The Process

It starts with your dream; something you’ve always wanted.  A piece just like your grandmother used to have, or perhaps a photo somewhere caught your eye but it’s not exactly “perfect”.

We can sit down together and sketch out your thoughts, giving shape and dimension to it—adding this, moving that; showing height, width and depth.  We’ll talk about choice of wood species.  Cherry: tawny to salmon colors when first cut and deepening over time to a rich burgundy patina, always elegant, always classic.  Black Walnut: tans to deep rich browns, mellowing over time to the color of coffee beans, formal but not too.  Or, White Oak with its distinctive flame tip or flecks of speckled grain; a sturdy statement of form and function.

The lumber, locally sourced, Appalachian hardwoods are selected board by board, then marked determining each board’s purpose—matching or mixing grain patterns for visual appeal

Time honored construction:

• Full depth mortise and tenon joinery is used—cut and fit 
• by hand to ensure strength and stability for generations.  
• Cases are joined with the woods natural tendency to move through the seasons (expansion and contraction) in mind.
• Solid wood panels are allowed to “float” within their frames
• Drawers are dovetailed by hand and hand-planed to fit each opening  
• Surfaces are hand-planed or sanded to “baby soft” feel 
• Several coats of oil finish are applied, buffed between coats and finally the piece is polished with a hard carnauba wax.
• My preference is to not use a stain.  Wood is too beautiful to cover and hide.  Let’s  display the beauty nature created.

To begin creating your custom piece, a 50% deposit will be necessary; the remaining 50% due upon completion.  Prices per piece are determined by size, scope of complexity, wood species and hardware requirements and are agreed upon before any project is begun.  Consultations and conversations are free of charge.

Let’s Build Your Legacy