Night Stands - A vs. B

[Hans Braul]

I am looking for feedback on some design experimentation I have done on two versions of a simple nightstand. I find that although I think my instincts generally lead me in the right direction, input from others is very useful. I would like an honest assessment of two pieces, one vs the other, and how they work in general.

Last August, I completed my first real piece of furniture, a nightstand A:
A Front (644 x 483).jpg
Just today I finished another similar nightstand. I decided not to make it identical to the first, but wanted to play with design features.
B Front (644 x 483).jpg
The most obvious is the use of curly maple in B instead of wavy maple in A.
A Side (483 x 644).jpg B Side (483 x 644).jpg.

The overall effect is that B is deeper and darker (like an older wiser guy), while A is like a little kid. The next post will show more detail differences.

More details in my next post....

Hans

[Hans Braul]

In the earlier piece (A) the top had perfectly straight edges and was beveled to reveal only about 3/8" edge. In B I chose to bevel the edge only slightly, and I rounded the edges front to back and side to side very slightly by about 1/8":
A Front Detail (644 x 483).jpg B Front Detail (644 x 483).jpg

The drawers in A run in a dado, whereas in B I have used traditional construction.
A Drawer (644 x 483).jpg B Drawer (644 x 483).jpg

[Hans Braul]

Nightstand A has a knob I just kind of free-formed without any pre-concieved ideas, while B has a more geometrical shape:

A Handle (644 x 483).jpg B Handle (644 x 483).jpg

I am sincerely interested in all comments, good bad or indifferent. Specifically, I'd like to know: Is B an improvement over A? Oh I forgot to mention B has a back panel to hide the wall plug, whereas A is open in the back.

Looking forward to hearing from you all.

Thanks
Hans

[Gary McKown]

In short, I like B better except for the knob. IMO, a drawer of that width should have more than a little square-ish widget as a pull. Experiment with something 3-4" long, along the lines of the "A" version.

But either looks very nice, indeed.

[Pete Brown]

First, both are beautiful pieces.

I like A a lot better. Much of that is because there is more contrast between the maple and cherry. I also like the pull from that drawer.

I like the angle of the top on A as well.

I like the dovetails in B. I like the figure in B. I don't like the darkness of the maple in B or the square pull. It is both too big and too small, IMHO. It is too small to fit that drawer, but its height makes it seem too big.

Pete

[Blake Holton]

Hans -

I prefer A over B, although I congratulate you in a successful completion of both pieces. I enjoy the contrasting woods in A and I prefer the top over B. I echo Gary's comments about the drawer pull. The pull in A invites the user to pull - just to see how it feels!

I also agree that B offers more of a mature feel, but I enjoy the lightness and casual feel of A.

Keep up the great work.

Blake

[Roy Wall]

Hans -

I think B design is Better....... I like the top shape better, and the back panel better.

They both have excellent work in them...your DT's are tight! Good stuff Hans......

[Jim Becker]

I would likely choose the design of B over A for a few reasons...one being the closed back is more compatible with a lot of bedroom situations where there is a mass of electrical wires behind the night-stand as well as the propensity to accidently push things off the shelf while cleaning, etc. I like the pull on A better, however. Not that the one on B is bad...I just happen to like the style of the one on A.

[Denise Palko]

I prefer A to B in most elements. I like the contrast in the wood selection of A, the reveal on the table top better complements the leg taper, and of course, the drawer pull is a nice free-form, artistic touch.

Just a few areas where I think B exceeds A. I think the dado in the side of the drawer detracts from the beautiful dovetail. (Although I prefer the dovetail size and spacing in A over B.) And I felt like the back was “missing” from A. I think that it you want to omit the back, I might suggest changing the full side panel to an apron (in cherry).

All of this to say that both pieces are truly beautiful. It’s very humbling to read that A was your first piece of furniture.

Thank you for sharing this work. It is so interesting to see two very similar pieces side-by-side.
Denise

[Lars Thomas]

I'll go against the grain here . . .I like 'A' better principally because of the open back and the free-form pull.

[Pete Brown]

Are those solid single-board sides, or did you just do a really really good job matching up the grain. I can't see any seam

BTW, one thing that detracts from "B" in my opinion is the curved rail under the drawer. It draws my attention. Going back to A, I see that is a nicer (IMHO) piece of cherry in the same position.

I agree with others that you want a back in there - preferably a strong one. My night stand gets some serious abuse with all my magazines and books

Pete

[Hans Braul]

Thanks to all so far. Pete, The sides are two pieces, with the front piece being about 2/3 of the panel (look for the seam towards the back). By the way, I goofed on the other panel, and the seam is towards the front and more noticeable.

Hans

[Jim Fox]

I like B better...........except for one thing...........the drawer front. It's too busy. I like the drawer front on A better.

[Greg Funk]

I like B below the top but very much prefer the beveled top on A.

[Don Bullock]

Both are beautiful in their own ways.

For me it is difficult to compare them. They are different styles. A is more of a modern look with the beviled top and curved pull. The contrast in the wood fits a more modern style as well. B is more of a Craftsman style ( I must add that I'm one who loves Arts & Crafts, Craftsman & Prairie styles) so it is much more simple in the angles, including the knob. Personally I think you would ruin the look of either one by moving one style element such as the top or pull to the other piece. Perhaps on B you could use a more rectangular pull more in line with some on Green & Green furniture like a cloud lift or the three horizontal ebony lines. That would be the only thing I would change on either one, but the square pull is appropriate for that piece.