NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 1983, No. 43, $3.50 Making ... - Wood Tools

A Holiday Book Catalog
From the publisher of Fine Woodworking and FineHomebuilding magazines.
A Building Houseful
A
A
couple of issues back, we told you we
were preparing Simon Watts' book, Building
Houseful of Furniture (224 pages, softcover, $19)
for Fall release. Well, now it's available-worth the wait
and just in time for Christmas.
of Furniture presents complete plan
drawings for 43 of Watts' most successful designs-the
pick of his 20 years as a professional woodworker. "Of
the hundreds of pieces that I have designed, I have selected
these because they cover the whole range of furniture
in an average home," he says in his introduction.
Included here are sturdy bed frames, a variety of tables,
handsome chests, desks and bureaus, and comfortable
sofas and chairs. The projects range in difficulty and
complexity, from turned stools that will help develop
the skills of beginning woodworkers to an oval dining
table that will challenge experienced furnituremakers.
All the plans show how to build the pieces exactly as
Watts did, but they can also be used as jumping-off
points for your own creations. In addition, there are isometric
drawings and sketches showing how to handle
some of the tricky construction problems, and Watts is
careful to describe in detail the procedures that worked
for him when he built the pieces himself.
Watts says his furniture has been inspired by a variety of
traditions, including the Shaker, Danish Modern and
Arts and Crafts styles. All of his designs combine good
proportion with durability and complement rooms decorated
in just about any style. The pieces also show
Watts' feel for structure and economy, the result of his
background in engineering and architecture.
A
Finally, Watts includes some interesting thoughts
about the history, uses and design of furniture, and some
insights into the development of his own designs.
For anyone with a good grasp of woodworking
tools and techniques, Building Houseful
of Furniture is an especially handsome and
useful gift.
To order. Use the insert oppoSite, or send
your order
cr
and a check for $19.00 to The
Taunton Press, S2 Church Hill Road, Newtown,
06470. Or call toll-free 1-800-243-
7252 and use your credit card.
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