Main Project Aesthetics: Plans and Alternatives, Western

For my main project I am planning on building a folding table that I can attach to my car for camping, tailgating, or any possible event. I want to make it very functional, because I want to have something that I can be proud of and use for years to come. The plan so far is to make it so I can attach it to the back of my Toyota Forerunner’s trunk and lay it out to I have somewhere to cook wherever I want. I want a place to be able to attach my camping stove and to make part of the table out a cutting board type of material. I am going to mostly use this camping, and since grew up on the west coast and now go to school in Colorado, I want to make a Western aesthetic for my table. The Western half of the United States has a type of style and aesthetic that I love. The vast area is home to some of the most beautiful places I have ever been to and would love to have something that makes me think of the beauty I have seen while camping around there. The drive between goes through deserts and mountains that make me think of cowboys and western movies that I love and would love to emulate it. I picture maybe carving bull skulls and cacti so I can make this come out in my table. I also want to use different types of wood, both dark and light to bring out a more rustic appeal. I have a vision in my head but I just need to ideate on my ideas to make something truly cool.

Exactly what I’m going for. Scott’s Bluff, Nebraska

Bull skull that I am a fan o

One alternative to my current Western aesthetic is an all white aesthetic. Many modern kitchens have this aesthetic where they make everything white in an attempt to look “clean”. I thought it would be interesting to consider my project with this certain aesthetic as I actually really do not like this aesthetic. I have seen way too many videos where someone ruined a beautiful wooden table by painting it entirely white. If I were to make my table with this aesthetic it would look functionally the same and work the same, but would be completely white with nothing interesting on it. I am definitely not going to do this one, but I find it interesting to envision my project looking like this.

All white kitchen

Another potential aesthetic I could do is industrial. Making the table follow an industrial aesthetic would look really cool in my opinion. I would probably make a lot of the table out of steel and make sure to show off the materials. I think it would look very appealing but would be more difficult to make a table out of metal and probably make all the cuts and connections as perfect as possible. I probably won’t go for this aesthetic but find it very cool to consider.

Industrial table

Sources:

See Scotts Bluff National Monument

https://steelvintage.com/products/tables/the-brunel-table/

How I Painted My Kitchen Countertops

https://fineartamerica.com/featured/western-steer-skull—steve-mckinzie.html