Custom Shaker Bedroom Set Finished!

Back in December I shared a couple photos with you of a shaker bedroom set that I was commissioned to build. It has been done and delivered to its new home for a few months now. I am somewhat tardy at this blog thing – not my favorite!

This project was begun at a time when my wife was recovering from major open heart surgery, that took months for her to get back to normal. Couple this with the Covid pandemic; to say this was not a normal build would be an understatement. I will always remember making this bedroom set. I was going back and forth from the shop to the house , about a 30’ walk . I was a woodworker and nurse, occasionally I would try to take her temp by sticking a tape measure in her mouth.

The photos I have selected are a few shots in the shop when I was building the dressers and a couple in the showroom that I put to use as a photo studio.

The couple who this was built for were very gracious and completely understanding when the timeline for this furniture was extended. I mean really extended.

Is this furniture an exact reproduction of Shaker pieces? No! This furniture though made in the shaker spirit and definitely has a correct look, is not a museum copy of original shaker pieces. I can maybe use an example of the king size bed. The shakers were a celibate religious society so hence I don’t really think they needed a king size bed.

After I dovetailed the cases, the next step was preparing the stock for the drawers– I decided to use maple. Not a task to be hurried or looked upon as rather mundane . The drawer material needs to be flat and square, accurately dimensioned to the proper size. Very important to the success of drawers that look and work “right” in solid wood furniture.

The drawers were hand dovetailed with half blind on the front and through on the rear. The finish for drawers is shellac and wax. They slide on wood frames and side guides. I find the whole drawer building process quite enjoyable rather soothing. No power tools, just hand work and music on the radio. Classical because it steadies my hand. I make mistakes no matter what music I listen to.

The dressers and bed side tables were finished with a hand rubbed oil as was the bed.

I have somewhat neglected my experiences with building the bed. This piece had some very specific dimensions that were requested by my clients.

No box spring was requested and I really don’t think they are ever needed. I used 2” thick walnut for the bed frame, and 4” x 4” for the posts. Joined together with mortise and tenon construction and bed bolts for strength.

I selected walnut with really beautiful figure for the headboard.

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