Series / groupCutting boards, in good company
Patterns, contrasting woods, and a whole batch of boards. Useful objects with room to play.
Boards & small goods • Commission
One brief. Two sides.
A commissioned board with a walnut chopping face, a contrasting serving face, and an open-ended visual brief.
Documented December 2020Build story
PART OF A LARGER COLLECTIONBoards, one by one →
Professional notes
Contribution
Interpretation of a supplied visual brief, material composition, and fabrication.
Result
A finished double-sided board documented with its original brief, material choices, and intended uses.
A budget and a picture
The commission began with a budget and a supplied image, rather than a complete board specification. The original post describes the challenge of being asked to make an object in my own style.
Two faces, two intended uses
One face places walnut end grain in the center, bordered by long-grain maple, cherry, and zebrawood. The other uses teak, cherry, and black walnut for a serving face. A cherry frame and homemade walnut plugs carry the contrasting pattern around the edges.
A finished object, not just a wood sample
The photograph shows the design as an assembled board: a dark center, light dividing lines, and a framed perimeter. Material selection, composition, and fabrication are all visible in the same piece.
Credits & project notes
Design interpretation and fabrication: Michael Pytlowany. The client supplied the brief and reference image.
The original caption supplies the wood species and intended uses. The separate reference image is not redistributed with this site.
Sources
Mike's Functional Artistry project archive
2020-12-03
KEEP EXPLORING
More from this part of the portfolio.
Series / group
Series / groupThe Lawson Twins
Two large live-edge ambrosia-maple serving boards, with bow-tie inlays and plenty of character.
Piece / projectAn RV sink, with a second job
A thin end-grain board made to an exact RV-sink size, with stainless threaded hardware for reinforcement and adjustment.