These days, furniture design is more than just functionality. Designers are taking functionality and merging it with aesthetic elements to craft practical furnishings that are also stylish ornaments. Any amateur woodworker can build a plain old wardrobe or chest of drawers but it takes serious skill to create one that stands out from the rest. In fact, a whimsical approach to furniture design can be as appealing as those with sophisticated styles; and the creations of this craftsman from New Zealand are definitely that.

Henk Verhoeff appears to bring cartoons to life through his amazing woodworking projects. His pieces boast exaggerated silhouettes with giant cracks fashioned in the centre of them; the results look as though they belong in a Disney or Looney Tunes film. And best of all, these pieces are completely functional. This makes their “broken” construction even more incredible, as it shows that fun and function can go hand-in-hand.

Henk has been crafting wooden pieces for 53 years, first as a professional and now as a retiree. Yet, it was only after Henk’s daughter shared her father’s works to Facebook that people instantly began to fall in love with them. And the one-of-a-kind furniture creations eventually went viral.

It’s clear that the medium is his passion and a way to express his creativity. And now with more time on his hands, he’s able to produce whatever his imagination comes up with — no matter how wacky it may be. This has led him to do things like add lighting, which gives his dressers the appearance that they have been struck by lightning. Henk starts his pieces without any detailed build plans, but he is meticulous during the construction process.

“Sometimes details or angles don’t work and I have to start again. I use recycled New Zealand pine, mostly, but if I can get my hands on some Rimu, I will also use that.”

He occasionally starts over if the details or angles aren’t right. He adds a protective varnish as the final touch. All told, each piece can take anywhere from 80 to 100 hours. Despite many people taking interest in buying these magical-looking dressers, Henk says that, as of now, they aren’t for sale. However, he does occasionally sells his amazing furniture on eBay. But for now, follow along with him on Facebook.

Source: https://mymodernmet.com/amazing-woodworking-projects/