Men's Valet Chair

 This is my first chair!!!
 This valet chair is a prototype, first production and last production. It seemed never to get going because I kept thinking of all kinds of added features. I tried out a number of things I just wanted to see if I could do them. It is doweled, pocket screwed and glued together. Inside the seat compartment, I made thin oak plates to cover all the pocket screws
 
 This chair is made from red oak. It has a double tray on the top, two side hooks, a brass hanger stud on the back of the top, swing out drawers with invisible pulls and a flip up seat with invisible hinges and one secret storage area not shown. The drawer pulls are on the bottom of the drawers with a curved finger slot to open them. They are held back with 10mm magnets and steel pins cut to the right length to make them flush in the front.
 
 The seat has Euro. hinges inside so it really does not look like it is to be opened. The latch has had 4 designs before I settled on this simple one with a spring loaded plunger and a slotted blade for the plunger to lock into. The plunger is under the seat and does not protrude to be visible. Both pieces are tapered so it latches right way when you drop the seat down. The cushion is brown Spanish leather with 5 tufting buttons. Inside the drawers and the bottom of the seat compartment are also covered in this same leather.
 
 It is finished with gloss wipe on poly and scuff waxed.
Below are some process shots:
The hook for the seat latch.

The latch that goes over the hook

All the parts knocked down after pre-assembly

Testing the fit for the swing.

The swing out drawers and their shelf