While milling and planing wood for a project, occasionally a woodworker gets a pleasant surprise. Such was the case with this stunning sofa table top. Years ago a couple of walnuts fell between the trunk and a branch of a walnut tree. Over time the bark grew around the walnuts. Unaware of their existence, a fortuitous cut was made, revealing the transverse section of two walnuts within this beautiful slab of wood.
The bark that encased the walnuts was unstable and threatened to fall out, but in my opinion they radically enhanced the piece, so it became necessary to stabilize the section by filling it with epoxy. In doing so, we were able to preserve this ornately unique quality while maintaining stability and functionality.
Upon finishing one of the shelves, a crack became apparent, and though currently miniscule, over time and through the changing of seasons, without modification it would likely grow and split the board. The issue was remedied by placing two white oak butterflies along the crack, practically sealing it shut, and simultaneously adding a fashionable flare to the piece.
This steel framed walnut sofa table was bespoke to fit the dimensions of the sofa and to incorporate natural beauty while preserving the sleek allure of the living room arrangement.