I take pride in making one-of-a-kind furniture that is both solidly functional and satisfying to live with.
My work is often sparked by a practical need, which gets me going on a creative ramble to discover what fitting and pleasing solutions I can come up with. I draw design inspiration from a variety of sources – an image, a work of art, or perhaps a sculptural detail on an old industrial machine. Some of my pieces are evocative of the Arts & Crafts movement, while others take on more of a mid-century feel reflected through contemporary materials.
I enjoy working with a combination of reclaimed/scrap and new materials depending on the project. I try to be particularly careful about sourcing my woods and tend to favor North American hardwoods that represent ethical forestry practices. The North American forestry industry is not perfect by any means, but there are more robust regulations in place when compared to overseas sources. Besides, if my participation is going to have even a miniscule impact on the environment, positive or negative, I’d just as soon it was in my own backyard.
All my work is made in Oakland, California, and pieces vary from one to the next – due to both the materials and the hand crafted nature of the work. I personally love seeing the signs of a maker’s hands on their work; as I look at all manner of objects in the world, I have a deep respect for the artistry and processes that go into making them. It is something of a fascination for me to look at how old furniture is put together and to find long-ago tool marks still evident to this day.
My work falls into a couple of major categories. My love of wood and Arts & Crafts design leads me to produce pieces with a more classic, fine furniture approach. I enjoy studying and experimenting with traditional techniques, such as the draw-bored assembly on the Trestle Table or darkening the oak used in the Mission Cabinet via the use of ammonia fumes.
On the other hand one of my main passions is combining metal and wood, finding how I can mix the two in sculptural and experimental forms. The X Table series represents my desire to find a structural and visual balance between the steel and the wood, expressing their contrasting properties.