Greene & Greene: Design Elements for the Workshop [Paperback]

Darrell Peart (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2006

Considered among the highest achievements of the American arts and crafts movement, Greene & Greene furniture was custom-built for specific interior spaces, and many of the pieces still remain in their original locations. This manual, written by a nationally recognized furniture maker, provides intermediate and advanced woodworkers with well illustrated, step-by-step instructions for classic Greene & Greene details, including ebony plugs, cloud lifts, leg indents, brackets, and pulls. A discussion of the design philosophy of the period accompanies how-to chapters, and photographs of contemporary Greene-inspired furniture provide ideas for projects. Biographical sketches are included for Charles and Henry Greene, Peter and John Hall (who built most of the furniture), and competing furniture maker Gustav Stickley.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A valuable reference, particularly for the inspired, hopeful imitator."  —Better Homes and Gardens Wood Magazine

About the Author

Darrell Peart is a furniture maker and designer who has worked for commercial furniture companies and high-end custom shops. He has written articles for Fine Woodworking, Home Furniture, and Woodworker's Journal. He lives in Renton, Washington.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Linden Publishing (April 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0941936961
• ISBN-13: 978-0941936965
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #32,995 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #4 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > How-to & Home Improvements > Furniture
  • #17 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > How-to & Home Improvements > Carpentry

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Key to Restoration, The Guide to Appreciation of Greene & Greene, July 9, 2006

By 

Grady Harp (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Greene & Greene: Design Elements for the Workshop (Paperback)

Darrell Peart has written a book that is not only a joy to read, it is also one of those magic windows for finding the secrets of restoring Greene and Greene houses and furniture. Craftsmanship details that with time fade and tatter and beg for repair can now with Peart's fine instruction and diagrams and pictures be restored to as close to their normal glory as possible.

Probably everyone knows of the Greene and Greene style that blossomed in the first part of the past century, elements of architecture, space design, through-designed homes that introduced the natural flow through of air that cooled the California Craftsman houses based on Oriental concepts as well as incorporated Art Deco decor in inlays of various materials that made everything they touched a work of art.

Peart shows us with consummate skill the manner in which these little miracles can not merely be salvaged but recreated when missing parts leave a home wanting. By first giving a well researched treatise on the Greenes and their innovative concepts, he then takes us through instruments, material, and carefully chosen instructions that not only make life easier for the home craftsman, but also provide the armchair architecture and design devotees with data and information that make the Craftsman Movement wholly understandable.

Generously illustrated with photographs and drawings of Greene and Greene masterworks in buildings and furniture and decor elements and also with the step-by-step techniques with the correct instruments to fashion materials back to the original state. It is an important resource book for information on the Craftsman Movement (a movement which has never died in California because of the multitude of enthusiasts for the bungalow concept Greene and Greene introduced): it is a fine, comfortable and intelligent read in addition to being the best of the 'how to' books for restoration addicts! Grady Harp, July 06

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Greene & Greene How To, February 15, 2007

By 

Gepetto (Mendota Heights, MN) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Greene & Greene: Design Elements for the Workshop (Paperback)

An outstanding book which combines history with practical techniques for creating your own G&G style furniture. Peart is truly an outstanding craftsman and now an author/historian. Excellent photos and ideas...and some plans.

This is an update of my review....and I wish 6 or 7 stars were possible. The reason is that I just finished a Greene & Greene TV cabinet where I used several of Darrell Peart's techniques and the results were unbelievable perfection but yet made two tasks which I always dreaded as "easy as pie". Here is more detail.

Peart's sections on "Machining the Breadboard Joint" and "The Ebony Spline" taught me how to perform these tasks to perfection. I have done quite a few Greene & Greene pieces of furniture over the past 8 years but I always dreaded these two challenges because of the breadboard ends being proud to the top. After reading and then trying Peart's techniques (which were very well written and illustrate), I asked "Why didn't I think of this?"

For any woodworker who loves Arts & Crafts, Craftsman, and Greene & Greene styles, Peart's book is a MUST for your workshop and will teach you exactly how to perform woodworking tasks needed in these style with ease and perfection.

I thank Darrell for taking the time to publish this book.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Design Techniques Not Plans, August 28, 2006

By 

Greg (Wisconsin) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Greene & Greene: Design Elements for the Workshop (Paperback)

This book provides a some interesting techniques for some of the design details of Greene and Greene furniture. It also provides some historical background on the brothers and the craftsmen that collaborated with them. In addition, there are some examples of modern pieces by several craftsmen influenced by the Greene brothers. What it does not have are detailed plans for complete furniture. As such, it is of more interest to the woodworker looking to expand his techniques than someone looking to recreate a specific piece of furniture.