Eastwood Ottoman

This classic Stickley ottoman oozes Craftsman style, but don't let its simple form fool you - it packs in some great woodworking.

- Willie Sandry

Named for a neighborhood in Syracuse, New York, this Gustav Stickley footstool design was an instant favorite. Originally sold with a massive Eastwood Chair, this ottoman pairs equally well with any larger rocker or Morris chair. This large ottoman was a 17" x 20" footprint, stood 17" tall, and is notably larger than other antique or reproduction ottomans in my collection. It's modeled after the original version, which appeared in the 1901 Stickley catalog, and featured tapered legs. By contrast, a modern Stickley piece is a full 24" wide and devoid of tapers.

There are several challenges to overcome with this project, however, the angled joinery makes it a worthy project to tackle, even for a seasoned woodworker. The main conundrum stems from the odd angle formed by the intersecting lower rails. To join the lower rails to the legs, you have two main options really. I suppose they could be notched to fit around the inside corner of the leg, like a bird-mouth rafter notch, but that seemed like a difficult task. Instead, I chose to create a flat registration surface on each leg with a dado blade. By accounting for the odd angle joinery with the dado notches and a clever table saw cradle, we'll pave the way for simple square ends on the lower rails. With this method of angled joinery, the cuts are reliable and repeatable, and any guesswork has been removed from the equation.

A Stable Base

Start with the thick legs as you embark on this interesting project. Mill a piece of 8/4 stock to finished dimensions of 13/4" and rip four legs from the board. Rift-sawn stock is ideal for legs and posts because the grain pattern will be uniform on all faces. Leave the legs extra-wide initially to give yourself the opportunity to re-joint an edge as needed. Ultimately, you need four straight-leg blanks sized 13/4" square x 17" long.

Square Joinery First