This medium sized mahogany, Biedermeier inspired, entertainment center packs a lot of bell and whistle features that make it an engineering wonder. The custom hinge pediment clad bonnet cocks open to reveal a large concealed storage space while still allowing objects to be displayed on the top of the piece. The black engaged pilasters are affixed to side panels that slide forward to reveal additional concealed storage. The large crotch mahogany doors pocket open to show TV an AV storage. The lower base panel is actually a large drawer.
Steiner Urn Table
Michael Steiner, ASID, designed this glass top table for a Woodleaf Studios sponsored design competition. Woodleaf Studios then built and donated this winning design to a fundraiser for Interact(a shelter for battered women and children).
The main urn body is birdseye maple with hand carved spiraling trunks finished with silver leaf and lacquer. The dangling black tassles add to the whimsical feel and create an unusual texture for this piece.
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.
Alice's Curio
Alice's Curio is an exploration that Matthew took into the whimsical world of Alice In Wonderland. The padauk door opens to reveal a landscape painted on a concave wall depicting a myriad of wildlife. The Pamele Sapele veneered body is accented with maple escutheons and rosewood banding. The upper and lower deck is made with teak parquet flooring. Ebonized columns help create an architectural feel while the maple balcony "pops" in contrast. This piece is one of many that Woodleaf Studios has donated to various fundraisers over the years. Alice's Curio was built for the Visual Art Exchange where it was auctioned at their annual fundraiser. The money raised was used to help support up and coming artists.
Library Extraordinaire
New meets old within this fully wrapped mahogany library/drawing room. Woodleaf Studios took two rooms from this historic home and made them into one. The original wall separating the two rooms was replaced with a balanced group of columns and pilasters. The coffered ceiling provides elegant character and depth. There are concealed wall panels engineered to allow access to mechanical systems. This elaborate room also has integrated cabinets and bookshelves. The north end of the room is tailored around a large flat screen TV(see image 03).
"Bond" Wall of Doors
This elaborate wall system engineered by Matthew Smith consists of a series of twenty-four operable door panels. There are also double acting pass-through doors on each end of this thirty two foot long facade. The facade is comprised of a blueprint matched sequence of pamele sapele veneer schedule. The middle four doors break into two sets of bifolding pocketing doors to create a fully continuos niche (see view 2). The doors on either end conceal built-in linen and silver storage (see view 3).
Egyptian Desk
This desk was designed to work within an existing study that had an Art Deco/Egyptian interior. Each hand carved leg is copper leafed and depicts a different egyptian god and surrounding frieze. The hieroglyphics spell out the customers name and designers and artisans involved in this sophisticated project. The desk is made of curly maple, soft maple and basswood.
Houston "Castle" Entertainment Center
This cherry castle-like fireplace surround houses the TV and AV equipment in the living room of a private residence. The cabinetry sleeves back into a dry stack stone veneer that climbs up more than twenty feet. The wrought iron hardware was designed especially for this cabinet (see view 2). There are two large decorative speaker compartments with fabric and wire covers.
Patchwork Buffet
This small buffet serves up a delicious batch of exotic details. The double conical front legs join a button adorned plate covered with plum pudding veneers. The figured cherry plank doors are punctuated with decorative brickets of fiddleback makore. The pulls are solid hand made cherry. There is a small dentil band above and beneath the door panels. The server is topped off with a chocolate colored marble.
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.
A "Taste Full" Cabinet
This mahogany cabinet is loaded with features tailored to a wine lover's needs. It is part of the tasting room in the client's wine cellar which Woodleaf Studios also designed and built. The upper cabinets have interior lighting and are made with German glass and lead came dividers. The left glass doors pocket to reveal a sink. There is ample storage and display room in this cabinet. The liquor display cabinets employ rope braid carvings and dadoed shelves for adjustability.
The Wine and Cigar Aficionado Office
Any aficionado of wine and cigars would love to keep track of his or her collection in this finely tailored environment. The built in humidor, equipped with a humidifier and monitoring equipment, is completely lined with Spanish cedar which helps bring out the very best flavors in all tobacco stored there. The fully adjustable shelves (including pitch options) are slotted for increased circulation and also are made with Spanish cedar. The glass door panel is hand carved and etched with tobacco leaves and cigar motifs. All the wall surfaces in the office are covered with alder paneling and cabinetry. There is a concealed door behind some of the paneling. The door's lever is also concealed. The entire room has a slightly distressed finish using a dark glazing to accent the panel framing.
History of Woodleaf - A Glimpse
In 1987 we started up The Woodleaf Co., now known as Woodleaf Studios in Raleigh, North Carolina. That happens to be the same year our first child was born so it is easy to keep the dates straight. We have been in business for 21 years! Matthew meets with the clients and creates the designs. I handle the administrative and bookkeeping duties and manage our new web site. We have two skilled craftsman, Randy and Robbie, that build the furniture and cabinetry. See a few snapshots below. Thanks for visiting.
Cynthia
Welcome!
Welcome to Woodleaf' Studio's blog. This is where you can see what exciting new projects Woodleaf Studios is working on and learn a little about us and our history. Matthew is in the design phase of several pieces of exhibit grade furniture and built ins. One of his current clients has asked him to design a breakfast table and a kitchen island in the Biedermeier style. Biedermeier is characterized by clean and simple lines. It is both beautiful and functional. Often geometric shapes are incorporated in the design. Below is a Bieidermeier piece made by Woodleaf Studios on display at a trade show.
Thanks for visiting.
Cynthia