Custom Furniture Gallery

Research:
NHA provides design research reviewing similar functioning pieces for design, style, size, finish and materials used. We utilize books, design and trade magazines, and internet searches. All of this information is then presented in a sketch or drawing for the client to review. We have 25 years of furniture building experience behind us and are constantly updating our knowledge base through books, trade magazines, internet web sites and forums.

Wood Conditioning and Selection:
Lumber materials are allowed to acclimate in our shop for at least two weeks or until the moisture content of 6-8% is achieved, prior to the start of construction. This is a time tested way of reducing excess seasonal movement after the item is delivered to a customers’ home or office. Additionally we will rough cut components and allow them to further acclimate and adjust prior to final dimensioning. As an example, a piece of solid wood that displays large curving grain would not be used to make the vertical components of a door frame. These pieces are utilized to fabricate horizontal (Rails) parts. Vertical components are made of tight and straight grained wood known as ‘quarter sawn’ lumber. This type of lumber is utilized for the vertical components (Stiles) of a door frame and panels, due to its ability to move less, during seasonal changes.

Finish Process:
Finishing the wood prior to the application of color or finish, involves careful scraping, then multiple grit sanding of the woods surface. The idea is to gradually reduce the size of the scratch patterns left by the previous grits of sandpaper. When required exceptional clarity of the wood grain can only be achieved by hand planning and scraping the wood's surface. Coloring or staining of woods is accomplished with either aniline dies or water/oil based pigment stains. Even woods such as cherry, oak and mahogany may require a stain or adjustment in color to highlight or subdue the grain. This staining process may require multiple coats of various colors to achieve the desired affect. Final protective finishes such as shellac (traditional finish, easy to repair, mixed fresh with every job), oil or water based polyurethane and lacquer (for areas of high traffic or water contact) are hand applied by bush or pad in multiple layers. The finish is then cured for at least 72 hours prior to sanding and then rubbing out with a variety of abrasive products to archive the final sheen. NHA can even provide “French Polish” an “Old World” form of hand (rubbed) applied shellac and oil that is applied in as many as 8-15 layers or applications. This process is extremely labor intensive, but the final finish is glass smooth and exceptionally luxurious.

Custom Furniture Gallery

New Hampshire Accents can build that one of a kind piece. Furniture that will last for generations to come and be cherished for a lifetime. We use a variety of finishing products and hardwoods. Following is a small sample of the variety of custom pieces we have built.

Custom coffee and end tables with moulding and corner details to match customers existing furniture. These tables were designed to a scale that would accommodate the customer’s living room space requirements. The sizes are as follows octagonal 22”x22”x22” Tall, Rectangle 20”x16”Wide x22” Tall and the Round Coffee table is 22” Dia. X 18”.
Features: Solid quarter sawn red oak, with veneered starburst pattern of quarter sawn red oak. Joinery is mortise and tenon or half lap. All the pieces were finished with multiple layers of clear shellac. The glass tops and shelves are all 3/8” bevel edged plate glass.

Lacquer & Cherry Doll/Display Case One of a kind! 12”x12”x22” Features: 12 coats lacquer (top & bottom), 6coats hand rubbed shellac (on cherry pieces), includes handmade maple/brass/cherry inlay plugs & door knob, bun feet (removable for glass replacement), glass sides/door, and mirrored back.		Red Oak Knight Stand with a black marble insert. 20”x20”x36”Tall This is a modern interpretation of a Shaker style knight stand. Features: Traditional mortise and tenon and hand cut dovetail joinery. Finish is hand rubbed shellac and wax. All materials solid Red Oak
“Myst” Lamp and Shade (one of a kind):12’x12”x20” Features: The base is made of bent and laminated Zebra wood, Blood wood center and horizontal supports with hand made brass fittings. The shade is made of Copper & Brass sheet stock with “Myst” (a computer game) theme decorative cutouts.		Shaker Inspired bookcase made of Poplar, Birch plywood and quilted Maple. 43”x 42 1/2”x 17 1/2” Features: Two-tone painted finish, clear shellac finish on honey toned quilted Maple top. Hand beaded face frame and adjustable shelves.
Yellow Pine fish tank cabinet 18”x 32”x24” Features: Solid pine cabinet with mortise and tenon construction, raised panel doors and sides, solid pine bead board back and fixed shelf. This stand is capable of holding a 30 gal tank at 270 + pounds. Finish is dark mahogany stained with satin polyurethane finish.		Hard-rock Maple spindle crib 20”x36”x30”T Features: Hand turned maple spindles, including dual spindle column supports, solid maple end panels, horizontal stretchers, curved top end panels, locking swing mechanism, solid brass feet and casters. Cradle is removable from swing supports and may be placed on the floor.
Pie Safe cupboard w/ quilted maple top and punched tin panels 12”x24”x42” Features: Shaker inspired pie safe with two-toned acrylic painted finish, honey stained quilted maple top with hand rubbed shellac finish, three adjustable shelves, face frame and frame and panel construction, stars and circles punched tin panels, black wrought iron butterfly hinges		Corner Media Cabinet w/video storage 36”x36”x72” Features: Red oak plywood cabinet and solid wood face frame, large media shelf, dual angled drawer w/angled dovetails, side video storage behind raised panel doors w/adjustable shelves, speaker storage, replaceable raised panel for base board heat. Satin polyurethane finish.
	Solid cherry Media storage cabinet with adjustable shelves. Features: Design and details to match customers existing TV cabinet. Case constructed utilizing sliding dovetail joinery with frame and panel dividers. Hand cut dovetail drawer with removable dividers for cassette storage, solid brass pulls and knobs, solid cherry back and drawer bottoms. Finished with multiple layers of aniline dye and shellac.
Wedding Doll Case 48”x18”x60” Features: Adjustable wood framed and glass shelf, mortise and tenon doors, mirrored back, glass sides and solid brass hardware.