Almanac

The reference shelf behind the designs: how things are joined, what they are made of, how they are finished and what holds them together.

• TechniquesThe joints and construction methods the designs use, drawn, and whether the compiler builds each one today.
• SpeciesWoods and sheet materials: how they work, move and take a finish, with working notes.
• FinishesOils, varnishes, stains and the prep that goes before them, compared by species.
• HardwareHinges, slides, screws and pulls: what each kind is for and what it can stand in for.
• StylesThe furniture traditions the house designs draw on, with their defining details.