Standing for Something

Well, so I thought I'd take some more graduate classes this fall. But I didn't. But, before I decided I wasn't going to, I did make up my mind that I needed a good place to read. Lately I've found sitting on the couch less than comfortable when reading. Last summer I did quite a bit of reading from a window sill, that is I had the book set in the window about chest height. It was more comfortable than sitting. So, facing the prospect of reading hours upon hours in Neuroscience and Origin of Life research, I thought I'd build a piece that made it easy to read while standing.

I didn't want a podium or a desk, We have tables to sit at already, so this hybrid piece is what I came up with. Given the number of books in my reading rotation at any given time I needed more than a place to read, so I incorporated some storage space into the design. Originally I thought I'd have a shelf below the reading surface, but scratched that idea, realizing it would prevent me from standing close. My storage solution was a hinged lid that could hold extra books, pens etc. and closes flat if I need that kind of surface.

Like many projects I've done, I made this piece from Walnut and Curly Maple for both beauty and durability. Maple is pretty hard, which makes it a good writing surface, and the curly figure is nice to look at. The Walnut provides a perfect, dark contrast to the light Maple. As per usual I used mortise and tenon construction to attach the legs and stretchers and finished the piece with polyurethane.