Multi Opening Oak Frame

Here is a recent project that we handmade for our customer. The frame is made of oak and was designed around a photo provided by the customer. The goal was to fit four ceramic tiles in a two-by-two orientation. See the images and videos to see the progress and finished frame.

Below is the original photo that our customer brought with them. The ask was, “can you make a frame similar to this photo?” In this case we said, “absolutely.”

First we made measurements, drew a diagram and checked twice. Next we made the outside frame profile (in background of photo). We made the profile about two and three quarters wide and used splines for the joinery. Then we cut the inside horizontal and vertical profiles called mullions. These are similar to making a window but we aren’t adding glass or making it air tight, or making a window. The trick was getting the center of each mullion to overlap as tightly as possible.

You can see how the mullions overlap in this video.

In this next video we are testing for the fit in the outside profile. Hopefully the mullions fit into the rabbet of the outside frame without much fuss.

Once confident with the fit we moved on to the stain. We used a water based “Antique Brown” which we later hand waxed with a dark brown finishing wax.

Now we can move onto the assembly. This video shows a test fit of the ceramic tiles, and wow does it fit well and look amazing! Hopefully just what the customer is looking for.

There you have it.

The finished antique style, window pane frame with multiple openings made from oak.