In A Spot

Stereo Stand...Built

2011-05-15T15:33:00.000-07:00

Finally got to build the stereo stand I posted about recently over this past week and I am really happy with the outcome. Beyond solving the function problems with using the stereo, it has surprisingly activated the space near the window, now a favorite reading spot as the spring rolls into summer.

I ended up using an old piece of laminated particle board I had laying around for the top, a good way to use up what I had and save a couple bucks. Some bracing was added to the sides for extra rigidity, but apart from that it was a neat, straightforward little project.

Stereo Stand

2011-05-02T19:50:00.000-07:00

I am thinking of moving my stereo to a better spot so that you can actually the display without crouching to the ground and to make using the remote a bit more reliable. Currently the stereo hides in a couch side table and is crowded by a storage unit.

I need a minimal structure that will work with hover over my subwoofer and provide some flat space by the window. What I have drawn utilizes 2x2 and 2x4 cedar lumber in a simple fashion. The legs pass through the cross members in such a way that the 'wobble factor' is taken care of with the joinery. And to keep the joint from working apart over time I have used a single bolt as a fastener.

A top has not been settled on but I picture something thin; plexiglass, copper pan, painted plywood? Probably what ever comes cheapest, copper is out then, but it would be sweet.

front and side elevations

plan detail @ leg and crossbar junction

Roof Detail

2011-03-20T18:54:00.000-07:00

This is one of those ideas that attempts to add fun details to elements that tend to end up hidden in standard construction. Sometimes these are referred to as the boring parts, and I think a chimney stack roof flashing falls clearly in the dull category.

Well I hope to add a little something to the topic. The basic premise is to highlight the junction of elements, roof and chimney. Immediately I thought of an oversized metal flashing that would express itself inside and out. The first sketches ignore building codes simply to explore the idea. The second sketch addresses some more technical issues; insulation, serviceability, usability, weatherproofing and an actual fireplace to fit the roof detail.

In a romantic world the materials would be copper and cedar shakes. As the shakes will corrode the copper over time one of the materials has to go. Since I am partial to copper it stays, but slate replaces the cedar. This is pricey I know, but it would maintain a classic nature even with some quirky new details. A nice alternative could be synthetic slate or heavy composite shingle combined with coated metal. There are more color options this way if you wanted to have some fun.

Top Left: Cross Section. Top Right: Roof Section
Bottom Left: Detail Roof Section. Bottom Right: Roof Plan

Top: Cross Section
Bottom: Fireplace Elevation

Wood Box.

2011-03-08T21:15:00.000-08:00

I came across this old sketch of a muti-purpose box the other day and realized it was time to take a shot at making one. Some hang-a-round scrap Cedar wood strips are going to be used in a stacked manner, growing each level by 5/16".

Stacking the entire structure I hope will create texture that I hope will compliment any plants that may end up in the box and it has a more lively feeling to it. Other perks to using cedar is its naturally rot resistance and for me has a great smell.

I should also mention that my idea here was inspired by a 'recycled can plant pot' made by a friend, thanks Susana! I liked the idea of reusing but especially because of the simple covering treatments. So thinking about plant storage sent me in the direction of a storage container of my own. The resulting sketch above is a home for a Jade plant and a stereo speaker.

After the break, a section drawing and a couple photos of the creation process....

The game plan. Cubbies are big enough for 4x6 prints.

A rough idea for the split upper level

Top view showing cedar striping

Skeleton Stair Sketches

2011-03-06T12:16:00.000-08:00

This stair is part of the sketch-a-day series I attempted to start back in late January, as you can tell the once day schedule hasn't happened. I think a weekly update is a more reasonable goal.

The past couple months have been consumed with some larger projects, a couple home reworking requests from family and friends. I will get to sharing those as they move forward.

For now I present some sketches for a stair I have dreamt up. These drawings are the development of a "napkin sketch" I did over a year ago. The stair grew from the idea of tweaking standard house construction to create basic building elements while interpreting the Arts & Crafts movement of the late 1800's for today.

Early sketch

Taking the idea much further this time around, I looked at the big picture and began to explore. A large arch was added which I imagine as a wood beam. An Art Noveau tendency of mine said to soften up the rigid verticals as seen below and allow other parts of the stair to bend and breath. This adds life to an otherwise static building element, a concept I am very fond of.

Side Elevation

Each step is cut in a way that allows them to appear separate from the major structure, but recall the curve of the large arch. I also borrowed a little idea from Alvar Aalto's Villa Mairea stair where the lowest step reaches out in an accepting manner.

Stair Plan

Villa Mairea stair by Alvar Aalto

The bending and breathing I saw happening as you climbed the stair. A panel of some form would go from floor level to the handrail bending slightly differently as you move up and down. Steps and risers have been sculpted to reinforce the sense of fluidity.

Section and Front Elevation

Sketch-a-Day

2011-01-22T10:08:00.000-08:00

The challenge is seemingly simple; sketch an idea every day for the remainder of 2011. I have been on a steady run of drawing so far this year and decided it was time for a little personal challenge.

Some ideas may be decidedly practical, but I expect a few will wander into unusual and impossible realms. One thing I can be sure of though will be the difficulty in producing a fresh idea as the year moves on, I have a plan for this. Old sketches, i'll pull out some of my favorite drawings from years past.

For now I will catch up you up on the year and present a few sketches I have drawn so far. The headline image is a mini-study of angled structures, intended as wood timbers in this case.

Drawings to modify my computer desk. Replaced the top with a larger and lighter one, added an upper shelf and lowered the desk height. I made it large enough to sketch comfortably and slide a desk chair under, both surely lacking in the previous desk.

An idea for a portable drawing table made from the discarded top in the above. Includes custom parallel bar, hardwood pencil tray, and an adjustable height.

Trying to fix my apartments kitchen. It's tight, the stove is crowded, and theres a 9 foot tall counter on one side, well more like 4 feet but thats way to high. The idea is to lower the current counter and add a new one forward of that creating a bounty of usable space, especially around the stove.

Plant Table w/ Storage

2009-12-10T15:56:00.000-08:00

This is one of a several little space-creating projects I have in the works around the apartment. This table will replace a much wider one and give a couple swivel chairs some extra space to spin. The main goal was provide a little extra space for some of our plants that have been deprived of sunshine, something in short supply during Northwest winters.

The base is made out of leftover scraps from a desk project I’ll get around to featuring at some point. To stabilize the legs I inserted a series of dowels at the top and bottom, which strengthen the unit nicely. The dowels also provide a little bit of extra storage too, a nice bonus feature. The top is a piece of Parota I pulled from the scrap woodbin at the local Rockler Woodworking store. The edges are rough and will stay that way, a reminder that nature isn’t this sleek modern block that it is sometimes presented as.

Overall investment so far $35, which includes a little for the plywood base that came from a much larger sheet. Throw another $10 max in for some kind of finish and call it a day. A brand new custom table w/ an exotic wood top for under $50, not too shabby if you ask me.

Photos are all pre-finish; well they will be stripped of their current red and given something a little less 'in your face'. I’m excited and I know our plants will be for sure.

Entertainment Center

2009-12-05T13:18:00.000-08:00

Old decisions and new technology are the basic factors for this entertainment center I coincidentally ran into just after creating this blog. The clients Anne and Braude are new friends, fellow potent little people; and upon visiting their place for the first time, a situation they had came to surface. Braude said he was thinking of getting a new television but was not so keen on ditching his current furniture to accommodate a sleek, much larger flat panel. While giving up the mildly sentimental furniture was not totally out of the picture, it was the purchasing of new, equally crafted pieces that seemed unreasonable.

Upon hearing this dilemma I stepped in and offered my two cents. I suggested expanding the current cabinet in lieu of new furniture, a quick simple move eliminating waste, saving money, and preserving sentiment. Though initially quite shocked that this was possible, I assured them it was. There the project started; I explained the basic idea, and how the new work would require less than a day of the television cabinet being out of commission and off I went.

The resulting solution adds 12” to the overall width to accommodate the television and makes existing storage more useful. New shelves were made from red oak veneer plywood that matches the existing cabinet and Douglas Fir support beams spanning the width of the cabinet. Spacer boxes were made for the upper and lower portions of the cabinet and perform double duty by anchoring the addition high and low but also conceal attachment to the existing cabinet. All parts were made and prepared off-site as to minimize the disturbance of the living space, i.e. letting oil stain fully cure and off-gas.

Matching the original stain would have been time consuming and near impossible to perfect, so I opted for a contrasting white stain. This change in color easily identifies all the new pieces involved in giving the cabinet its second life. Another added benefit to the unit is that it now has the ability to break down into parts and move much easier, a complaint from the owners.

Since I choose not to own television of my own, I live vicariously through people who do, I am without a doubt doubly motivated for this project as I may have a chance to spend some time in its presence in the future. As an added bonus Anne and Braude were pleasantly surprised but ultimatley thrilled with the final result. The reality and detailing of the finished cabinet was much more than they had imagined, the effect thoughtful design should have.

Once I get a chance to snap some finish photos I will get them up here. For now the model is an accurate depiction of the built project.

December Update: Funemployment

2009-12-03T12:48:00.000-08:00

This blog has been dormant and slow to start, but it just so happened that about two weeks after the birth of In A Spot, I was laid-off and found myself in quite the spot. As I looked for jobs, I quickly realized prospects were dim and not improving. It was time to move in the direction of self-employment, and so real life took precedent over the blog.

The storm has calmed down a bit thankfully, and I have been able to reflect on the direction I would like to head. After much thought I turned to the blog, which represents my core values, and decided that pointing my professional life in a similar direction would be a smart move. The basic principals: thoughtful appropriate design, care for handmade goods, and the desire to help as many people as possible will still remain pinnacle as I move forward.

Fate seemed to be in place as I received two small repurposing jobs within a couple weeks of being laid-off, and most recently an addition for an expanding family here in Seattle, more on these later. These few projects combined with an abundance of free time, I found myself developing a more solid plan, and getting real. This means, acquiring a workshop space and equipping it from scratch, allotting myself the funds to do so, developing a business strategy, and most of all making myself known. All these things are completely new endeavors for me, with the exception of knowing what equipment I’ll need, a minor detail among the list.

This time off has allowed be to reevaluate In A Spot, more specifically, its ability to support a career while still providing visitors (hopefully followers) with the innovative solutions they are looking for. This is where a slight tweak in the blog’s trajectory comes in; I would like to open up the possibility for commissions via the blog, to which I welcome any and all projects you may have. None are too small or complex; the challenge is the fuel I run on.

ps. the graphic is hand-drafted with pencil on strathmore, scanned and then colored in photoshop.

CD Display Unit

2009-10-23T16:17:00.000-07:00

Album art is wonderful to look at right? My girlfriend and I think so, and we were bothered by the fact that most physical albums, vinyl and CD, are reduced to indistinguishably small slivers in most standard storage devices. Vinyl gets a some cover art attention with the frames being offered by the likes of Urban Outfitters, but what about all that art on the front of CD's?

It was time to expose the art and do it effectively. After hashing out a few design ideas it came down to utilizing some easily found materials, museum board and hemp cord, each easily found at any art store. The result is a minimal system that adapts to fit your needs, but also packs up nicely for people on the move.

As I develop instructions for making the display units you can take a look at some of these photos to get a sense of what is to come.

Cut hemp cord for 10 storage columns, each holding 10 discs.

Assembled columns in their relaxed position, and they bunch up much smaller than shown.

Side view of installed units.

Underside view of the CD platforms. Lots of knots.

Completed installation waiting to show a 100 album covers the light of day.

Finally, the filled display unit.

Filling the unit is where the fun comes in. We were able to arrange the discs by a color gradient blue to orange, check out the stop motion of the disc placement here. Your options with organization are limitless; eventually the columns became dedicated to new releases, favorites, and specific genres. Best part is that switching albums in and out is quick and easy.

Stay tuned for instructions and details.

The Introduction

2009-10-15T19:31:00.000-07:00

The art of making something useful beautiful thrills me. Even the most mundane item can benefit from some clear thinking and experimentation.

Enter me, a curiosity stricken meddler in all things physical, raised a carpenter, trained in architecture, and enthralled by the act of creating and building, the opportunities to explore are endless. As I step into the world of blogs and digital self-expression I hope to preserve the homemade, hand-crafted qualities I have come to value. Even though it took some convincing, I thought it was time to share my ideas with a larger audience, as an effort to foster new, more ambitious creations for myself and hopefully inspire others in the process.

So for those of us with unusual, tight, awkward, or excessive space issues I present projects to help out if you ever find yourself "In A Spot". I will highlight some projects for this first post that I hope to elaborate on in the future. And by elaborate I mean how-to instructions, design background,sketches, photos, and full resource disclosure. Down the road I see this as a useful, tangible resource not an eye-candy blog. Although the goal is to make beautiful objects, the purpose is to get your fingers off the keys and into the built world.

Here are some preview images...I hope you are curious to create, enjoy.

Wall mounted CD storage: Detail

Media storage unit

Adjustable corded light holder

Collapsible desk w/movable shelf units

Large map/poster wall hanging system