Dan Alleger Custom Woodworking : New Orleans, LA : Custom Furniture : Refinishing, Repair, and Restoration : Chair Caning : Rush Weaving

So much of the furniture you see these days looks like it rolled right off the assembly line. The time honored tradition of hand crafted furniture is becoming more and more rare. By investing in a solid wood custom designed piece, you are insuring that this valuable tradition can continue.

Each piece is carefully constructed to last for years with minimal care required. Traditional jointery is observed, from mortise and tenon to dovetailing. A variety of woods and finishes are available depending on how the piece will be utilized and the look you have in mind. I'll be happy to incorporate your ideas through each phase of the design process. If you don't know exactly what you want, I'll keep presenting you with options until something grabs you.

I hand select each board used in construction of all my pieces. Only the finest materials are used, and I make sure that even the secondary woods (used in interior areas or places you'll never see) are top quality. Solid wood presents a challenge for any woodworker because it responds to seasonal changes. Careful planning and construction are essential to understand how the wood will behave as the piece ages.

Each pieces is meticulously finished to compliment it's character and the beauty of the wood. A lot of shops will spray the same finish on every piece, but not here. Pieces that will receive more wear need a more durable finish, but that same finish would not be the best choice for a finely crafted rocking chair constructed of exotic woods. Sometimes a traditional hand applied finish is the best choice, and I don't take shortcuts when it comes to getting the best possible results from my finishing. If it takes longer, then so be it.

Cabinets

The sculpted rocking chair is a Sam Maloof inspired piece. I can incorporate many custom designs for this chair including custom carving, shaping, and wood choices.
	This rocking chair is pictured with a cradle that was made with matching carvings.

I build a variety of different cabinets that can be customized to fit almost any need. Please note that I do not build kitchen cabinets or built-in cabinets. There are plenty of good carpenters in the area who do that, and I'll be happy to refer you to them.

This cypress back bar was made from reclaimed cypress and gathered parts from other cabinets.

This solid mahogany cabinet was made to match an existing china cabinet.

This three piece entertainment center is made of solid ash. The side units are designed to hold books, albums, or speakers. The cabinets below can be utilized for extra storage as well as concealing a stereo system and other components. This unit measures 8 feet tall by 9 feet wide!

Custom Media/Storage Cabinet with adjustable shelves and room for a large TV

End Table and storage cabinet with 3 drawers made of red oak

TV Cabinet with walnut finish and pocket doors

Kitchen Storage Cabinet with butcher block top

Curio Display Cabinet with interior lighting

CD Storage Rack

Birch Dresser

Oak Arts & Crafts Stereo Cabinet

I can construct a variety of chairs from dining chairs to Morris Chairs. Below are a few examples.

These chairs are solid mahogany with hand caned seats

These stools were made with left over stock from other projects. They are much more comfortable and sturdy than anything you can buy in a store.

There are many variations on the Morris Chair. This is a basic design in red oak.

This is a bit more robust version with stout posts. It is made of ash. There are a lot of mortise and tenon joints in a chair like this!

This is the same chair with a matching footstool.

The matching footstool.

End tables, coffee tables, dining room tables... There is a table for every occasion, and I can design and build the table you can't find anywhere else.

The pictures below represent a few of the tables that have come out of the shop over the years.

This small table features a tilt top that adjusts to different angles for use with a laptop computer. The drawer features hand-cut dovetails. This is a mixed woods piece with African mahogany veneer on the top and drawer face.

The top tilts up for easier viewing of a laptop screen.

This leaning desk and shelf unit is sturdy and attractive as well as great for limited spaces.

This photo shows just how much it can hold with plenty of desktop workspace kept free of clutter.

This table was made of various leftovers from other projects and features mahogany inlays.

The pull was hand shaped out of mahogany.

This is solid mahogany.

A solid mahogany table with simple lines and ample storage.

This is solid mahogany.

Pine & Oak end table with cherry, mahogany, and walnut inlays.

Folding table that can be pulled under a couch. Folds to just over 2 inches thin!

Red oak coffee table with oversize drawer for extra storage.

This table was later fitted with a piece of tempered glass to fill the center area and level the top surface.

This table is for a smaller kitchen, but still has room for a leaf in the center.

Other tables...

This customer wanted a coffin coffee table for his living room. It was built to fit him, and he was pretty tall.