Any of you who know me well will likely notice a family name that I have used in the title of my blog page. My father, Sterling Brewer, 1925-2016 God rest him. I named my furniture business in honor of him, and that my work is of "sterling" quality.

Tablescape 103

 Here is an example of my Frank Lloyd Wright inspired Tablescape interactive furniture concept. I call it  interactive as the entire thing comes apart, and can be re-assembled in quite an interesting variety of ways. This one is in 8 separate pieces which "stack" and counterbalance. "Self standing" pedestals can be positioned as you like them. The "free"pedestals are fit with magnets, which hold the parts in place. The pedestals shown here are in eastern hard rock maple. These tabletops are veneered in Alpi-Lignum silver birds eye (a dyed wood product) and the edge banding is Gabon ebony. This is where your furniture becomes a kinetic sculpture!

Tablescape

 So here is the surprise! It reverses!! The reverse side of this tablescape is in sapele pommele. Sapele is an African timber of the mahogany family. The term pommele refers tho the grain "figure" (click to enlarge) which has a bubbly appearance. Pommele (pom-uh-lay) is similar to "quilt" grain, but with smaller and tighter "bubbles." Adding further interest, the three tabletops can be replaced with three other tops, either rectilinear or curved, in different wood species or finishes. Considering this, an owner can have several different tabletops. Each face can have a different grain/color/ and shape. Then they can be changed at your whim.

Tablescape

 This is a closer view of this tabescape. I love to imagine what could be done with these. Maybe there could be a "fixed" reception desk or something. Then the adjustable scapes could branch off from that. Maybe they could climb, become bookshelves. Perhaps they'd even turn a corner! Imagination rules.

Pizitz Writing Desk

 

This is a small view of the writing desk that I designed and built for Mr. and Mrs. Richard Pizitz in the mid 1990's. The top, sides and legs are in bubinga, an African timber. The darker wood is wenge, another African wood, and the white details are in American holly. This is a clear lacquer finish, no stains were used. Therefore, these are all the natural colors of the wood species.

Lindsey Table

 This is a table (base) that I designed and built for my own use in 2021. I have a 36" round glass tabletop on it. It is constructed in rough sawn cedar. It may look pretty straightforward, but I must confess, it was a MAJOR head scratcher!

I designed this to match the exposed beam ceiling in our home. Even though it didn't require any finishing and polishing, building it was JUST PLAIN DIFFICULT!  It required cutting 56  "cross lap" and "half lap" joints. I had to turn the parts every which way in order to cut them properly. Left/right? up/down? over/under?

It was like designing a puzzle. First, I laid out the joints and cut them. Then, just HOPING that I had cut them all correctly, I had to to figure out how to assemble it. I built a scale model of it first, in order to look at the design and see if the puzzle could actually be assembled at all. Then I built the big one. It took quite a while, but finally I managed to work my puzzle! Otherwise, I'd still have a pile of sticks on the floor. Did I cut them wrong? Did I choke on the assembly?  I would never know.

If someone wanted one like this, but in a finer material and a nice lacquer finish, we can do that. It could have a solid top on it, but, to my thinking, that would hide all of the interesting joinery. I would definitely suggest glass.

Bowfront Foyer Stand

 This is my foyer stand which I built in 2012. It is primarily mahogany, but the top and the door are in "bees wing" andiroba. "Bees wing" is a reference to the grain figure, having a translucent effect like the wing of an insect under magnification. This was a particularly challenging piece, with it's compound curves in the door. I also laid up a sunburst veneer face on the top surface.

Radiance Handglass

 

Here are several examples of my Radiance Handglass. With its sleek art deco lines it makes a lovely dresser accessory. I have won several awards with this design. It took "Best In Show" award in the 1998 Alabama Woodworkers Guild annual show. In '99, submissions were solicited through employees of Woodcraft, the woodworking supply chain. I was awarded $800 for being selected first by their jury.

Maple End Tables

 

This pair of end tables, "Racked Angles" and "Strata Spheres" are crafted in "curly maple" veneers and solids.

I designed them to give them an impression of instability, but both of them are fully rigid in their construction. I can do these same tables in any number of wood species.

Harlequin End Table

 I called this table "Harlequin" because the name just seemed to fit the design when I finished it. It is built of mahogany, with fiddleback makore veneers and Gabon ebony details. It is now in the collection of Dr. Roger Murphree, DC, in Birmingham

Sunburst Veneer Face

 This is the sunburst veneer face that I mentioned. It is installed inthe foyer stand that is shown in another post.

Fireplace Mantle

In 2006, my dear wife Cheryl asked me to build a fireplace mantel for our home, and we came up with this. It is in mahogany veneers and solids, with a running bookmatch of crotch mahogany across the face.

Crotch veneers are very challenging to apply. They are very brittle and fragile, but they have a lovely, and classic appearance. We also installed a string of rope light to accentuate the veneer face. The lights set off the dentil molding in a interesting way. It scatters little flecks of light and shadows on the wall. You just have to see to appreciate.

This was one of my favorite pieces of work. I'd love to do another one someday. You select the wood species. 

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Shepherd Font

This is the baptismal font at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Hoover. I built the font in maple, curly maple and purpleheart, to the specifications of Coker Anderton Architects, Birmingham, Al. We also designed and built the altar, communion table and podium for their sanctuary.

Shepherd altar

Here is the Altar at Shepherd Of The Hills. It was designed by Steve Coker and crafted by Richard Brewer in "curly" maple and purpleheart. In the background you can see the lectern that we also installed in the sanctuary. We built these in the mid 1990's.