Raised Panel Grain Direction

[Tom Blank]

I'm making raised panels from Quarter Sawn White Oak. The raised panel itself is 7 1/2" tall X 8 1/2" wide, so rectangular but barely wider than tall. Rails and stiles are all 2" wide.

My plan was to orientate the panel with the grain running vertically to match the vertical grain orientation on the ends of the box. My son, who has all the artistic talent, thought the grain should run horizontally with the long dimension of the rectangle.

I can find a couple examples of each method, but not with the panels being nearly square. Your opinion?

Thanks,

Tom

[Mel Fulks]

You haven't given any context. Formal room ? Kitchen ? Modern ,retro, colonial,federal? Art Deco? To me ,it's the vertical lines
that matter most. But on hodge podge rooms of no merit I try to dissuade the client from any panel work. I think there
is only one always correct rule for panels: when the panels are taller than their width the grain must be vertical.

[George Bokros]

I agree with Mel.

[David Eisenhauer]

Vertical grain on the panel, even though it is slightly wider than tall.

[Peter Rawlings]

Dare to be different! Run grain diagonally...

[steven c newman]

Hmmm...example?
IMG_2265 (640x480).jpg
Full sized maple Hope Chest...

[Jim Koepke]

My son, who has all the artistic talent, thought the grain should run horizontally with the long dimension of the rectangle.

In art, there are no wrong ways of doing things, merely experiments that didn't work well.

Without seeing the panels' 'artistic merits' it is impossible to make a call.

If they present themselves better in one orientation over the other, maybe it is the way they should be displayed.

jtk

[Pat Barry]

For panels so small as OP wants it really is purely a function of desired appearance.

[lowell holmes]

Why don't you make two samples and see which pleases you, but more importantly, SWMBO.

[Tom Bender]

Rails and stiles a little different width look a little more refined, and they allow you to give the piece a horizontal or a vertical theme. And 2" wide seems blocky for small panels.

[Tom Blank]

This is the one front panel on a Gerstner style tool chest. The box is 13" wide , 12" tall, and 8" deep. 13" X 12" is the front dimension and the panel in question. Top, bottom, and ends pieces are one piece, not glue ups. The panel is stand alone, it does not match up or live with any other drawers, doors, or furniture other than its own box.

I could trim down the rails and stiles and increase size of the panel, but not by much and still keep the panel as one piece - not a glue up - which is my preference.

Thank you for the comments,

Tom