Anigre Executive Desk
(As of 3/15/2013, the pictured desk is available for sale) This desk was a collaborative labor of love. Philosophically, we always try to start with the wood and let the project unfold from there. So, after hand-selecting some absolutely stunning quartersawn fiddleback anigre (A'nn-i-gray) veneers, I attempted to come up with a geometric design that would really allow the wood to shine. The resulting reverse diamond pattern on the desk top creates a fascinating visual effect, with the straight grain of the wood creating a reverse diamond and the rippling figure of the wood creating a true diamond pattern. The geometric patterns on the front, back, and sides of the desk hold similar visual interest. Steve Jenkins and I built the desk together over the course of several long weeks. I also enlisted the help of Gary McFarland, an artisan metalworker from Wimberley, Texas, to fabricate the steel base. The desk has clean, contemporary lines with a minimum of embellishment or ornamentation. I made every effort to get out of the way and let the wood speak. Accordingly, though the desk has several protective coats of conversion varnish, the natural color of the wood remains intact and unstained. The only additional color to the desk is in the drawer pulls, which I made from solid Gabon Ebony in order to creates a point of visual balance with the ebony color of the steel desk base. The two drawers feature undermount steel drawer slides. The drawer boxes are made from solid maple and are joined with miniature dovetails. In the center of the desk, there is a sliding laptop/ keyboard tray. This tray has detents, so that when the tray is fully extended, it will softly 'lock' into place for stability while typing. The desk top measures 30 X 60 inches. The keyboard slider is at a comfortable 28" from the floor, and the desktop itself is at 31" from the floor.
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This Maker has consistently demonstrated excellence in craftsmanship and customer service.
John is a custom woodworker who made his first piece of furniture in shop class in 1984. Since then, he has completed hundreds of woodworking projects. In 2011, John launched LoneStar Artisans, a company dedicated to finding and celebrating the best artisans in Texas.
- MD
Matthew Duncan
For Custom wodden base5.0Lone Star Artisans made a custom platform base for one of my display cases. They did an AMAZING job! I highly recommend Lone Star Artisans and will be using them for any future projects.
- KS
Kristin Sustaita
For Custom cabinet doors and drawer5.0John installed custom cabinet doors to match our current cabinets, along with a drawer and a butcher block counter piece. He was very personable and timely, and we are really happy with the quality of the work!
- MK
marcia koenig
For marcia's Picture Frame5.0John made 2 very large cherry picture frames for me. Communication during the process went smoothly. John completed the frames on time for an extremely reasonable price. John is very easy to work with, and the frames look wonderful!
DSDavid Sparks
For cedar table top5.0John provide great value for the excellent work he performed for me. My project was a live-edge table top. He joined my planks together with a seamless seam, along with corrections for a warp in my boards. I am thoroughly satisfied with the final project. I would highly recommend Lone Star Artisans for their craftsmanship and customer service. Thanks for a job well done.
- SP
sean perez
For Multi Hardwood Edge Grain Cutting Board5.0Working with John was a pleasure from beginning to end. He was in constant communication, prompt with his work and his craftsmanship was worth every penny. I wanted something one of kind to be a wedding gift for a family member, something for them to treasure for years to come. John fulfilled that wish with care, flexibility and professionalism. I will order from John again and again.
- D
Dave
For Gourmet Cutting Boards5.0John is a top notch craftsman. He worked with me to find a cutting board that would wow my parents, but was within my budget. The finished product looked fantastic and feels solid enough to last a lifetime. The communication was first rate. Very happy.
JWJames Williamson
For Counter height collaboration/work/dining table Project5.0John made and delivered an outstanding bar height collaboration/dining table that exceeded my expectations in every way. Kept me involved in the making of it and was just as excited as I was at the finished product. Perfect.
- S
Shinji
For post office door shelf unit5.0When I had trouble with a maker Custom Made, I ended up with an un-useable piece of furniture and a lot of time wasted. I asked Custom Made to help me find a maker to help make it right. They recommended only one maker named John Loftis. I looked at his portfolio and was very excited since his work was beautiful. When I contacted John, he understood the previous situation and seemed more than able to meet the challenge. I would be using a much higher level of scrutiny on this one vs. the first try. John took the time to figure out exactly what I was looking for. He took the time and effort to make a computer aided design so I would know exactly what the piece of furniture would look like. This really helped the communication between my idea and the maker’s skill in making it into incredible reality. Before I knew it the piece of furniture was delivered to my front door. It was packaged well to avoid damage. I’ve got to admit that I was looking for something to be wrong. However, the woodwork on this piece was impeccable. It was well made, solid, and making all my other furniture looking like they need replacing. I’ll be sure to save his number for future projects. One last note, this project did cost me more money than the previous maker. However, the old adage is absolutely true in this case; “You get what you pay for” The quality and getting exactly what I wanted was well worth it.
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