Originally Posted by
Dave MacArthur
BI also find that I'm being drawn more and more to contrasting woods and cleaner lines... I used to think I liked "traditional" furniture, but these pieces are pretty much in line with my current taste.
One of the nice things about Shaker, Mission and "combinations" of the same is that the simplicity goes with almost anything. When we intend to live with things like furniture long term, making it work as tastes and decorating trends move along is a good thing. If you have a basic table, for example, you can easily change the whole look by changing the lamp and other things in the area around it that are generally easy and cost-effective to adjust. These styles also work well in most home designs, too. Even in very, very "modern" environments.
As you bring up, changing the material without changing the design can also result in a very different effect. These tables are clearly Shaker design in origin, but have a much more modern feel due to the stark contrast between the purpleheart and the "natural" light maple. The same table in cherry and maple would be toned down a little, but still "eye catching". The same table in just cherry would work very well, yet recede into the background more. Think about doing it in just curly maple...
But there are also some things to be careful with. I would not enjoy this piece as much in QS white oak. For me, that material choice needs more weight to the piece...these are too delicate, IMHO.
My natural inclination will always be to cherry, maple and walnut as these domestic species really do well with the more delicate nature of Shaker styles and similar. Again, IMHO. But it sure was nice to experiment with these night stands given I had the material in the rack.
I was just thinking this morning about what to do with the last slab of purpleheart I have from my friend Ed. I may make a matching piece to these nightstands for the bedroom using it for the top (resawn/bookmatched) and curly maple for the rest of the structure...the exact opposite of the nightstands, but pulling through the same materials and style. That piece would serve for both some storage as well as a home for the AV gear necessary to supply media to the 30" flat screen that's moving to the master suite as soon as we move into the addition. 
(a bigger one replaces it in the new media room)
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The most expensive tool is the one you buy "cheaply" and often...
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The final pictures in post 42 show the piece with the finish completed.
