Construction Detail

Breadboard Ends

A breadboard end is a narrow strip of wood that is skillfully joined to the ends of a tongue & grooved table top.  The purpose is to support and maintain the rigidity of the top, while allowing the panels to shrink and expand across the grain.  It is natural for wood to shrink and expand with seasonal changes.  For example, a wooden door may "stick" on a rainy day but open and close freely on sunny days.  Our farm tables, tavern tables, computer desks and most of our tables with square or rectangular shaped tops, will have breadboard ends.

Dovetail Drawers

One of the most recognizable "clues" indicating quality in wood furniture is dovetail drawer construction.  A dovetail joint is stable and strong and does not require nails, glues or pins to hold it in place.  We use dovetail joints to construct the large drawers in our chests and cupboard.

Floating Door Panels

The center panel of all our raised and reverse panel doors float in grooves that are cut into the rail and styles of the door frame.  Solid wood needs to be allowed to expand and contract with the seasons.  The integrity of a casegood (cupboards, chests, armoires) is compromised when the wood is not allowed to adjust itself through use of adhesive compounds.  This is especially true in doors.