CUSTOM WOOD GARDEN GATES #20

This Garden Gate is Base Price + 16%
Go to Base Price Table

The arched wood gate #20 features one horizontal grid divider and two rows of 3″-5″ grids . The number of actual grids varies–the more grids, the smaller the grids, and therefore the higher the middle horizontal rail.

Below, with lower open slots and grids at 4-1/2″

Emerald Hills, CA (Silicone Valley)
*6 columns of grids w/lower slots

We’ll begin with a whimsical presentation of gate #20-25 set between stone columns at the top of one of the more pleasing approaches on the web site.  A replacement of the original #84 built 20n years earlier that had suffered storm damage. The latch is a combination of the Magna Latch with a custom pull and plate provided by the site.

Belmont, Massachusetts
*5 columns of grids w/lower slots

The abundance of New Hampshire granite makes for an affordable, and beautiful accessory to our Garden Gates. Shown with a pair of Prowell gate jambs that mount to the granite. Rocky Mountain Latch #E414

Belmont, Massachusetts

And again, reminding us what happens in New England in December, when the garden gate takes on a whole new perspective.

Westminster, Maryland
(5 columns of grids, with no lower open slots)

The right side of the house with the arching gate #20-24 and wall recessed the length of an inviting side lawn and bordering starter-hedge.

Latch: Rocky Mountain GL-E465

Westminster, Maryland

A better look at the supporting cast of stone flanking the gate.
The stone is a mix of Chocolate Gray and Carderock full range.

Latch: Rocky Mountain GL-E465

Westminster, Maryland

The opposite side of the house. It’s rare that a perimeter wall itself can manage to upstage the architecture of the residence, but given the plain texture of the house side-walls, and the busy texture of the wall and this rarity has been accomplished. For better or worse.

Orinda, CA
(6 columns of grids, with lower open slots)

Several views of this property, with multiple curved garden gate styles #20 and the commonly linked Fence Style #22.
WoodRX ‘Teak’

Orinda, CA

Shown on the street-side exposure, another Wood Gate #20 accompanied by more fence panels #22 and the Gate Arbor #9.

Although subtle, there is a system to terracing the panels to a given grade. You’ll notice that the top of the lower panels align with the middle horizontal grid divider of the higher, stepped panels.

Orinda, CA

Newport, Rhode island
*w/o lower open slots

Although just 5 miles inland from the more familiar Newport Beach, the community of Newport is a picturesque hamlet of diversified architecture.

Showing the property side of the arched double gates with the standard accouterments to all double gates:

• Latch
• Bronze gate stop
• Cane bolt
• The dead bolt on gate style such as the #20, are set below the latch and beyond the reach of an arm extending through the upper grids.

Meanwhile, has Prowell’s much heralded aesthetic eye and woodworking acumen finally run their course? No longer the flattering architectural poet? Hard times? Not above the pitying kindness of past patrons, he takes work where he can get it. The honorable gardener, or gardener’s assistant, or assistant to the assistant of the actual honorable gardener, he builds a new life, one proud stick at a time.

Newport, Rhode island

On approach, with the coloring and arch of the gates linked to the front door and arched portal

Cincinnati, Ohio
* 5 columns of grids, without lower open slots

Garden gate #20-7, flanked by a series of Fence Railings style #21-B

An incumbent risk with living in Cincinnati . . . separated from the roaming bands of Kentucky renegades by the width of a single river. This thin geological ribbon as the cultural distinction between the merrymaking survivalists and the manicured landscapes of a Presbyterian stronghold. And of course the confusion, the awkward clash of repeated encounters.

Cincinnati, Ohio

Cincinnati, Ohio

The back entry with the curved wooden gate 20-7

Cincinnati, Ohio

A look at this Cincinnati property and thinking of the daily exercise of simply fetching the mail.

Ross, California
* with lower open slots

The original arched wood gate #20, as a double gate in Marin County. Circa 1995
Grids at 4-5/8″

Ross, CA

Our Garden Gate embellishing the architecture of what we might deem a little Queen Anne classicism with the defining details of Arts and Crafts windows and shake side-walls. But it seems to work.

Oak Hill, Virginia
* 7 columns of grids, with lower open slots

An early garden gate #20 flanked by an aged stone. circa 1997
3-¼” grids (hence 7 total grids across)

Oak Hill, Virginia

Such a pretty landscape, we’ll have another look.

Mill Valley, CA
* 4 columns of grids, without lower open slots

Garden Gate #20-5, with grids at 5.62″. 60″ height x 42″ width.

Belvedere, CA
* 6 columns of grids, without lower open slots

Decorated for Halloween.

* 6 columns of grids, without lower open slots
Palo Alto, CA

Gate #20-9, separating the front entry courtyard from the back. Flanked by #21 style panels modified to the same matching grid size as the gate.

CUSTOM WOOD GARDEN GATES #20-9

Palo Alto, CA

Although it may not be noticeable, the horizontal grid divider in the gate aligns to the top horizontal divider in the panels.

CUSTOM WOOD GARDEN GATES #20-9

Palo Alto, CA

A look at the residence itself. A pocket within the bay area–Palo Alto, Hillsborough, Burlingame–where the architectural motifs are drawn from the Vanderbilt gilded age largely associated with the Hudson Valley. A few telling details, supplanting traditional marble with stucco and the tall mullioned windows with a radius pediment.

Santa Monica, CA
* 4 columns of grids, without lower open slots

Garden gate #20-25, flanked by fence panel styles #20.
Gate at 42-1/2″ R.O. x 61-1/2″ to spring-point. Grids at 6-1/2″ SQ.

Sharing a table at the local touristy coffee shop near Charle’s home.
Innocent Bystanders: Pardon me, but you look like someone who works with his hands.
C Prowell: Studies his hands, his nails, his cuticles.
Innocent Bystanders: You see we’re on holiday, my wife and I, and conducting an informal poll. A random poll, if you will, of people’s preference for garden paths.
C Prowell: ?
Innocent Bystanders: What’s your opinion? Flagstone? Pattern concrete? Ground granite? Stone tiles with patches of blue star?
C Prowell: . . .
Innocent Bystanders: You see we’re from Columbus and having our landscape redone. They’re at it as we speak and at something of an impasse . . . regarding the path, that is.
C Prowell: Brick.
Innocent Bystanders: Brick! Brick! ‘But why? Why this brick?
C Prowell: It’s the same color as the Golden Gate Bridge, I’d say.
Innocent Bystanders: Is it nearby, this bridge? We’ll take a drive this afternoon, have a look . . . at this bridge of yours.

Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
* 5 columns of grids, with lower open slots

Garden gate #20-6 on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Grids at 5″
A stain color matching the front shutters and window trim that’s barely visible.

The Hilton Head island getaway, visited by our homeowners for a few weeks a year as a respite from the working culture of Chicago.
With the exception of perhaps Boston, Chicago epitomizes the ethics of productivity. A culture of nose-to-the-grindstone competency without the preening self-awareness of NYC or the dog-eat-dog self-relevancy of Washington. But it comes with a price; everyone we know in Chicago understands the need to get out of Chicago for the more common respites in Wisconsin, but also that bevy of coastal preferences from South Carolina to Key West.

Moraga, CA
* 6 columns of grids, without lower open slots

Flanked by Garden Fence style #20.

CUSTOM WOOD GARDEN GATES #20-12

Moraga, CA

From within the courtyard.

Lafayette, CA
* 7 columns of grids, Straight top rail. Without lower open slots

Wood Garden Gate style #20-15 features a straight top rail. Shown flanked by a hog-wire fence that allows exposure to the garden while it default the aesthetics to the entry gate itself.
Note: When dead bolts are preferred, the setting is below the latch and located beyond reach of an arm extending through the upper grids.

#20-14 is essentially almost identical to our gate style #4-6.

Washington DC

Wood Garden Gate style #20-16 in a photo that surprises us. Shipped to an address in the northwest section of DC, where unlike San Francisco, Boston, New York, or so many other metro areas, we have homes with yards, and, seemingly, open space beyond the gate. Even the throwback of, hmmm . . . a haycutter?

Brainbridge Island, WA
5 columns of grids. Lower open slots. Mid-rail cloud relief.

Curved wood gate #20 on Brainbridge Island, Washington. An appealing garden in the heart of Pugent Sound.

CUSTOM WOOD GARDEN GATES #20-19

Brainbridge Island, WA

Gate style #20-19 is a departure in that it also features a middle rail with the Craftsman ‘cloud’relief.
Shown with Arbor Style #8.

At the risk of boring you, we’ll scroll through a few more offerings of the popular Arching wooden gate design #20

CUSTOM WOOD GARDEN GATES #20-13

Base Price + 16%
Gilroy, CA

A few miles south of San Jose, Gilroy was once–and to some extent, still is–known for it’s artichoke farms.

The ORIGINAL WOOD GATE  #20

Vancouver, WA

Leaving you with this parting site photo that initiated the original Garden Gate #20. Drawing on the prominence of the garage doors, and the eventual gate placement along the same plane.

And yet, as would have it, the homeowners never sent in photos of the gate’s completed installation.

Oh well, it nevertheless serves this greater purpose of showing you just how each of the 140+ original Prowell gate designs came to fruition as a reaction to various architectural precedents.

PROGRESS
How do I build a wood gate?

The bottom rail. Matching the wood.

The jointer Plane. Truing the edges prior to gluing up the bottom rail.

There are several templates for the arch, depending on the gate widths. Ben scribing the arc below, then cut on the bandsaw and trued with various hand planes (Radius, spokeshave, and low-angle block plane for the top.)

The bandsaw cut is as close to the line as your are capable. Leaving the truing for the hand planes.

The alternative option: With dbl-sided tape adhering the template to the top rail, use a top-bearing 3-flute upward spiral bit for a perfect replicate of the template.

The dry fit, before marking the mortises.

Photo credit: Ben Prowell

Routing the lower open slots.

The low-angle Veritas Block Plane. One of several dozen hand planes in the shop.

In color. 

Fairing an accompanying arbor style #9 with a wood spokeshave passed down from Charles’ grandfather to his father to Charles, whereas Ben’s new Lee Veritas Spokeshave is, well . . . a better tool all together.

Fairing the underside of the top arching rail, using a Radius Plane.

Ben laying out the top arch for a double gate #20. If working solo, and the radius is too great to set an axis point, make up a stick 1-¾” thick x 2″ wide. Cut a small slot in each end. With the radius stick straight, tie a knot in a length of string and slip the one end through the slot in the stick–with the knot holding it in place. Tie another knot in the opposite end and slip this through the opposite slot. Pin each end of the radius stick in place and pull the string away from the center. The radius stick will bend to an even arc.

Running the upper grid of a typical #20 through the drum sander.