Scalloped Queen Bed Frame

Matthew and his team at Woodleaf just finished building and installing a custom queen-sized platform bed and headboard which included two (ever so popular) floating nightstands.  The subtle, light-brown stain on the walnut gives the bed a smooth, chocolatey finish.  The hand carved scalloped detail on the headboard adds dimension and shows off Woodleaf's attention to detail. Wouldn't you like for us to help you create something dreamy for your relaxation space? Give us a call or send us an email, consultations are free. 

Cypress Dining Table

Woodleaf Studios made this table with cypress from the client's grandparent's land outside of Raleigh. It has a clear lacquer finish. Do you have some special wood that you would love to see turned into a family heirloom? We are here to help!

Woodleaf is proud to announce...

We recently became a Platinum Sponsor for the AID (Alliance of Interior Designers), an interior design community based in the Raleigh Triangle area!  What a great and fun opportunity to meet other designers and work with such talented people! Matthew and his craftsmen at Woodleaf look forward to being a valuable asset to the AID community. We can't wait to work with you!

Remembering a Friend

In 2006 we lost a dear friend unexpectedly. And it just so happened that Matthew and his late friend, David Williams, were in the middle of a rather unusual collaboration...to design and build a mosaic table depicting the great cats of the world. Unfinished at the time of Dave's death Matthew wanted to complete the table to honor his friend. Being a professional wildlife artist Dave was brought on board to illustrate the big cats. Matthew designed and orchestrated the project and hired a marquetry artisan to turn Dave's illustrations into wood inlay's for the table. We recently came across photos of the table and wanted to share a sweet memory of a very talented friend. It was a blessing to have known Dave and to have him in our lives for so many years.  Dave's incredible drawings of nature will always bring a smile to our faces and warmth to our hearts.

"A friend can never be replaced, but will always be remembered. " - anonymous

Office Makeover

We just finished our latest project for a commercial office space.  They needed customized adjustable shelving and desks for two of their rooms.  Woodleaf fabricated, finished and installed these beautiful, clean, functional and affordable built in desks with heavy duty anodized aluminum brackets.  If you have an office space that needs an upgrade Woodleaf can help! 

Below are before and after photos of one of the four spaces we transformed.

Lava Flows on First Friday

     First Friday was a success!  The event was a lot of fun and "Lava Flow" seemed to get some well deserved attention.  If you missed coming out last weekend, the VAE will still have this collection of art on display through June.  Woodleaf Studios has a beautiful gallery as well if you would like to schedule a time to come to our workspace give us a call at 919-834-2566.       We are grateful to be in this community of artists and designers and we look forward to being a part of more events in the future. 

In the picture below Matthew (in the hat) is talking with peers about his functional art cabinet "Lava Flow".

Join us at the VAE Raleigh for First Friday!

Woodleaf is proud to announce that our wall cabinet "Lava Flow"  from the "Stump Stories" series has been selected from VAE art call entries for their "Scope '17" exhibit.  The reception/opening is on "First Friday" in downtown Raleigh.  We would love to see you all there on June 2nd, 2017 from 6-10.  Designer and owner of Woodleaf, Matthew Smith, will be there along with other participating artists.  Stop on by! The VAE(Visual Art Exchange) address is listed below...

VAE Raleigh

309 E Martin st.

Raleigh NC, 27601

Dimensions of Lava Flow: 13 3/4"w x 58"h x 6 7/16"d

Upcycle Reflection

These mirrors were made from our cork collection that we have been building for many years. Upon close inspection you can see that we really like Cabernet Sauvignon. The frames were detailed with stained walnut. There are three still available at our studio.

For The Wine Lover

Inspiration for this table came from a cork collection. The top is persimmon with a live edge. The sturdy base is decorated with corks. It could be used as a coffee table or a bench.

Woodleaf Donates to the Arts

Matthew Smith and Woodleaf Studios love giving back to the arts.  In February of this year we donated a wall cabinet "Butterfly" to the VAE's annual fundraiser to support the arts.  It was a very fun event and the functional art piece was a big success!  We look forward to donating again in the future.

Eye Catching Shop Entry

During

After

Matthew wanted to embellish our shop entry door. He created the design, painted it on a wooden panel and then attached it to the metal door with magnets. #diy #woodleafstudios #urban #design #geometric

Teak Corner Stool

So sometimes the cobblers children do get new shoes! To disprove that old wives tale Matthew designed and built this teak stool for our master bath remodel. This teak darling will be in our new more spacious shower. Having three legs will keep it more stable in the often un level shower environment. We can't wait until the demo starts but the little stool is ready!

Woodleaf Interprets and Adapts for Client's Needs

A client approached Woodleaf with a concept for their new vanity including a picture below of their basic idea. We interpreted this desire and adapted it to fit their needs. 

Photo client gave Woodleaf to work from.

Woodleaf Studios adaptation of client's vanity desires..

Chic Diaper Station For Our First Grandchild

So our first grandchild arrived a few weeks ago! In anticipation of her arrival Matthew and Woodleaf designed and built this substantial and elegant diaper station for the parents as a Christmas gift. There is a handy hidden drawer for essential supplies while changing baby. The legs are made of cherry and the surfaces are made of walnut. It is finished with clear lacquer.

This is before the finish was applied.

Once baby is out of diapers this furniture piece can be used in a variety of  ways such as a small buffet or a dry bar!

Walnut and Zebra Wood Wall System

This large wall system appears built in but actually can be removed by the client should they move and decide to take it with them. It measures 91 inches tall by 102 inches wide and 17 inches deep. 

The drop down desk features special hardware called a cable lid stay that yields a soft open and close. The desk also has integrated outlet and USB ports as well as small zebra wood drawers.

The cabinet will be used as a desk and for storage and display. Woodleaf Studios worked very closely with the client to insure all their desires were met for the form and function of this piece.

The Kiln

This table was designed and built by Matthew Smith at Woodleaf Studios. The Kiln, as it is called, is a small side table whose name was inspired by its kiln like shape. The main base of the table consists of a series of stacked maple end grain blocks that create a chimney like kiln effect. At the bottom of the table is a walnut base. The glass top allows you to view the interior pattern of the blocks as well. The design idea was partly influenced by the fabric of the chairs it sits between. The  club style chairs were also built by Woodleaf Studios.

Not Your Daddy's Cubicle

Our client wanted us to incorporate their company logo into the design of their work stations. They also wanted the logo to be three dimensional. We up fitted eight existing work tables into two sets of four work stations. The upper band detail features the company logo and is made of mahogany, ash and scored alder and is capped with aluminum. Below each work station is a cabinet that Woodleaf also built.

By examining the detail photos one can see that this was a labor intensive and tedious project but the results reveal wonderful whimsy and detail.

Getting Settled In Our New Space

Woodleaf Studios moved to a new space in July. The machines are all up and running, the office and break room have a fresh coat of paint and Matthew and the guys have designed, built and installed some very handsome awnings to go over all the exterior openings. Speaking of openings we will have one soon. But first we need to get our showroom set up. Stay tuned!

The Ark Cabinet

Recently Matthew and I were invited to attend a dedication Shabbat for a local Jewish Synagogue's new building where the Ark cabinet that Matthew designed and  Woodleaf built was the centerpiece of the ceremony. The Ark cabinet for those of you that are not familiar with Judaism houses the Torahs for the Temple. Matthew educated himself about the significance of the Torahs and the Ark to the Jewish religion in order to develop a design appropriate for the congregation. Matthew met many times with the Temple's  design committee and the Rabbi. He also attended a bar mitzvah in order to better understand the role of the Ark cabinet  in the services. After countless hours spent on his design he presented it to the committee and they were quite pleased. The Ark took two and a half months for Woodleaf to build.

The Ark is very large at 82 1/2 inches wide, 41 inches deep and 10 feet high. It has a three dimensional door front with 12 Star of David's depicted that represent the 12 Tribes of Israel which is of religious significance. The mechanism for opening the large door consists of  75 pounds of lead weights for counterbalance, a solid brass pulley, and a sash rope in order to keep the system quiet as it moves. The door is lockable but the lock is not visible from the front of the cabinet.

The interior of the cabinet features a back panel of 960 pieces of  beveled ash for added dimension and detail. There is a closet switch that automatically illuminates the inside of the cabinet when it is opened with a concealed LED light strip.

The cabinet was made from cherry plywood, cherry solids, walnut and ash. It was finished with a light aniline stain and clear lacquer.

Donation for The Methodist Home for Children

In January Woodleaf Studios donated this wall cabinet to The Methodist Home for Children's annual fundraiser.  It is the second year that we have donated a piece to this great cause. The cabinet face is comprised of maple burl from the stump of a tree.  The visible pattern is achieved by spreading the 1/4 inch slices of maple apart like a deck of cards. The cabinet is banded with walnut and has several adjustable shelves on the interior. We actually have a similar cabinet in our kitchen that Matthew designed and built of walnut and maple. We use it to store all our supplements and cold remedies etc.. It is functional art as seen below.