Mid-Century Nightstand

This was a real project of growth for me. I’ve written before about my woodworking journey being defined by life functionality over my desire to create interesting things. Even my first project for the magazine, the Sliding Door Stereo Cabinet from June of 2020, was driven by the need to have a better place to put my TV.

I was actually working on a design for a work desk when I stumbled upon a piece by Silvio Cavatorta, a prominent Italian designer in during the 1960s who has since seemingly vanished from the public consciousness. I quickly dismissed the design for a work desk, but used the idea of Cavtorta’s suspended case furniture as a jumping-off point to design a pair of nightstands.

I was originally going to build the nightstands using only my miter and track saws in my small garage shop. However, fewer travel restrictions suddenly meant I was able to make the project at the shop in Des Moines instead. There, I could try out new techniques and tools (such as hand planes) and have direct help from more advanced woodworkers.