Tell me this isn't wrong

[Cheese]

However, most people do not notice or care about the small details or quality of a build.

Sorry...that may be the case for people you know but it's certainly not the case for me or for the people I've done work for. My previous clients were picky, picky, picky to a fault...as well they should have been, they were footing the bill. Because of their persnicketiness, they were the recipient of a better job and I became a better craftsman...win-win.

The asking price is $14K...not an insignificant sum...I'd expect better...and he's old enough to know better.

 

[smorgasbord]

...most kitchen and bath remodel jobs would never occur because they are all built cheaply with low price point materials.

Here's a $1200 cabinet with the same cup style door hinges:https://www.article.com/product/16694/lenia-walnut-sideboard

Even it has undermount drawer slides, though:
[attachimg=1]

The piece I posted about is more than 10X the price.

 

[smorgasbord]

OK, so a couple we are friends with came down and wanted to go hiking in Big Sur. This couple actually collects art of various kinds in their home - paintings and sculpture, mostly modern, but not necessarily abstract. Anyway, they saw the gallery brochure and asked about it, so we stopped (yet again!) on our way back home.

Long story short - I showed them the cabinet, which they liked, then opened the doors and drawers..... and nothing. No reaction from them at all. I pointed out the hinges and their only comment was "what else would you do?" When I pointed out the visible drawer slides, and that their newly remodeled kitchen had hidden drawer slides, they shrugged. They still liked the piece (not enough to buy it for $14,500 though).

So, maybe it's just us woodworkers that care about these things? Or maybe people who would actually spend that kind of money do care and that's why this piece hasn't yet sold? I'll keep track over the next couple months, and hopefully stop in again next year.

 

[woodbutcherbower]

[member=77266]smorgasbord[/member] You’re pretty much on the money I think. The vast majority of buyers don’t know any different - and why should they? To them (and to most others I’m sure) their purchasing decisions are ‘big-picture’ based. They look at it and they like it. They don’t obsess over small construction details. I’m pretty sure that if this was (say) an auto electrician’s forum, there would be a thread about the wiring on something like a Lamborghini Aventador. Poorly-wrapped cable harnesses, inferior connectors, substandard switchgear, questionable routing etc. etc. etc. But when I’m in the showroom salivating over my new supercar purchase - am I going to notice any of that? Nope.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

Agreed, I see that as the slow degradation of quality over time, in the name of profit. Eventually you get the answer that smorgasbord was confronted with, "what else would you do?"
If you are unaware of alternatives, you can't even judge for yourself.
Would I prefer side-mounted, ball bearing, drawer guides to the majorly worn-out wood on wood drawers in my 95 year old kitchen? Sure, the remodel is coming, but I don't believe they belong in a piece of fine furniture.
An "art piece" does not have to be subjected to the rigors of kitchen cabinet life.

I would hope that if a copy of this piece was done in the way we have collectively redesigned it, people would notice.

 

[jimbo51]

Many years ago, Fine Woodworking had a photo of a beautiful free standing cabinet made of a lovely figured exotic wood. The maker had then driven a bent nail into the side of the piece as an artistic statement. I wonder if the nail is still there or someone eventually had the nail removed and the hole filled in.

 

[Lincoln]

Many years ago, Fine Woodworking had a photo of a beautiful free standing cabinet made of a lovely figured exotic wood. The maker had then driven a bent nail into the side of the piece as an artistic statement. I wonder if the nail is still there or someone eventually had the nail removed and the hole filled in.

I remember that! Was on the back cover, back when the magazine was black and white. Was a beautiful cabinet, too. When I was doing woodshop, in Year 11 - early 90's, I found a stack of back issues on a shelf, which I borrowed. That issue was one of them.

 

[smorgasbord]

Here's a link to the woodworker's website:https://www.arenskovfurnituredesign.com/

Says he's been woodworking since 1986.

A number of his other pieces are at the gallery I've visited:https://www.hawthornegallery.com/john-arenskov

Many years ago, Fine Woodworking had a photo of a beautiful free standing cabinet made of a lovely figured exotic wood. The maker had then driven a bent nail into the side of the piece as an artistic statement. I wonder if the nail is still there or someone eventually had the nail removed and the hole filled in.

That was Wendall Castle. The "artistic statement" was similar to the Japanese Wabi-Sabi, finding beauty in imperfection. I thought that more than a bit egotistical, as if Castle was saying "this piece is so perfect I have to do something intentionally imperfect to be Wabi-Sabi." That said, I admire much of his work.

 

[Lincoln]

Here's a link to the woodworker's website:https://www.arenskovfurnituredesign.com/

Says he's been woodworking since 1986.

A number of his other pieces are at the gallery I've visited:https://www.hawthornegallery.com/john-arenskov

Many years ago, Fine Woodworking had a photo of a beautiful free standing cabinet made of a lovely figured exotic wood. The maker had then driven a bent nail into the side of the piece as an artistic statement. I wonder if the nail is still there or someone eventually had the nail removed and the hole filled in.

That was Wendall Castle. The "artistic statement" was similar to the Japanese Wabi-Sabi, finding beauty in imperfection. I thought that more than a bit egotistical, as if Castle was saying "this piece is so perfect I have to do something intentionally imperfect to be Wabi-Sabi." That said, I admire much of his work.

No, I think you'll find it was Garry Bennett.

 

[smorgasbord]

No, I think you'll find it was Garry Bennett.

And - you're right! Thanks for the correction, now doing a rabbit-hole dive...

 

[bobtskutter]

[member=75780]woodbutcherbower[/member]

But when I’m in the showroom salivating over my new supercar purchase

nudge...https://arstechnica.com/cars/2024/0...e-in-the-crazy-electric-transit-supervan-4-2/

not sure an 8x4 sheet will go in the back.
Bob

 

[luvmytoolz]

[member=75780]woodbutcherbower[/member]

But when I’m in the showroom salivating over my new supercar purchase

nudge...https://arstechnica.com/cars/2024/0...e-in-the-crazy-electric-transit-supervan-4-2/

not sure an 8x4 sheet will go in the back.
Bob

Judging by the towbar mounting you won't be towing any big trailers either!