Dining Tables with Sallie Plumley Studios

Working with artist friends and colleagues is one of our favorite ways to connected to our community, foster new ideas, and expand the variety of work we offer. Sallie Plumley Studio is a woodworker and furniture maker Kyle collaborates with frequently, building metal tables bases to support her wooden tops. Here are two recent examples.

First up is a dining set consisting of a table and benches. For this set Kyle created forged steel bases to go with Sallie’s walnut tops.

Video tour of the oval forged steel table base.

Next up is simpler design with fabricated asymmetrical bases. This set also has walnut tops. Photos by Sallie Plumley Studio.

If you’re interested in seeing more of our collaborations with artist friends, you can find them filed under the Local Love category on our blog.

Forged Interior Railing with Mosaic Inlay

Here’s another project in our favorite category, mosaic and steel collaborations. This client reached out to us about replacing the existing railing in their home. They wanted something more artistic and individual.

To fit their needs, Kyle designed custom hand-forged steel railing with mosaic panels incorporated into the design. For the mosaics, the client requested asymmetric designs in white and black.

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The railing for this home included three sections:

  • two panels on either side of the lower portion of the stairs

  • a bannister on the wall for the upper part

  • and a balcony along the top edge.

As Kyle and his team created the railing, Johannah worked on making the mosaics on mesh panels. Once all the parts were completed, Johannah glued the mosaics into the railing then grouted them.

Below you can see all three sections of the railing installed in the client’s home. We’ve included some close-up shots of some of our favorite details.

Mosaic Inlay Furniture

The work we bring to shows or display in our studio gallery is of course for sale as original pieces. In addition, that work often serves to inspire custom projects from our clients. Here are a few more recent pieces of collaborative custom furniture influenced by our dining room table collaboration, as well as Kyle’s forged bench with cherry seat.

First up is a pair of small custom side tables with forged steel bases and mosaic inlay in tabletops provided by the client.

Next we have a coordinating bench and coat rack. For this set, the client sent photos of the entry area to serve as color and texture inspiration. The gold in these mosaics is drawn from a large gold tapestry hanging nearby in their home. The bench base and hooks are forged steel and the wood in both pieces is walnut.

Finally a set of three maple tables made by our good friend and frequent collaborator Christina Boy Design with custom mosaic inlay by Johannah. This set was created as part of our co-exhibit as guest artists of the month at Crozet Artisan Depot a few years ago. The tables are crafted in three different heights and sizes: end table, side table, and coffee table.