Guarino Furniture Designs – Guarino Furniture Designs

Excited to announce that I am a featured artist in the Spring 2021 issue of NJ Lifestyle Magazine!

Guarino Furniture Designs — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 19:57:25 +0000

Author Michael Cagno writes for NJ Lifestyle Magazine, and in the latest issue he shines a light on my process for creating bespoke furniture. I also discuss how the collaboration of artisans and interior designers enhance the art form, for artists and collectors. The article can be read by clicking the button below and begins on page 40. Photographs by, Justin Guarino.

Read the article

“Glen’s furniture conveys a sense of the person behind the art: someone that loves the creative process through the inspiration of nature.”

Flower Mirror Revisited

Curvilinear Coffee Table

Guarino Furniture Designs — Sun, 15 Dec 2019 03:50:40 +0000

I designed Curvilinear with the idea that a number of wood combinations could be used. Curly Maple and rescued Zebra wood present a quiet strength, allowing the natural beauty of the wood to take center stage.

As you can see the glass top allows the curves of the table to be seen. The table will fit in a contemporary or eclectic room.

Presentation Box

Guarino Furniture Designs — Sat, 14 Dec 2019 02:04:53 +0000

For Presentation Box, I chose Ebony wood to dramatically show off the sculpted lines.I don’t often do boxes, but when I was asked to design an award for Women in the Arts, I designed and made Presentation Box.

It was presented to the “Most Outstanding Woman in the Arts,” (1981). I was very pleased with the end result.

Showtime

Guarino Furniture Designs — Sat, 14 Dec 2019 01:59:28 +0000

Showtime is a very striking cabinet with Zebra Wood veneer and solid stock. The door handles are carved from solid Ebony. The upper cabinet houses a compartment for a DVD player and two drawers and the lower part has a large drawer to store DVDs.

5th Avenue Nightstand

Guarino Furniture Designs — Sat, 14 Dec 2019 01:54:06 +0000

5^th Avenue Nightstand is very versatile; it can be used as an end table or a nightstand. The proportions can be customized to fit a special situation and can include one or two draws.

I designed the nightstand to complement the bed and armoire of the same design on this site. I look forward to revisiting this design for you. You may also like to refer to the headboard and armoire on my page.

5th Avenue Armoire

Guarino Furniture Designs — Sat, 14 Dec 2019 01:44:50 +0000

5^th Avenue Armoire has many fine details. There are eight hand dovetailed Curly Maple drawers. I bent and veneered the doors using a two-part mold. The Shedua sides are hand shaped with one of my many planes. The interior of the armoire is veneered with Curly Maple. I choose to do a clear hand rubbed finish to allow the beauty of the woods to take center stage.

Allegro Music Stand

Guarino Furniture Designs — Sat, 14 Dec 2019 01:32:49 +0000

Rescued Red Oak from a fallen tree was traditionally joined, then carved to create this piece. I designed Allegro for an exhibit of my work to be displayed at the state’s Performing Arts Center. To relate my work more to the site I wanted to show at least one piece that had a musical theme. It was a fun object to design so before long I had three designs that I liked and had to decide which one to do. Allegro’s rhythmic sense of movement compelled me to start working on it as soon as the sketch’s last line was drawn. On performance night the French Philharmonic played and before the performance the conductor was introduced to my work and me. He loved the music stand.

Allegro was recently shown at the newly remodeled state museum’s opening exhibit. It was the only wood piece displayed. Allegro’s appeal is that it includes many of the senses. Visually, it seems to be moving because the legs look like an animal in motion. The curves want to be touched and when someone is using it, playing music it is heard.

Display Cabinet

Guarino Furniture Designs — Sat, 14 Dec 2019 01:23:14 +0000

This display cabinet in Black American Cherry and Wenge is a companion to two other of my earlier pieces I made for the same office. The cabinet utilizes the same intricate leg construction as the conference and reception tables already in place in the office.

It was both a joy and a challenge to make the many components, using my planes, chisels and spoke shaves to shape the gentle curves and fit each part together. This cabinet is one of my most satisfying works.

High Society

Guarino Furniture Designs — Sat, 14 Dec 2019 00:47:24 +0000

High Society is made from rescued Walnut wood and has a wonderful presence, unifying a room, and pulling together other furniture elements. I offered to make a mirror for our bedroom to go between two new glass Art Deco lamps. Among the many designs I drew, this one intrigued me the most. I felt it would be the right piece for the spot. After making a full size drawing and hanging it on the wall to get a feel for the design in its location, I was happy with the fit and I decided to try a new technique idea.

In the past I would have tried to stack, shape, glue and then carve all of the details. I instead made the first layer in the normal manner. The individual parts for the second layer I shaped to final shape before gluing them to the first layer. I glued them in position one at a time. This gave me much more control over the entire sculpture and proved easier to do.

As I look at the mirror now hanging in place I get a very rare sense of satisfaction. This design is one of the few pieces that I have made that I would not change a thing. The design is very tight with all the design elements working concert with the lamps, dresser, and the color of the wall.

Curly Maple Mirror

Guarino Furniture Designs — Sat, 14 Dec 2019 00:38:06 +0000

Curly Maple Mirror has several soft curves adding interest to the piece. The free flowing form plays with the tiger maple, notice the round shapes toward the bottom of the mirror showing off the figure of the wood very nicely. Also the ribbon effect on the left side of the piece brings out the grain of the maple.

Tiger Maple, which is also known as curly maple has a distinct irregularly striped pattern. Prized for its beautiful appearance, Tiger Maple has been used for many years for fine furniture.

Tadashi Koizumi, a wonderful artist from Japan has said about Curly Maple Mirror, “I imagine a river, sky, lightning, and nature.”