NOW PRESENTING ....
Patel's Winning Coffee Table |
We're not sure if we should call this creation a sculpture or a table. One thing we do know, it is a real work of art! Our winner, Prashun Patel, could not have been more sensitive to enhancing the inherent beauty of the wood or to satisfying the wishes of the proud new owners. 
Patel's passion for woodworking is a finely tuned hobby. An MIT educated electrical engineer and a graduate of Stanford's School of Business, Patel has no shortage of ideas or insights. In addition to his formal education he is also blessed with a keen eye and sense of artistic balance. He talks about woodworking as, "an intellectual combination of science and art, and a connection to nature."
How does a guy like this even get a start as a woodworker? It all began about 10 years ago when Prashun purchased his first home. He ended up buying some simple tools to do the handyman thing; tinkering with plumbing and electrical work and eventually finishing up the molding of the house. Eventually his efforts at woodworking led him to learn how to build a Maloof style rocker - via internet instructions. He was hooked.
Regarding the design decisions incorporated into his coffee table Patel says, "When I actually saw the magnificent walnut I was driven to preserve the flitch in all its glory. The live edge was breathtaking." Patel's build diary reflects all the thought that went into the shaping of the table's top: lip or no lip? one straight edge or two curving? Eventually, after playing with the wood, it "spoke" to Prashun and told  him what it wanted to be. That may sound corny to some, but the real artists among our readers will most certainly understand.
Of course there had to be a mishap during construction. A slip of a clamp, a crash, and undoubtedly a curse - and one of the legs snapped off. Prashun was undaunted. He took a deep breath, stepped back and waited a day. Then he rose to the challenge of problem solving. He reanalyzed his angles and forged ahead. The fix resulted an a table that will be stronger than the original. He says construction mode is the best time to discover a weak link.
The table is a pleasure to look at, yet it begs to be touched. The finish is flawless, the curves smooth, the top simply flows. The only negative we can conjure up is that the thing is darn hard to photograph. The perfect surface reflects light like a mirror and we couldn't find an angle that displays how well the beautiful base works to magnify the top. You just have to believe us, its magnificent.
Prashun is interested in creating a few custom pieces a year. If you are curious, drop him a line at prashun@yahoo.com. Guaranteed it will lead to an interesting exchange, and if you contract him to do a build for you, we are confident that you will be pleased with the result.
Take a few minutes and check out Patel's build diary. Lots of photos and construction details. Good insight into the design process. Its worth a look!
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We haven't had to deal with bad roads or freezing fingers, but we miss the typical snap of winter cold which is appreciated in the wood business. This year loggers struggle with mud on what should be frozen ground. Just another challenge that we at HORIZON rise to meet!
