Matthew's design for this lobby establishes a professional looking interior with beautiful reverse diamond wainscot panels punctuated with engaged floor to ceiling pilasters. The engaged columns are capped with beautiful book and butt olive ash burl capitals.
Long Buffet
This long buffet is packed with features that make it a superb server. The curly maple top has an inset of St. Laurent Marble where hot items can be placed. There is a bow front drawer above a pair of mappa burl doors on each end. The middle section provides three touch latch doors with leaded glass panels that reveal a lighted display area. The donut stack pilasters provide visual breaks along the facade and are accented with hand carved feet.
Shell Table
Whenever we are asked to engineer unusual functions or integrate unique objects or materials into a piece the result is referred to as a "specialty item". In the case of this shell table our client had been given an extensive collection of shells from a friend and neighbor."The shell collection itself is not that valuable but the neighbor and the memories are." Therefore, we set out to design a table that would showcase the shells while still providing a functional coffee table. Each individual shell rests upon a black lacquer faceted pedestal arranged in a balanced geometric pattern. The radiused book and butt walnut burl aprons wrap around each side and join the carved and gold leafed legs. An inset glass top lies flush with the aprons and is removed via a concealed "lifting block".
Dutch Pullout Table
This heavy masculine table literally grows on you. The dutch pull out feature extends the table eighteen inches on each end giving three more feet of stable dining surface. The top is composed of a sequenced book and butt pattern of mappa burl veneers surrounding a center rectangle of curly maple. The solid maple aprons and feet are hand carved to add character and detail.
Richardson Credenza
This elegant server is made with mahogany solids and sequenced olive ash burl veneers. One unique feature is that there is no visible hardware. The doors operate via a "touch latch" while the drawers , which project slightly beyond the doors, open via a finger pull groove that runs along the bottom edge. The donut stack columns are accented with ebonized rings and capped with an olive ash burl capital. The Richardson Credenza is one of the many pieces that Woodleaf Studios has built and donated to a fundraising auction. This particular piece was donated to the Visual Art Exchange(VAE), a non profit that supports emerging artists.
Steiner Ball and Claw Table
This table was designed by Michael Steiner. Like the Steiner Urn table it was built and then donated by Woodleaf Studios to Interact for a fundraiser. The table has a cherry top banded with olive as a burl. Brass claws clench black lacquer spheres. There are also gold leaf accents.
Painted Cascade
Matthew collaborated with fellow artist and friend, Fred Stewart, AIA, in designing this large entertainment center. Fred painted the four panel door to depict a performer taking a bow. The upper doors pocket to reveal the TV compartment. The arched bonnet and base are veneered with balanced carpathian elm burl. The decorative squashed cubes are veneered with ebony. The bookcase and display areas are painted black and flanked by sloping mahogany wedges.
Mathis Entertainment Center
A medium sized entertainment center featuring pocketing crotch mahogany doors flanked by chamfered mahogany planks with decorative buttons. The base section consists of olive ash burl door panels flanked by curvaceous mahogany legs with dentil toothing.
Barrister Bookcase
This traditional design was inspired by Stephan Jackman. It features three pocketing beveled glass doors. The cabinet is made with walnut solids. The hand carved base features claw feet beneath a rope braid. The side panels showcase sequenced book and butt walnut burl sketch face panels. The top projects slightly revealing a reeded leaf covered molding.