Finding the Right Proportions The visual balance of the parts can sometimes be so subtle-they just feel right. Awkward proportions are often more obvious. There are a few guides to help you find pleasing proportions. but it is best to train your eye by looking critically at good design of all kinds.
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Case tapers
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lront bows 2 in.
An id ea th ai imm e diat e ly app e aled t o
oped other part s of the d esig n , I wo uld
me wa s four genlly splayed feet known a s
ha ve a h e t1er idea ahout this.
French feet. Sometimes they splay to th e
Th e next prohlem was figuring out
side, and other time s they splay forward as
which h ase to use. I wanted a ha se that gave
well. French fe e t create a sense of spring or
the ma ss iv e ne ss of this chest a lift , ma y h e
tension, lifting th e case. Flowing in an un-
even to the point of exaggerating it a littl e.
interrupt ed curve from the ca se, they would
Too Io wa ha se would ha ve g iven th e c h es t
nicel y complement the s implicity of th e
a squal and h eavy f ee l. Drawers clo se
s ingl e-hoard s id es. Quit e fooli shl y (hecau se
10
th e
flo o r arc al so le ss comfortahle to u sc. A hi g h
I did n o t think aho ut how much ex tra
ha se cut s into the storage volume, hut th e
work thi s would h e), I had the id e a of em-
visual lift it gives to the design mor e than
phasizing that upw a rd curving energy hy
makes up for this.
tapering the che s t slight ly, narrowing it at
DESIGNING A CHEST OF DRAWERS
107