Green Cabinet

Here’s a new twist on “green furnishings.” This cabinet is made primarily of Staghorn Sumac, a green-colored lumber that is rarely seen, as the weeds rarely get to a size that would yield lumber. This particular tree was tended by my neighbor for shade in the yard until a different planting was big enough to take over. The yellowwood knobs also came from one of his trees in the form of prunings.
I have been toying with the design for this cabinet for a while – since James Krenov passed away a few years ago. His earlier cabinets are the germ of inspiration for this one. When Doug, my neighbor, asked for help felling the giant Sumac, I named my price – the three foot long stump – as I knew exactly what I would build with it.
So now it is built and showing with other Guild of Vermont Furniture Makers work at Frog Hollow in Burlington Vt. for the month of June.  The show is titled “From Vermont Forests,” so all the wood in those pieces came from the region – a great way to see what can be done with what we’ve got in our own backyard.

Green Cabinet
24″ x 12 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
Sumac, Yellowwood, Butternut.  Finished with a non-toxic blend of organic vegetable oils.

See more of my work at my website here.