhcn usc Lhc propor-
Lions o Lhc cubc Lo add Lhc dcLail o Lhc objccL. Tc nal
Lhrcc-dimcnsional skcLch is markcr-rcndcrcd wiLh basic
Loncs. IL is sLill a quick drawing Lhis objccL Look abouL
Lo , minuLcs Lo complcLcly rcndcr.
Fig. z.qb Tc ronL and sidc vicws o Lhc nighLsLand.
Fig. z.j Hand skcLch o a nighLsLand in clcvaLion vicw.