This pair of nightstands revisits the decorative detail in the splat of the Arts and Crafts side chairs I built from the plans Kevin Rodel published in Fine Wooodworking.

I built the pair out of red oak. I don't often choose red oak for projects, preferring the appearance of white oak, but I bought some beautifully quartersawn red oak and found that it was the perfect amount for this project.

Red oak can be fumed, much as white oak, but lacking the natural tannin content of white oak, the color change is less pronounced. I increased the tannin content by pre-treating the nightstands with a strong brew of common black tea. A custom pigment stain and varnish topcoat complete the finish.

I would be thrilled to build these or similar to complement your existing bedroom furniture, or use them as a jumping off point to design a complete bedroom set for you.