Since the wife requested this, what is her opinion(s)?

 

Hi. Yes. She approved the size. My next step is to start building a visualization of the cabinet and carvings.

The nice thing of designing it in 3d is I can move things around and change things to my heart's content until I am satisfied with the design.

After I finish the 3d version, I'll go back and then make real plans and cut list for the cabinet.

 

Nice. I suggest you go with a double door in front, split at the half way point. Maybe with a shelf across the inside, bottom of each door. These could hold the candles or the statues. I'm thinking candle just for fire safety. I agree on no stained glass. Simple is always better. Will you want to have the bible open and readable at the base of the upper cabinet? Perhaps a sloped front on the bottom cabinet door? My old eyes need more than candle light, so consider a small LED light embedded in the top of the upper cabinet, a warm color to keep it warm and comforting.

I'm thinking also of Japanese shrines, which are elegant. You might do a search to look at some of them. What a nice project. Points at home and points upstairs.

 

Tom, great minds and my slightly dodgy one think alike on this one. It will be a two door design. It will be highly carved piece.

I am still torn about the bible but right now but I think it will just reside in one of the shelf. It is fairly big.

Another design decision which may bite me in the butt is since the doors are so slender I am going with a sold lumber construction instead of stile and rail construction.

This is the basic arched window ornamentation I am playing with for the base portion. These will be cnc carved in the doors.

 

Tom, great minds and my slightly dodgy one think alike on this one. It will be a two door design. It will be highly carved piece.

I am still torn about the bible but right now but I think it will just reside in one of the shelf. It is fairly big.

Another design decision which may bite me in the butt is since the doors are so slender I am going with a sold lumber construction instead of stile and rail construction.

This is the basic arched window ornamentation I am playing with for the base portion. These will be cnc carved in the doors.

View attachment 408271

That's a great design and in contrasting wood will really stand out. It is vaguely asian in feel. Will you split it across the two sides of the door? That would be a job for a Japanese Saw, but how great to have it come together when the doors are closed.

 

Tom, started playing with the over all design. I am trying different visions. I am leaning towards the second version but the wife will have final say after I get the design further along.

 

Well, the wife picked the first version so I was out voted. Need to start designing again.

More patterns for the build.

 

Yup, wives have the final say in most things. The two figures will go on the inside of the double doors? That is going to look wonderful.

 

Thanks Tom. These will go on the outside doors of the top cabinet.

 

I've gone through 3 or 4 different designs which I just didn't like but I am now on the way to finalizing the bottom front cabinet ornamental carve. It is heavily influenced on the Exeter Cathedral.

This is the rough layout. The circles will contain additional ornamental rosettes.

 

I love it. I looked the cathedral up online and am posting a picture. You really caught the spirit of the architecture.

 

Thanks Tom. Hopefully do it justice.

Just playing around modeling some ornamental rosette windows.

 

Love the top, middle. That would let in a lot of light.

 

Bottom left, looks more traditional to me...

 

Thanks all for the input. Still playing with cnc designs. Now for the main center ornament. Here are a few I've made so far.

Once I finish this part I'll go back and start making a real cabinet plan and cut list for materials.

 

lol. Wife didn't like any of the ornamental rosettes. She asked if I could make a rose rosette instead.

 

Wife picked walnut for the lumber. So for now just working on the design.

This is the cnc pattern for the front door base cabinet. Size is 8" x 22" x .75". Software says it will be a 3 hour carve per door.

 

Nice, looking forward to seeing the finished project.

 

Magnificent! The Gothic roof is typically steeper than your model

 

Thank you. Need to start making some build plans. Picked up another 10 bdf of walnut today. Still need a bit more of walnut to finish the entire project.

 

Started building a draft plan. This will not be a heritage build. Probably using loose tenon construction and floating panel for the sides. It's been a while since I designed a piece of furniture.

Starting with gross dimensions. I'll add details during the second phase when I start making my cut list.

 

My old brain needs to get back into shape. A decade ago I used CorelDraw frequently and was semi-competent with it. Today, I was having problems just opening the software (only slight exaggeration). But starting my cut list and more detailed construction plans. Still debating with myself on how I want to do the construction.

 

I find with all the good software suites, you have to use it on a regular basis to keep the most simple clicks in memory.

 

Finished the cut list and if my calculations are correct I need a little under 14 bft for the walnut base. I will still need plywood and lesser woods for the back and shelving. I purchased about 15 bft of walnut so in theory I should have enough to finish the base. Now knowing my track record of measuring and cutting correctly I am giving myself a 50-50 chance of completing it with the lumber I have. lol

Patterns ported to my cnc software. Software says it will take 3 1/2 hours for each door to carve. Dimensions of each door are 22" x 8". I will build the cabinet around the doors when they are finished.

and render of what I am going for.

 

I started cutting the lumber to size and was excited to show the wife a little bit of progress.

After she looked at the lumber and my plans she said, that looks pretty shallow. Can you make it deeper. After a few different thoughts raced through my head I replied, "Yes honey, that is an easy change."

Off to modify the plans for a slightly deeper cabinet and an updated cut list. (It really is an easy change and I had only finished cutting the front cabinet bits so no loss on any lumber.)

I also messed up the doors. The first panel carved with no issues and I got sloppy with second door. The second door shifted in the machine on the last half inch and came loose. Bit did not break but have some nice zig zag grooves on the last bit of the door. So to even them out I cut both doors a half inch shorter so they match and now I don't have to spend another 3.5 hours on the machine. Just a small change on the plans and no real impact so easy fix.

Cabinet is now 3 inches deeper and the sides are raised panels:

 

Just a dry fit to see how badly I am doing. Undecided on how to deal with the doors are 1/2" shorter than planned.

Still needs a ton of sanding.