A client's offhand comment about their old dresser got me thinking

I was installing a new built-in for a couple in their 70s, and the husband pointed to a simple maple dresser in the corner. He said, 'My grandfather built that in 1948, and the only thing that's ever been replaced is the drawer pulls.' It wasn't fancy, just solid and made to be used. I've been focusing on complex joinery and finishes, but that simple piece has outlasted everything. Do you ever feel pressure to over-complicate a design when sometimes the straightforward build is the better legacy?

2 comments

2 Comments

gavin9282d ago

That 1948 dresser is the real design brief.

alice_barnes351d ago

Ever notice how a lot of stuff from that era just worked better? My grandma's old toaster from the 50s is still going strong, while my new one died in a year. They built things to last back then, not just to look good for a season.