Live edge lumber is pretty cool stuff. It has all the grain characteristics of straight-lined lumber while retaining the glory bestowed upon it by Nature, the organic side of the tree. Often times live edge boards are unsuitable for straight-lining, so the knots and cracks become accents instead of nuisances.
For decades woodworkers have used live edge to create unique furniture, most commonly seen as table tops. Artisans working solo tend to produce a single unique design as a one-off, custom piece. Lyndon has the ability to continue where the artisan left off and produce multiple custom pieces of the same basic design. Lyndon is one of only a handful of companies employing this manufacturing technique for high end live edge furniture. However, table tops are still the main contender.
Intending to break this singular stream, we have created a buffet. Sure, it isn’t the first live edge buffet to be made, but it is the first to be designed for large scale production.
The buffet’s live edge is one continuous board sectioned into three and joined together using a strong locking-miter. The thin reveal produces a subtle contemporary flair making it suitable for many different decors. The door opens via a push latch design. Hardware such as a knob or pull could potentially make it look more traditional. We are looking at adding sleek horizontal pulls of wood or metal on drawers to give the drawers gentile definition and ease of opening.
Conceptually we experimented with different options for doors combined with either drawers or shelves.
Click image to view larger
Watch this cool animation of a virtual room setting featuring the buffet with a butterfly joined, three-plank live edge table.
Transitional furniture: A combination of elements from both traditional and contemporary. Although it is a broad spectrum for categorizing, it bridges the gap between two separate styles.
At Lyndon, we like to define much of our designs as transitional because of what we offer not only combines traditional and contemporary in aesthetics, but in construction as well. The beauty of transitional is that these types of designs fit in a broader selection of decors.
Think of transitional like the break between a forest and a field. There is a strip of land that joins the two worlds together; sometimes including taller grass or small woody plants.
Without definition the transition would be abrupt like rows of trees planted across a field.
This “grey area” provides the best opportunity for growth and innovation.
Back in January, Designer’s Corner posted a blog entry about a new leg styled table that “does not really lend itself easily to an extension table format.” Well folks, I can honestly say that the statement no longer holds true. The Chelsea Trestle is now available in extension.
There is a bit of an interesting tale to this table…
We knew that in order to make the trestle into an extension there was going to be some needed engineering and additional discussion. So by default it consequently ended up on the back-burner, where it simmered for a while until a sale surfaced. It sprang forward once again and we immersed ourselves in design.
Initially we intended to use the same slide system as the Grand Isle; however, after a little deliberation, we decided that the system was not the right fit for this project.
How was the Chelsea to keep a consistent style and not gain the stacked look by adding slides upon the top straps? Then it hit us… and it was so simple!
Get rid of the top straps and drop the slide into the space above the leg connecting cross-member. No need for a top perimeter skirt to hide the slides, only a board connected to the inside of the legs.
Check out this short animation of how the slides work.
If a new piece of furniture was labeled as mid-century modern, expectations would be set for the time period of the piece and the settings in which it would best fit. However, if you look into what is being referred to as mid-century modern today, it may change your initial assumptions.
What became mid-century modern design began development in the 1930s and lasted through the 1960s. It was fueled by Scandinavian design with its minimalism, simplicity, natural shapes, and functionality. Designs you may be familiar with, like the Eames Chair or Noguchi Table, are still relevant designs today. These characteristics have transcended into the principles of today’s contemporary, or modern, designs.
So, without further ado, we welcome the Newfane Credenza to the Lyndon line up. Two seamless tambour doors make up the front fascia of the unit, which glide open effortlessly. The unit is supported by splayed legs, a mid-century modern generated style.
The Newfane embraces principles of mid-century modern design.
Some call it retro, but we prefer historically inspired.
Watch this quick video of how the doors gently glide open
Revolutionary, adj: Radically new or innovative; outside or beyond established procedure, principles, etc. (www.dictionary.com)
When something has been performed in a certain way forever, and proof supports it, innovation is often discouraged. The grounds have been deemed infertile. However, under the right circumstances, one idea can change everything.
Lyndon Furniture has revolutionized extension tables. On a normal trestle style extension table, the table can have an unappealing stacked look to it; table top on slides on top straps on base. We scrapped this idea for it would not suit the Canaan extension table. This design completely eliminates the necessity of the stack. The innovation prompts the beginning of a new era for tables like the Canaan that were once without an extension offering.
The Canaan extension table has a slide-through leg construction. Guide holes allow the slides to extend past the legs. When open the slides are kept in to stay out of view. Assembly remains the same as all other extensions, just set the top on the base and screw into place.
Revolutionary design, moving our little world forward.
Watch the video and tell us what you think. Your feedback is our most valued resource. In our minds it is far better to provide you with something you want, rather than something we hope you will like it. Thank you for leaving your thoughts and comments below.
There is quite a bit happening in the world today on the business front. It seems that the most exciting place to be right now is on the front lines in your own start-up. There is an influx of individuals developing the worlds future one vision at a time.
We must not forget that all of today’s companies even our own Lyndon furniture was a start-up once upon a time. We have touched on the humble beginnings of our company a little in past articles and the obvious is where we are today. However there is a lot of story, vision, perseverance, trial and error, networking etc. that it took to get us where we are today.
So we had an idea… What if we were to do a YouTube series starting from a pilot that goes through the process step by step of how our company and our owner David Allard grew together. From an aggressive kid selling maple syrup to his school teachers, to the Small Business Person of the Year in 2000. The American Dream is something you hear about on television and in magazines and the story line is usually the same, the Entrepreneur in the story has a vision and overnight they are a colossal success story that inspires others to follow their dreams. While this is all well intended there is an enormous amount of motivation, discipline and sacrifice incorporated in the start-up process. These are the elements among others that we hope to depict in our story of:
When New Years Day came this year I was feeling anxious and more so than normal. For some reason I was asking myself a lot of questions like what and why pertaining to my goals in life and design. The whole thing felt a little “out of body” to me, but thinking that it was a neat experiment I went with it.
I found myself asking what determined a designs success? The answer was obvious after asking, it is customer response and perceived value. So I asked myself a question which I am disturbed that I never asked before this…
Why don’t we start there?
This was like being trampled by the Elephant in the room…
So what next?
How about trying to establish a process that combines the development or drawing of a concept and introduce it to our end customers as is. They will most likely tell us candidly what they think. From this feedback we may also be able to measure the amount of response and help to value our concept overall.
Wow… It seems now like if we are to build something that we want our customers to embrace…
We may want to involve them more in the process?
Please check out our facebook for ongoing interactive opportunities to Have Your Say!
Home is where the hearth is. The Family in the living room, the hardwood fueled fire and a glass of eggnog in hand; quite a pleasant way to settle down for the evening.
The holiday season is upon us and the New Year draws closer each day. Things are wrapping up here at the factory. We’ll be off on our annual week shutdown soon.
Every year we close the doors at Lyndon to spend time with our loved ones. So we’d like to offer a simple wish to you and yours. Know the joys of the season and the fond memories it brings. May this season bring you the gift of smiles and good tidings. And may the New Year bring you Health and Prosperity in abundance.
As another year reaches its end, we reflect on all things done in that passing year.
It becomes clear that in some small ways that we are not the same company we were at the beginning of the last year. We have seen collaborations and partnerships bloom, we have embraced new technologies making room for skilled individuals to be added to our team.
We have seen our product lines develop into a style that is purely our own. We have re-designed our presence on the World Wide Web and the Market Place. We have developed new and revolutionary marketing techniques that we are anxious to test in the new interactive world.
A visual example of this evolution can be seen directly in the new Brattleboro bed with Sherwood headboard.
Due to the superior design of the Brattleboro platform bed with Sherwood headboard, we are discontinuing last year’s Sherwood Bed. The platform sandbox style base of the Brattleboro bed is far more attractive and functional. The Brattleboro also offers a flexible format that allows for the customer to choose which headboard best suits their personal taste. When a customer chooses a Sherwood headboard they get all the eco-contemporary flair of the Sherwood bed and now it is complimented further by the sleek Brattleboro base.
The Brattleboro is also offered in Standard Headboard
A little education on one of the elements that make this work for us:
Walnut
Common Name:
Black Walnut, American Walnut, Eastern Black Walnut, Gunwood, Canadian Walnut, Black Hickory Nut
Scientific Name:
Juglans nigra
General Description:
Walnut is recognized for its rich dark brown color. The heartwood color can range anywhere from a light brown to a purplish black. The creamy white sapwood contrasts against the dark heartwood and can be up to 3 inches in width. The grain is generally straight, while wavy or curly figure is often a common find. Walnut can be found with a wide variety of figure types.
Contrary to popular belief, walnut is not a rare species. There are limitations to where it can grow, but the supply is abundant enough for commercial use. In the past, it was heavily harvested for homes, barns and fences. It is due to the limitations of where it can be grown that commands a higher price point. It is often hand-planted to assist natural sustainability.
Major commercial areas are in Central US and parts of California and Oregon.
Habitat:
Walnut grows in varied places across the Midwest, central and eastern North America. It can also be found in patches in Utah, California and Oregon. Native to the USA, the walnut was introduced to Europe in 1629 for the cultivation of its fruit.
Walnuts like to grow in moist, well drained areas with fertile soil. It is often found by itself or in a hardwood forest of other species. Hand-planted groves of walnut trees are grown for the harvest of nut, and occasionally lumber.
Physical Properties:
Walnut is a medium density wood that is hard, heavy and strong, which yields a high shock resistance. It is naturally oily and dries very slowly. It is very dimensionally stable, even before kiln-drying.
Working Properties:
Walnut is easy to work with both hand and power tools. Its qualities support clean planing, turning, shaping, routing and sanding. It is resistant to splitting, which makes it good for steam bending, It has good glue, nail and screw-holding qualities. It is very accepting to paint, stain and other finishes, and can be polished to a high sheen.
Main Uses:
Furniture, cabinetmaking, flooring, architectural millwork, veneer, paneling, turnings, carvings, musical instruments, high-class joinery, boat building, clock cases and novelties. It is frequently used for inlay and material highlight in contrast to other woods. It is specifically used for gunstocks due to its inherent nature to hold it shape well.
Trivia:
Walnut trees secrete an aspirin compound when under stress, which can be detected by nearby plants to warn them of impending danger, such as a drought.
Walnut trees have a deep taproot system that makes them highly resistant to drought.
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