Building a Hall Table with a Modern Greene and Greene Flair

In this episode, I build a Greene and Greene hall table with a modern twist. I splayed the legs to add a contemporary flair, giving this table a custom look.

This table was designed in our Denver, Colorado, Furniture Design studio, and made from white oak.

Summary

Contemporary Entry Table Design and Assembly

Brian discussed the process of creating a contemporary entry table with a steam-bent handle and splayed legs. He detailed the steps, including cutting the material for the legs, creating mortises for the apron tenons, and using a tapering jig for the tapering process. He also explained the technique of gluing the top and bottom rail together, creating a drawer front with continuous grain, and cutting it at the same angle as the legs. Brian further detailed the process of creating the tenon on the front apron, rounding over the edge of the tenon to match the mortises cut by a router, and assembling the table in stages. He also demonstrated using a steam box to steam-bend the handle and the final sanding and shaping of the piece.

Crafting a Contemporary Entry Table with Splayed Legs and Ebony Plugs

Introduction
I’m working on a modern, contemporary-style entry table with a few distinctive design elements: ebony plugs, a steam-bent handle, and splayed legs. This custom table build combines functionality with aesthetic appeal, and I’ll walk you through the process step by step.

Step 1: Preparing the Splayed Legs

The legs are a key feature of this table, with their outward splay adding a dynamic look. To start, I cut the material to size and thickness. Even though the legs will be tapered later, it’s much easier to begin with a square blank before shaping.

• Cutting the Angles: I trimmed the top and bottom of each leg at an angle to achieve the desired splay.
• Mortising Before Tapering: Since it’s easier to cut mortises in a straight, square piece, I did all the joinery for the apron tenons before tapering the legs.

Once the mortises were done, I used a tapering jig on the table saw to create a gradual taper starting just past the joinery area. This ensures a clean, straight section for the joints while maintaining a sleek, angled look.

Step 2: Creating a Seamless Drawer Front

I wanted the grain to flow continuously across the apron and drawer front, making it look like a single, uninterrupted piece of wood. Here’s how I did it:

1. Cutting the Apron & Drawer Front:
   • I split the front apron into three sections: top rail, drawer front, and bottom rail.
   • The center section was carefully removed to become the drawer front.
   • I left a 1/16″ gap (using paper as a spacer) to ensure smooth drawer operation.
2. Regluing for Continuity:
   • After cutting, I reassembled the pieces, maintaining the grain alignment.
   • The result? A drawer that looks like it was magically extracted from the solid wood!

Step 3: Joinery & Assembly

With the legs tapered and the drawer front prepped, it was time for assembly.

• Tenons for the Apron:
  • I cut angled tenons on the apron using a dado blade and adjusted the miter gauge for precision.
  • Final fitting was done by hand for a perfect match.
• Gluing in Stages:
  • To avoid clamp chaos, I glued the table in stages, ensuring each joint was tight before moving on.

Step 4: The Breadboard Top

A breadboard end adds stability and a clean finish to the tabletop.

• Cutting the Tenon:
  • I created a tenon on the tabletop end, then notched it to reduce material before routing the mortise.
  • The breadboard wraps around, hiding the tenon for a seamless look.

Step 5: Ebony Plugs & Steam-Bent Handle

Ebony Plugs:

• Small mortises were cut for ebony plugs, which add a striking contrast.
• Each plug was hand-sanded for a smooth, rounded finish.

Steam-Bent Handle:

• I built a quick steam box to bend the handle into shape.
• After steaming, I sanded and glued it in place, long grain to long grain for maximum strength.

Final Assembly & Finishing Touches

With all components ready, I did a final dry fit before gluing everything together. The result is a sleek, modern entry table with:

• Elegant splayed legs
• A seamless, flowing grain across the drawer
• Contrasting ebony plugs
• A unique steam-bent walnut handle

Conclusion

This project was a great exercise in precision joinery and thoughtful design. By paying attention to details like grain continuity and angled joinery, I was able to create a piece that’s both functional and visually striking.

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