I was commissioned to build a coffee table, styled like an Old World chest. My client provided dimensioned color drawings of what she wanted. The table was to have a hinged top consisting of a wood frame and glass, which opened to access a display space for small keepsakes. The front of the chest would have two drawers for storage and the rear of the chest would have a cubby at the bottom to store paperback books.

Once I received her drawings, I scheduled a meeting to discuss wood and hardware choices. She decided on using quartersawn white oak, which would add to the "Old World" look she wanted. To hinge the top and provide a means of holding it open, I recommended using traditional cedar chest hinges. With the remaining hardware choices made, I went about building the project.

I used several dyes to achieve the color and help accentuate the ray fleck pattern in the oak. For the top coat, I used Waterlox satin. I wiped on three coats and finished with several coats of paste wax.