Una Raiz Woodworks
Camino Despierto line
Camino Despierto line
Made-to-order
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Living Space Set | Made-to-order
Purchase more than one furniture piece of any style and we will send you a rebate of $250 per piece as a special thank you!
The Camino Despierto line is, in a way, my reaction to Mission Style. In my interpretation, simple lines flow into sleek, asymmetrical curves, with carefully considered overhangs and undercuts that add to the subtle three-dimensionality of the piece. The result is a design aesthetic that is open and lightweight, that allows the natural beauty of the material to sing without feeling cluttered or overwrought, all in order to bring a sense of freshness and clarity into your home. "Camino Despierto" means "Woken Path." My wish is that these pieces will help channel a feeling of alignment and awakened purpose in your life.
These pieces are made of American Cherry, as always, by hand. Typically they are finished in garnet shellac, which brings another dimensional element and takes the color of Cherry somewhat closer to the realm of Mahogany. However, Cherry is gorgeous on its own and a different, less noticeable finish may be requested.
End Table Features
- Fun asymmetrical design lifts away from seating, and as a mirrored pair, will help the pieces flow together.
- Full-width continuous grain drawer provides maximized use of space. Side-hung all-wood mechanism provides smooth, classical operation without the hardness or noise of metal hardware.
- Hand-cut mortise-and-tenon joinery, as well as attention to grain and good practices for the consideration of seasonal wood movement, makes for a very sturdy piece that will stand the test of time, despite the delicate lightweight design.
- Drawer pull may be made of walnut, ebony or cherry on request (no extra cost).
- Pictured pull is a preliminary design; improved pull will feature a concavity underneath for ease of use.
Dimensions:
Small: 14"W x 22"H x 14"D
Medium: 18"W x 22"H x 18"D
Large: 24"W x 22"H x 24"D
Coffee Table Features
- Fun asymmetrical design that flows continuously around the table.
- Drawered version of the Standard size includes a sleek stealth drawer with no visible pulls spanning the entire width of the table. The Long table features two drawers. These are wide, shallow drawers that will add a useful amount of storage ideal for magazines, tablets, remotes, etc. while retaining the airy feel of the piece. Decluttering, without re-cluttering.
- Hand-cut mortise-and-tenon joinery, as well as attention to grain and good practices for the consideration of seasonal wood movement, makes for a very sturdy piece that will stand the test of time, despite the delicate lightweight design.
Dimensions:
Standard: 32"W x 17 1/2" H x 20"D
Long: 48"W x 17 1/2" H x 22"D
Lounge Chair Features
- Designed with comfort in mind for truly ergonomic relaxation.
- Matching Ottoman with handles optional
- Elongated back rest for full lumbar, thoracic and head support.
- Pictured is a scale model; finished piece will include padding that is shaped for ergonomic support.
- Standard upholstery is white unbleached cotton. Different materials and colors may be requested.
- Hand-cut mortise-and-tenon joinery, as well as attention to grain and good practices for the consideration of seasonal wood movement, makes for a very sturdy piece that will stand the test of time.
- Height from floor may be customized to best fit your body, at no extra cost.
Dimensions:
Standard: 24 1/2"W x 43 1/4" H x 36 1/2"D
Please note that these pieces are made-to-order, by hand and with care. Please allow up to 8-10 weeks for your new furniture to be planed, cut, joined, shaped, finished, and ready to ship to you. Once your order comes through, I will reach out to make sure we're on the same page for all dimensions, finish type, and custom choices such as drawer pull or upholstery material. Payment is refundable through this process, but once material is purchased it will be considered non-refundable under contract, unless for any reason I am unable to complete your order.
Care & Food-Safe Finishes
Caring for Kitchenware:
Handwash your food-contacting woodware with warm water and dish soap. Bear in mind that soap won't harm wood or finishes, but the water will, eventually. Dry promptly after washing and avoid soaking for extended periods of time.
Should the finish start to look "thirsty," treat with safflower or walnut oil; let soak for 10-20 minutes, then wipe off all excess and allow to dry. (See A Note on "Food-Safe" Finishes below for more information.)
A well cared for wooden utensil is sanitary and can last lifetimes.
Not dishwasher safe. Do not microwave or refrigerate.
Caring for Furniture:
To dust your furniture, simply wipe with a damp (not wet) cloth or chamois. Dirt is water soluble. In rare cases where there is too much grime for general cleaning, you may dampen your cloth (still not wet) with a solution of mild soap and water.
Commercial liquid polishes won't necessarily damage the finish on your piece, but they're generally unnecessary and will in fact remove the longer-lasting beeswax polish your furniture will already come bearing. They also don’t provide a most of the benefits claimed by marketing, such as "feeding" or "moisturizing" the finish or the wood with "missing oils." Wood doesn't need oils added to it, and moisturizing it would actually be a bad thing. So I guess it's good that those claims are false!
The purpose of the beeswax I've applied to your furniture is to function as a polish over the finish, and to help prevent damage to the finish from bumps and friction. If over time you feel that your piece could use some fresh shine and protection, feel free to clean the surface, then polish with furniture paste wax, being sure to remove all excess. If buffed correctly, wax will not build up as many liquid polish brands claim. If you are unable to use wax, silicone polish can add a decent amount of shine and protection, but please be advised that this could potentially pose problems should your piece need refinishing down the line.
To extend the life of your finish and therefore the wood beneath it, try to adhere to the following parameters whenever possible:
- Place your furniture away from direct sunlight, or make use of curtains and shades when possible. You may choose to cover especially precious pieces with a tablecloth (not plastic) if leaving for extended periods of time.
- Use trivets, coasters, placemats and tablecloths.
- To prevent the speeding up of oxidation, don't store your furniture in a very hot room such an attic or unconditioned storage facility.
- Use paste wax as outlined above to help reduce surface friction.
A Note on "Food-Safe" Finishes
There is an unfortunate thunderstorm of misinformation in the world about wood finishes in general, and perhaps the most unfortunate is the myth of the food-safe wood finish—a myth that gets propagated by marketing, woodworking publications, and even respectable, fellow woodworkers because they are simply unaware. I consider it one of my highest privileges in my woodworking education that I had a course dedicated solely to finishing, as I, too, would have been a cog in the myth-spreading machine otherwise.
The myth goes: any finish containing metallic driers (i.e. boiled linseed oil, varnish, etc.) will harm you if used on a food-touching surface. But the truth is that all modern wood finishes are in fact food-safe so long as they are fully cured (please do not drink varnish!!!). Even certain finishes marketed as "food-safe" are in fact thinned varnish and nothing more.
So where'd this myth come from? Once upon a time, humans laced paints and finishes with lead as their metallic drier. That's it. You can see where it went. It wasn't good. But we don't do that anymore. Even humans can learn to do better every once in a while.
That being said, I don't much fancy the possibility of my bowls starting to peel and getting flakes of film finish in my food, or the idea of beeswax melting into my meals and ruining my carefully crafted recipe. And so my personal favorite choice for food-contacting woodwork is a blend of curing oils and thinned varnish. This results in a penetrating finish (as opposed to one that builds up into a film that could flake over time) that is longer-lasting and more protective of the wood than a simple oil finish.
And in case you've noticed that I recommended safflower or walnut oil to replenish your goods at home, there's a reason for that! A. it's a much more pleasurable experience for you, and B. you don't have to worry about the finish causing you harm should you decide to use your spoon before it's fully cured. Unless you're allergic to walnuts or safflowers. In which case, please don't put something you're allergic to in your food.
Thus concludes this wood-loving geek's rant on food-safe finishes. Thank you for your time! Now go! Take a look around! Enjoy life knowing things you maybe didn't know that you didn't know!