able | FINE WOODWORKING

A project for a very special person. Quite literally, a labor of love.

For years now, my wife has supported my work through good times and lean times. Always my biggest supporter while offering unvarnished criticism when it was deserved.

While there are many pieces of work that grace our home—some experimental or prototypes—few were made just for her. So it was time to create something special that would be hers alone.

This jewelry case on a stand was designed to replace a mismatched number of pieces cobbled together over the years to store all her precious things. So I poured many hours into crafting something that would, in some small way, show my appreciation for all her support.

Sapele, Waterfall Bubinga veneer, Fiddleback Sycamore veneer, Poplar and Wenge.

60”h x 22.5”w x 14”d

Sequence-matched Oregon White Oak slabs. Salvaged offcuts from a large dining table. These two pieces were the discarded edges of larger slabs used to create an 8-foot dining table. Because they came off the log in “sequence,” the grain is a near book match. Leaning up against a wall, they just cried out to become a bench. And I was happy to take the hint.

The two planks are joined by two stout sliding dovetail spreaders that also accommodate the tenoned spindle legs. The spreaders are camouflage by the thick “bow ties” that also perform a structural role.

Oregon White Oak, Western Walnut and California Claro Walnut.

72” x 18” x 17.5”

Satin Polyx Oil hard wax finish.

FOR SALE:
$3,200.00 plus shipping

This contemporary sideboard was designed as a companion to a long, narrow family dining table.
A combination of rift-sawn White Oak veneer ply and solid White Oak were employed to great the uniform color and grain match across the doors, drawer fronts and cabinet sides. Curly White Oak was used as edge banding on all front facing vertical components of the casework.
Topped with solid rift-sawn White Oak and sitting atop a base of ebonized Ash.
3 full extension, soft close drawers feature hand cut dovetails on all four corners.
Finished in hard wax Polyx Oil.
72”w x 36”h x 20”d

This very stylish table was inspired by a Nathan Day design, a remarkable designer from Australia. Scaled down and adapted to fit a specific space: an L-shaped, built-in banquette.
The essential component of the base were the two bent laminate arcs that join the legs at floor level. They’re comprised of 16 ply of 1/8” re-sawn and indexed Walnut. Steam bent and formed for 24 hours, then glued and press formed for another 24 hours, these components determined the leg angles and all other components of the base.

The tabletop is made up of plain sawn Walnut veneer ply framed in solid Walnut. A thin inlay of solid Wenge frames the repeating grain pattern of the veneer panel.

The underside of the top features a broad, shallow bevel that gives a visual lift and lightness to the table.

76”L x 38’W x 30”
Solid Walnut and Walnut Veneer Ply, Wenge Inlay
Hard Wax Polyx Oil finish

A nesting pair of sequence-matched slab offcuts. Inseparable yet almost infinitely reconfigurable. These two started out as rather large, thick discarded ends of slabs that comprised a large dining table.

Abandoned as scrap, they were just begging for another life.
I think of them as simultaneously ancient and thoroughly contemporary.

Conceived originally as a pair, roughly square with live edges, they were refined again and again to work as a pair that can be arranged—or rearranged— in may ways.
Suitable for small spaces or large.

Salvaged Oregon White Oak, ebonized White Ash.
33” x 25” x 13”

Fiddes Hard Wax Oil finish.

FOR SALE: $4,600.00 plus shipping

This highly customized piece was designed for old friends escaping Silicon Valley to the high desert of Central Oregon. They wanted a signature piece to function for storage and serve as a focal point in a transition area within a great room.

The brief called for something contemporary while evoking the character and volcanic geology that pervades the area.

Quarter sawn White Oak was selected to contrast with dark Oak flooring. Chemical patina copper sheeting graces the top and handmade drawer pulls. Shou Sugi Ban Poplar inlays in the door—consisting of nearly 200 pieces— complete a fiery motif and conceal adjustable shelving.

The addition of hidden LED lighting sets the piece off when the room goes dark.

42”w X 34”h X 20”d
White Oak, Poplar, Quarter sawn Hemlock

It’s an honor to be commissioned to create a piece of utilitarian furniture. It's doubly so when that honor comes from very good friends.

This piece started with a wide array of “what we kinda like” examples and some very specific dimensions. It was going to be long. And low. And it was going to fill a very specific space.

It was so long, that it had to be broken up into three modules, both for practicality of building, as well as transporting to its home. So these three pieces were designed to join as seamlessly as possible.

The center piece is comprised of four continuous grain, full extension drawers and the side units house shelf space behind sliding bypass doors.

To achieve the consistency of grain and color of the rift sawn White Oak, I resorted to solid tongue & groove flooring planks. All of which had to be planed to remove the backing grooves as well as the edge joinery. What was left was stock a little over 5/8” thick. That also meant that all sliding door hardware had to be shop made as all commercial hardware requires 3/4” minimum.

Beyond that, the design was my take on contemporary craftsmen style by way of old world Japan.

133”L x 22”h x 14” & 16”d
Rift Sawn White Oak, Western Walnut, and Wenge

An entire office system designed and scaled to a very small space.
Initially, this began as a computer & writing desk to fit a wide landing at the top of the stairs of a small, modern home in Bend’s Northwest Crossing.
The space featured a very large, south-facing window that provided a beautiful sunlit view.
Things quickly evolved to include a matching bookcase that could also house a system of three file drawer modules.
Everything was “downsized” to get the most utility from the limited space. 4/4 Ash was milled to 5/8” thickness for all carcass pieces. Drawer boxes were 3/8” poplar. And where eer space could be maximized, it was.
White Ash was accented with Sapele drawer pulls and inlaid itiles to add unique, jewel-like accents.
A custom designed, suede lined keyboard drawer provides the most function in a small footprint.

Inquire about pricing via email

The second of two benches designed around the “accidental” S-curve void in the center of the bench.

A little background: in the course of demonstrating how a bandsaw works for a young visitor to the shop, I grabbed a piece of scrap plywood and quickly ran a curve cut. It was a lovely curve, the result of unconsciousness motion on my part. A day or so later, I spied to two halves amidst other scraps, slightly offset. The two pieces formed the most sublime elongated S-shape of negative space between the two pieces. And an idea began to take shape.

For reasons I can't quite explain, this has become a deeply personal piece. It might have to do with the time period during which it was created. When things seemed to be falling apart. The name is a term used by seismologists for a type of earthquake fault. When two tectonic plates in the Earth's crust meet and move horizontally in opposite directions. The San Andreas Fault in California may be the most notorious example. The release of energy between those two enormous opposing forces can result in cataclysmic damage. Or move imperceptibly, hardly disturbing a night’s sleep.

62”w x 15”d x 17.5”h
CVG Douglas Fir and Western Walnut.

$2,200.00 plus shipping

17”w X 20”d X 32”h

Ebonized Ash, Khaya (African Mahogany), Carved, Dyed Poplar, Brass dowels.Polyx Oil and wood dyes.

Once in a blue moon, a commission such as this falls into your lap.
Through a chance meeting through our dogs by way of social media, a wonderful woman from the Midwest and I became friends. It turns out our pups, separated shortly after birth, are litter mates. Though we’ve never met, a great relationship blossomed. During which, my obsession with Herman Melville's classic, “Moby Dick” was made known and she took up reading it. Shortly thereafter she asked if I would design and build a chair to go with an antique writing desk in her home that captured the themes of this great epic.

I could hardly believe my good fortune.

This project afforded the singular opportunity to meld my design background, conceptual visual skills honed over nearly four decades in advertising, hand skills, and a deep love for the source material.
It's both a whale of a tale and a shaggy dog story.

SOLD

The brief read: “Contemporary, but ‘retro.’ With a little Art Deco, too. And airy and open.”
”Okay, got it.”

So these two pieces have a lot going on. Western Walnut, thin reed fluted glass, tempered glass shelves, textured brass, mid-century legs, LED pocket lighting, hand craved brass door pulls, ebonized Ash bases, and Fiddleback Maple Veneer back panels. (I may have forgotten a couple of things.

This was a client collaboration from the first meeting on. A process that I enjoy very much.

The result was a pair of very special pieces.

White Ash and Wenge
32”w X 35”h X 12”d

Even a humble little kitchen cabinet can be special.
A repeat client needed a small, utilitarian cabinet to add a bit more storage to their kitchen and dining area.
White Ash was chosen to create a visual transition between the white kitchen cabinets and a live-edge Holly dining table.
Among a number of design proposals was an idea I had been hatching using bent-wood laminate inlays.
The result was this asymmetrical design of steam bent Wenge that wraps the front, sides, and top.
It’s good to be humble. But you can still have style.

10 little attempts at concentrated goodness.
10 tiny exercises in minimalism.
10 experiments in as much precision as I’m capable of.
10 examples of letting the materials dictate what they want to be.

All of these little boxes employ the same traditional joinery that I use in my (bigger) work: splined, mitered corners, or finger joints. Floating panel bottoms. 3-5 coats of hand-rubbed finish.

And all are examples of, if not quite perfection, a sincere attempt at getting as close as I could.

28”w x 10.5”d x 30.5”h
Sapele
Polyx Oil finish

Designed to add a little style and function to a small space.
A subtle, book-matched to rests lightly atop a sinuous base of gently curving legs and bent-laminated stretchers that are joined by a dovetailed support.

$1,250.oo (SOLD)
(Perfectly complimentary bud vase not included. My wife would kick me outta the house.)

28”w x 10.5”d x 30.5”h

Ebonized White Ash and Spalted Maple

Inspired by a 2,000 mile off-road trip through Baja California, this little table is exactly the same (within a few sixteenths of an inch) as the Piccolo table. But a completely different personality.

Matte black alcohol-based dye and oil stain create a stylish platform for double book matched spalted Maple top.

$1,600.oo

Conceived and designed as contemporary minimalism, this table is inspired by Mid-Century Modern optimism. The arched spreader/trestle joins gently curved legs that allow the precisely framed glass top to float above the support structure. Making for an ‘airy’ presence in any room.

Spline joints and mortise & tenons join the base components while the top frame is joined by large bridle joints.

Western Walnut and 1/2” tempered glass
Hand-Rubbed Polyx Oil finish (satin)
46”w x 18”d x 15”h

FOR SALE
$2,200.00 (plus shipping)
SOLD

Built on the same support structure as its more minimal brother, this table overcompensates for hiding the graceful, minimal base with a rhythmic celebration of the figured grain found in Western Walnut. Over 50 pieces were precisely fit to create a parquet of studied randomness inspired by the abstract structures of Mondrian grids. It’s rich but casual.

Western Walnut
Hand-Rubbed Polyx Oil finish (satin)
46”w x 18”d x 15”h

FOR SALE
$3,200.00 (plus shipping)

Conceived as companion pieces to a sofa or club chairs, these petite tables feature ash—resawn to reveal the straight grain on front facing sides—and parquet sapele to accent the tops. They were intended to support one or more martinis in very chilled glasses. But the final choice of beverage is left up to you.

11” x 11” x 26”
$1,800.00 (pair)

42”w x 12.5”d x 31.5”h

Resawn CVG Douglas Fir
Chemically Patinated Copper

The close, thin vertical grain of old Doug Fir has always appealed to me. But it comes with very flat, broad grain on the ‘B-side.’ Through complex edge-to-edge mitering, I tried to reveal only the long vertical grain. Beyond wanting to incorporate a patina copper plate, I had no particular plan, or detailed drawing.
In atypical fashion, this piece was an improvisation from start to finish.

$1,600.oo

108” x 44” x 29.5”
Western White Ash
Hand-rubbed Polyx Oil Finish

This large dining table was the result of a pleasant collaboration with the eventual owner. Three rounds of design concepts brought us both back to one of the original designs. This process is the most enjoyable part of any commission I am fortunate to receive . It ensures that the client is getting exactly what they envision. And it frees me to deliver more than they expect.

The table top is supported on four pillars joined by a custom locking mechanism that secures a massive arched spreader.
All components are modular to allow easy disassembly in the event a move is necessary. A torsion box grid further locks the pillars and secures the top while accommodating any seasonal wood movement.

Three benches complete the ensemble designed to echo the table design. Made from a “natural” grade of White Ash to provide some contrast and visual interest.

14”w x 14”d x 34”h
Western Black Walnut, Cherry veneer, Poplar

Putting a little “fun” in functional.
Box joint cases house a three-drawer bank faced with heirloom Cherry veneer. The drawers can rotate on a central axis and index into position by a system of embedded rare earth magnets. It can be formal. Or not. you can…um, configure it out for yourself.

$2,400.oo (SOLD)

28”h(seat) x 19'“w x 20”d
Western Black Walnut and Distressed White Ash

A contemporary stool that mixes a number of influences.
The seat and back rest feature aggressively raised grain White Ash that are designed to float atop a frame that echo the curves of ovoid shapes of the seat and backrest.
Stylish without compromising comfort.

$1,100.oo Pricing available for sets of 2 or more.

This custom entry door is the center piece of an exterior home remodel.
Solid, CVG (close vertical grain) Douglas Fir frames a copper panel chemically patinated in a rich, organic sweep of color and a cross reed double paned window. The exterior side was designed to give a unique focal point to a Craftsman-style home. The interior side is painted fir panel with v-groove scoring that echoes the exterior frame while seamlessly complementing a more contemporary, minimalist interior decor.
36'“ x 80” x 1.75”

SOLD

It’s an awesome responsibility to be charged with designing and building furniture for the gathering of family and friends. Working with clients in a collaborative process is one of the most rewarding aspects of my work. This project was an extraordinary example. Large enough to comfortably seat eight, the table is solid Sapele with a book-matched center section. It is supported by four box pillars that join a massive, solid, arched trestle.
Completing the set are 8 chairs—2 “captain’s” chairs with arms and six side chairs. Also made from Sapele, the frames were fumed darker to provide contrast and are finished in Italian suede cushioned seats.

Inherited from my father—for whom this piece is named—this table is crafted from two, 12/4 planks of Philippine Mahogany stored in the rafters of my dads garage for over forty years. I transported this material up and down the west coast three times over a 10 year period before designing a piece I felt honored both the tree and my father. I hope both approve of the result.
48"w x 31.5"h x 14"d

Book-matched top is joined by three end grain laminated quadrants.
The sculpted drawer fronts reveal waves of grain. And the 'en pointe' legs make it rest ever so lightly on the stage. Or your hallway.

$2,900.oo plus shipping (SOLD)

Midcentury. With an early 21st century twist?
Floating Bench/Coffee Table.
Sapele (commonly referred to as African mahogany)
50"w x 16"h x 13"d
$1,400.oo plus shipping

The book-matched grain of the top inspired this original design.
Constrained by the width of the stock, but harking to surfboard construction, the open stringer provided a suitable finished width.

The seat is joined and secures to the base by virtue of sliding dovetails that span the width. The three end grain quadrants serve as large through tenons secured by the dovetail stretchers. The over-sized dovetail "keys" elevate the seat.

The chamfered edge provides an additional bit of visual "updraft," defying gravity.

That's the idea, anyway...

Hard Maple &Old-Growth Burl
18.5"w x 14'5"d x 24"h
Sold as a set
$3,200.00 (SOLD)

Make a dramatic entrance.
Vertical grain Douglas Fir and wrought iron. Mahogany top cap.
40"w x 76"h x 1.5"
Frame and panel construction, floating tenons throughout.
Resin epoxy on all joinery will make this sturdy gate stand up to the weather year-round. And with minimal care, this gate will stand the test of time.

$2,875.oo plus shipping

As seen on TV! (But only for a second)
I caught a glimpse of this style of outdoor furniture while watching an Episode of Battlestar Galactica with my kids. It appeared in the background of a scene, only a partial view from the back, for only a few seconds. Capturing a screen shot was all I had to go on. So, I made up the rest.
I think it came out pretty nicely.

$3,600.oo plus shipping
(Hardwood priced upon request)

Contemporary Hall/Entry Table.
46"w x 16"d x 31.5"h.
Grain-matched Cocobolo veneer, clear, and ebonized ash.

$3,600.oo plus shipping
 

Ebonized Ash & Cherry
16.5"w x 16.5"d x 36"h
The distinctive basket weave illusion is created
with two levels of lap joined solid cherry to create
what appears to be woven leather. It's not. It's better.
$1,600.00 ea. Set (2 or more) price varies

My take on the Craftsman icon.
Rift and quartersawn Red Oak and figured maple.
Leather upholstery

54" x 18" x 19"
Solid Maple.

48" x 12" x 31.5"
Red Oak, Bird's Eye Maple Veneer, and Paduak.

My modern, minimalist version of the quintessential American camp chair.

Why this is the World's Best Adirondack® chair.

This unique design is the culmination of exhaustive research. By that I mean I was really tired of seeing really crappy versions of this traditional American camp chair. Most are made out of flimsy stock. Assembled with nuts and bolts, screws or, I even hate to type the word....nails. Then painted! Many are badly proportioned and the angles are often too severe for long term comfort. Really, it's exhausting to see such crap.

This chair, on the other hand, is comprised of angles of repose that comform to and facilitate the state-of-the-art in relaxation technologies.
Built from reincarnated 5/4" redwood, they are sturdy, stable, and give a new life to a venerable species that would otherwise have been relegated to landfill.

Each is handcrafted in the USA by an American. An American with hands. Namely, me. And my hands. And it takes a lot of time. Heck, it takes a whole lot of time just to turn what someone thought was trash into perfectly good, albeit a little battle weary, stock that can serve humans in the high pursuit of leisure. A pursuit befitting this most noble species.

Unlike most inferior interpretations of this folk art icon, the WBA features a curved seat and back that more naturally accommodate the curvature of the human anatomy. The angles of the seat and back have been rigorously tested to facilitate conversation while being perfectly conducive to star gazing, soul searching, or slack-jawed inebriated catatonia. More over, the sleek, minimal design will complement any environment from Craftsman to Ultra hipster modern. (But we neither endorse nor encourage the latter.)

The arms are sized and positioned for optimum support of human appendages and will comfortably accommodate a wide variety of plates, pupu platers, and beverage containers—from barley pop bottles and cans—to the most chi chi stem ware. Form and function. Emphasis on F U N.

This unique (copyright pending) design employs only traditional wood-to-wood joinery. No mechanical fasters of any kind. Advanced plastic resin glue and dowels form bonds that have lasted over 10 years (and counting). From the salt air of California's Central Coast to the perpetual moisture of the Pacific Northwest, minimal care is all that's required. In short, this chair will last decades. It could burn, though. So don't use it for fire wood. Unless, of course your survival depends on it. But even then....

A simple little chair. Dovetail seat slats.
33" x 16" x 19"
Solid Maple.

An homage to a chair designed by Massimo Vignelli.
Sooner or later, many graphic designers try their hand at furniture design. I saw this example in a documentary and took a screen shot. In many instances, form wins out over function, but in this case a very simple, elegant design has proven to be structurally sound and very comfortable.
It's also very easy on the eyes.
Salvaged Monterey Cypress and suede.

42" x 72"
Vertical Grain Douglas Fir and corrugated galvanized steel.

Deceptively simple tables.
White Oak with Claro Walnut accents.

Comprised of just eight pieces, sliding dovetails join the legs to the top. The stretcher locks and steadies the legs. The walnut keys lock the legs in place, most likely...forever.

14" x 14" x 31.5"
Figured Maple and Claro Walnut

42" x 76"
Vertical Grain Fire and Galvanized Corrugated Steel.

Help for the vertically challenged.
Solid Cherry.

42" x 29" x 31.5"
Salvaged vertical grain Douglas Fir, with brass dowels and Cocobolo trim.

Three occasional tables, useful individually, and as a group.
16" x 16" x 24" (each)
Figured Maple, book-matched spalted Maple, Cocobolo. 

60" x 34" x 32:
Vertical Grain Fir, ebonized Baltic Birch plywood, Cherry.

Designed to be as light as possible yet capable of supporting multiple computer monitors. Desk tops are supported by torsion box ribbing. Leg columns are hollow to save weight and show no broad grain. Trusses provide strength and stability and add an industrial look.