chairs/john kapel

I am a bit preoccupied by chairs right now. I know it is because I am getting ready to sell one of my absolute favorites (a vintage PK-9), but still, it has made me reflect on this crazy love. None of my chairs match. I just got crushes on them and they ended up coming home with me. But they all co-habitate very nicely at the table.

These images  are of some of John Kapel's latest creations. The last shot is of John's chair room, where he keeps all his prototypes - another outtake from HCMod.

handcrafted modern/outakes/john kapel

Yesterday I paid a visit to John  Kapel down in Woodside. I hadn't seen him in awhile and as he just celebrated his 89th birthday, it was definitely time! Every time I visit John he has new projects to tell me about. This time I got to see two new chair designs that he is shopping around (both beautiful, btw) and he continues with his metal/jewelry designs.

John's jewelry making studio is one room that didn't make it into HC Modern just because there wasn't enough space. So today I thought I would run a couple of those shots. I love his jewelry, which echoes his fine art pieces in shape and tone, but my favorite thing in there was this little hand hammered copper cup. It is perfect.

john kapel/outtake

I have been going through a bunch of images I shot awhile ago looking for pictures of kitchens for a magazine in Sweden and I happened upon this image of a detail in John Kapel's workshop. A lot of the time this is what I do...I took this shot because I was coveting Kapel's framed nautical knots. I've looked everywhere for something similar since. Every flea market and thrift store, I keep looking. Now I am pinning every nautical rope image I can find on Pinterest. I am beginning to think the answer is to take a knot tying class...it might be faster.

handcrafted modern/outtakes/kapel

I guess it is because of yesterday's post, but I find myself thinking about all the workshops and studios that were not in Handcrafted Modern. This is another view of John Kapel's workshop in his basement. He is incredibly tidy, as you can see. I really love that sculpture. It is an early piece. I believe it is made of particle board. Wish I could have taken it home, frankly.

handcrafted modern/the secret portraits

I just shot this portrait of John  Kapel a couple of weeks ago. John's was another of the homes that was just so rich in detail, I never got a chance to properly shoot his portrait until I stopped by to give him his copy of Handcrafted Modern. Love this shot and my favorite piece of his artwork is hanging on the wall behind him.

handcrafted modern/outakes/john kapel

The release of my first book, Handcrafted Modern, is fast approaching (Oct. 5)! At the moment I am thinking a lot about craftmen's workspaces and workshops, and this is a shot of one of the best I have been in. John Kapel's workshop in the basement of his home is so well organized that even the way these wood pieces hang on the wall inspires me.

handcrafted modern/outakes/john kapel

Since my book, Handcrafted Modern, and my blog were mentioned today on the Bureau of Friends blog, I thought I would post a little peek into my forthcoming book. This is an image from John Kapel's home in Woodside, CA. Every stick of furniture you see Kapel designed and most likely made in his basement workshop. Truly a beautiful place.