Screen development images

Once the basic screen sections had been cut and sanded we had to consider detail, we wanted to try create a carved wood look with some sort of swirly baroque style pattern that was common at the time. We had the idea of using string to create the swirls as its light, cheap and versatile. We also used polystyrene balls cut in half to to add some slightly more bulky detail to the panels. Once we had added these details we paper mached over this in order to blend them into the rest if the screen. Unfortunately Sarah began this process with blue paper which have an awful lined texture which i wasn't too happy with but we soldiered on and after a layer of news paper was soon rectified.

By holding the two pieces of the screen together we were able to draw around the inside of the top frame, indicating where the fabric had to stretch to. In the original design only the outer panels had fabric inlays but we had enough spare to cover the central panel too so we did as we prefered this textured finish to just a painted effect. On the sections of the screen that had the smashed hole we merely notched the fabric with the intention of pinning it around the back later.

Knick Knacks

Found a couple of things around the house that wouldn't look out of place in 19th century russia, a small hotel style bell (useful for calling servants etc) a small candle holder with a finger hole for easy transportation (ideal if you need the toilet in the night) and a very battered but very baroque picture frame (ideal for....putting pictures in?) Unfortunately I wasn't clever enough to take pictures of them...but will point them out in the final images.

Starting the screen

Sarah and I marked out the sections of the screen onto the wood using the cardboard screen as a template. We have adjusted the size slightly in order to make it a more intimidating feature of the study. We added half a foot onto the original design the sarah drew up. We started by cutting out the three solid screen shapes, we used the jigsaw to do this and made sure we were wearing goggles. Once the three solid pieces were cut we had to cut three more 'frame' section that would allow the inlayed fabric to show. Using the jigsaw was much easier than a band saw as the blade is much smaller and easier to control around the steep corners.

Using a mouse sander we were able to sand these pieces. We clamped the layerd sections together to make sure they were the same shape. Using some card sarah created a template for the legs and drew them on the MDF. These were then cut out and sanded. At this point we had six pieces of MDF that layered together to form the basis of the screens three panels. Now we had to consider how to bulk out the flat surface making patterns and details found in the 'carved wood'. To create the winged hour glass sarah decided to use art mache to add some bulk. When mixed 1 part mache to 3 parts warm water created a paper pulp that was easily shaped and dried in a few days.

As we had panelling running around the bottom of both rooms we also thought it a good idea to paint a mahogany wood grain effect on the bottom 3' of the flats (we were told afterwards that maybe they should have been covered in artex first but we managed to get away with it.) this would make it easier as a pose to trying to do when all the panelling was on the wall.

Further flat jobs

The flats still had to be routed. The router allows edges of wood to the trimmed to they are flush with the wood below, it can also be used to give shaped edges. We would need to router around any of the uneven edges of the flats in order for them to fit together properly when it came to constructing the room. Goggles and a mask are recommended PPE for this job due to the amount of dust we also decided to follow the router around with a hoover as this would stop loads of dust going every where.

The Screen!

Sarah did a sterling job finding fabric for the screen, and at half price!