Summary

Year after year, Arts & Crafts-style furniture has remained tremendously popular with woodworkers. Critics of this turn-of-the-century style are quick to smirk at this fact and point out that it is popular only because it so simple to build – even a beginner can do it.

But after 15 years of studying the social movement, collecting authentic examples and building many reproduction pieces, I can assure you that is simply not true. Authentic Arts & Crafts pieces may have many straight lines, but they are rarely simple. The exposed joinery is a challenge to do well. The best designs have subtlety and motion you cannot see in a photograph or drawing – only in real life. And the material itself, quartersawn white oak, is a demanding (sometimes difficult) wood for both power and hand tools.

And most important, the Arts & Crafts movement is popular with woodworkers because it embodies the idea that everyone should strive to make beautiful objects for their home. And the reward for this industriousness, is a sense of peace and satisfaction that is apart from the world of mass-production.

Many of the editors – past and present – at Popular Woodworking are fans of the Arts & Crafts movement and have diligently worked for the last decade to unearth some of the best designs in the historical record, explore their construction details and present the plans to woodworkers.

“Arts & Crafts Furniture Projects” is a selection of 25 of the best projects they’ve published since 1996. There are plans here for many hard-to-find and classic designs we think you’ll want to build or adapt for your home.

Some of My Favorite Projects

Harvey Ellis Bookcase: Senior Editor Robert Lang built this single-door glass-front bookcase that was in the Gustav Stickley catalog. An excellent design with an authentic fumed finish.

Limbert Tabouret: This is the table I put my coffee on every morning as I read the New York Times. The curvy table has a European flair but somehow retains its American heritage.

Thorsen House Side Table: A Greene & Greene sideboard that is authentic in every detail, without glossing over the little details that make a big difference.

Eastwood Side Chair: One of my favorite chairs of all time. This was Gustav Stickley’s personal easy chair and is where I read every Harry Potter novel to my young girls (it’s big enough for an adult and a child).

Byrdcliffe Linen Press: This arresting design was on my list to build for many years, but Robert Lang beat me to the punch. It is one of the most handsome dressers built during the Arts & Crafts movement.

Frank Lloyd Wright Print Stand: We unearthed this project from Wright designs that had never been built. I’ve built four of them now and never get tired of making them.

The bonus CD is filled with shorter projects, such as a Limbert wastebasket, Stickley side tables and magazine stands that fill out a good collection (and a home). The entire book is in full color, with detailed construction drawings and cutting lists, just like you always get with articles from Popular Woodworking.

As a little taste of the book, you can download a free pdf of the first chapter to the book, which discusses the history of the movement, with photos and drawings from my personal library.

AChistory.pdf (3.86 MB)

Our Shipping and Return Policy

Shipping is $6 per book and $3 per CD. If you wish to return an item, simply return it to us by ground mail within 30 days of your order. We will promptly refund your money and the cost of the ground shipping. Send all returns to: Returns, Lost Art Press LLC, 26 Greenbriar Ave., Fort Mitchell, KY 41017. Please be sure to include your return address and a phone number so we can contact you in case there is a problem with your return. If you have questions about a return, send us an e-mail at sharon@lostartpress.com or call (317) 603-3605.