Hoffman Woodworks

As my first real project, this was the “powder-keg” that lit my passion for creating things out of wood. I mean I have to believe that every woodworker (hoping that I qualify as one…) has that one project that gives them that “itch” that propels them down the path of woodworking. This is mine.

This whole project came about because we had recently moved, I had acquired some tools, and for the first time I had room for a shop. With a little bit of shop-work, I was ready to build something. I wanted to make a coffee table, but figured I would start small. Em suggests, “what if you made something for your sister her baby is due in October. She would like that”.

So I began looking at “easy” things to build. But wasn’t inspired by anything I came across. I did keep coming across changing tables with storage underneath. Then I found the one. I ended up picking a design from Canadian Home Workshop. It seemed simple enough to build. It’s basically just a box, with a door. I can do that; the plan makes it seem simple enough. I liked the design because it had long term use as a small dresser once the changing table was no longer needed.

http://canadianhomeworkshop.com/8240/project-plans/time-for-change-baby-change-table#projecttabs

And so it started.

Before I even touched a board, I redrew it in Adobe Illustrator, I wanted to “see” how things were going to mesh together. After making a few tweaks I came up with a stylish more useful design. My design would have the basic cabinet, with a flat top for the changing pad. Instead of a cabinet door with shelves I decided to make 4 drawers on the right and two moveable shelves, with shelf pins, on the left. I liked the look that the open shelves had on the overall piece, plus it the design from CHW had woven baskets, which I thought was a nice touch.

Overall this project was very rewarding and it came out better than anyone imagined. Even I couldn’t believe that I built something of that kind of quality. The oak and gorgeous black walnut inlays just topped it all off. The tears and the look on my sister’s face when we delivered it to her were priceless. She couldn’t believe that had made it.