This is an exciting blog entry for me!  As you may have seen in some of my other posts either here or on Instagram, I have a sketchbook with a bunch of ideas.  Some are just quick sloppy doodles so I don’t forget an idea, while others are sketches of actual pieces I’d like to build at some point.  Some of the pieces in my sketchbook are things I simply think look cool and would be fun to build, while other pieces might address a need I have in my own home.  The Zelo Collection Side Table does just that.

When I’m at home in the evening hanging out in the living room, I’m probably watching old seasons of Survivor with my wife, or replaying Friends, Flight of the Conchords or Portlandia.  It’s not uncommon to also find me browsing through recent issues of Dwell or Atomic Ranch.  We’ve got a Petrie Sofa and Chair in our living room and for the longest time we’ve had this old rusty mid-century magazine rack down by it’s side.  That magazine rack had seen better days, and in addition to it’s worn out appearance it didn’t really allow the magazines to sit comfortably.  Furthermore, if we happen to have a drink with us, there wasn’t anywhere convenient/close to set it down.  I had to solve this problem!

The design I came up with addressed our needs perfectly without compromising style.  For this particular piece of furniture I went with solid walnut that I milled down from 8/4 stock and it incorporates a little bit of the sapwood as well.  This design also has an area to store a few magazines (or a sketchbook) and I incorporated a brass rail along the front edge to keep us from cluttering up the piece with too much literature.  Since this side table would be placed next to the Petrie Chair, which has a bit of a mid-century modern style, I wanted the Zelo Side Table to give a nod to mid-century modern furniture as well.  This side table shows off tasteful roundover and chamfer detail throughout the piece and is finished with a heavy duty matte oil.  I chose this finish because I like to feel the wood when I touch it, as opposed to a glassy smooth satin/clear coat.  This side table is very nice to touch!

It’s extremely satisfying to see a piece go from concept to creation.  One of the things I love most about building, creating and making things is seeing the project start out as a hunk of whatever, and at the end I can stand back and admire my work.  Since this one right here will be in my own home, I get to enjoy it’s style and functionality every day.  I hope you’ll enjoy the following photos of my Zelo Side Table!

Are you in the market for a unique, attractive and functional mid-century modern inspired piece of furniture?  Are you an interior designer looking for a modern touch to finish off your client’s room?  If so, follow this link to learn more about the Zelo Side Table.  If walnut doesn’t tie in to your space, maybe a version in white oak is what you need.  Ready to place an order?  Please contact me to get started!  Please note, wood pattern and grain varies from board to board and there’s a 3-6 week lead time.  Each piece is handmade by me in my 2-car garage workshop in Escondido, California.  Thanks for looking, I hope to be able to build one of these for you!

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