Fostering growth
To build for a friend is an honor. To build for family is a pleasure. To build for a future family member is outright intimidating. When my older sister announced to my wife and I that she was pregnant I felt nothing but joy and admiration. The next generation of my family was beginning and I new I wanted to do all I could to support it. I offered my skill set to my sister to design and fabricate a crib for her with her specific needs in mind. We took some time determining the aesthetic and proportions over the course of a month
Original Mock ups for consideration
My sister is fairly short so I knew I would have to accommodate this. A low profile would be key. Interchangeable pieces would be needed to accommodate my niece. Durability and color tones would come from the wood choice of maple. This was decided by a joint trip to my favorite lumber yard. Plans for future moves were at the for front of the system I would design to join all of the components together. Knockdown joinery was designed and implemented. Lastly, wood finishes without VOC’s would be important. I did not want to compromise my niece’s health in any way.
Applying the first coats of Shellac to the upper rails of the crib
With it all said and done, I am proud of the piece I produced. It has now coddled two of the most precious little girls I have ever had the pleasure of meeting.
The final product assembled in my nieces nursery. Baby blanket courtesy of my wife.
