Arts and Crafts Roombox

In 2002, we made Mission-style furniture, made from laser-cut cherry wood. The furniture was a rocking chair, a plant stand, and a china cabinet. I did not finish my furniture pieces until I found a roombox to house them.

In 2004, the workshop was for a "Room with a View" which was a roombox with two walls, and one had a window and door with room for a small scene behind it. The prototypes were kitchens, which did not appeal to me. I thought about the furniture and accessories I already hand on hand, and finally settled on finishing my Mission style furniture to go in it. Of course, I had to change the components in the workshop kit to make my room fit the Arts and Crafts era. The research was fun.

This is the almost-completed room. I added a rug later. (See below.)

I made the lamp from scratch. Ed helped me wire it, and I am sure he hopes I will never ask him to help me with such a delicate solering job ever again. This lamp is a one-of-a-kind lamp.

I made the plant stand smaller than it was designed to be. It looked too large to me, so I trimmed the horizontal pieces in order to remove one spindle from each side. I made the fern to go inside the planter.

We learned how to paint Chrysnbon plates while at the workshop. I put mine on the top shelf of my cabinet.

Judy and I had made orchids from kits one day, and I finally stuck mine in a pot to put on the mantle.

A friend, JohnE, turned the vase that sits on the mantle.

I added the stained glass window. I made the leading with a black Sharpie marker, and I made the colored and textured clear 'glass' with Gallery Glass.

I designed and made the wall sconces. I got the idea while eating dinner at the CDA casino on our way home from the workshop. The restaurant is decorated in an Arts and Crafts style.

The fireplace tiles were simply printed on glossy cardstock and embossed with a stylus. I designed the fireplace after surfing for ideas on the Internet. The tile images came from the Internet too. A dog lives in this room. Someone needs to curl up by the fire!

This is the view outside the window, and view from outside the window when the backdrop wall is removed. There is a mirror placed at an angle to give the exterior more depth. I also added a light to the 'view' part of the room. The top is made of clear plexiglas, so light can shine in even when the room's lights are not turned on.

It took me a while to needlepoint the rug.

These pictures, showing the rug, were taken in 2007, after I took the roombox for show-and-tell at the 2007 workshop in Spokane. Annie looked for my 'trademark' cat, and he is present, sitting on the window sill.