It was a year in the making, and the most spectacular bed we’ve ever created.
Our customer asked us to design a unique king bed and she, fortunately, loved the idea of the owls bed. Adirondack owls and the number 14 being significant for her. Since it was Ryan and Jillian’s project, they began with some head scratching to figure out the best way to begin.
They chose to start with the curved “branch” of the headboard and figure out exactly how the owls should be carved right into it, rather than individually attached. This would provide the most stability. The measurements of the bed were figured with mathematical precision by Ryan. Created in Mahogany, king bed with platform and storage drawers below.
Ryan made a scrap wood template of the curve so Jillian could more easily work on the branch and owls carving. Jillian spent numerous hours in the planning stage of drawing each owl and creating a playful animation of each.
Now the structure and glue ups for the thick mahogany “tree” posts. The quantity of wood needed was great. Start with lots of wood and carve it away!
Figuring out where the detailed botanical carvings will live.
The footboard came next. Jillian decided to carve little oak saplings growing from the “forest” floor. She added a backdrop of “tree bark” carving as well.
Coming together, the drawers were last to be constructed.
The bed is built like a brick house! The drawer pulls are carved with shelf fungus handles. A play with light was used with Jillian’s carved face frame edges throughout the piece.
A little mouse climbs up the bed post.
This little adolescent barn owl is noticing the sleeper in the bed.
The details!
The Screech owl comes in for a landing. The last installment of the bed. The customer gave us a gift to use as much of our creativity as was within us. And, the Adirondack home the bed now lives in is the most fitting for this functional work of art!