I have always enjoyed working with my hands. I first became interested in building in high school as a summer volunteer on tenant improvements in rural Kentucky. Shortly after, I apprenticed with a carpenter to continue learning about building, and eventually decided to pursue a degree in architecture at Wentworth Institute of Technology in Massachusetts. 

While at college, I was drawn to design as I began to consider how buildings not only need to fulfill practical requirements but also how design choices affect the lives of the people who use them. 

After completing my degree, I apprenticed with a stair builder, an experience that allowed me to reconnect to the physical work of building. The refined skills of the craftsmen and their attention to detail, the material that filled the shop and the scale of the work all influenced my choice to continue to work with wood. Being surrounded by the colors, patterns, and smells of different types of wood excited my senses and interested me in their potential. 

With a desire to expand my skills to do detailed work on a more intimate scale, I went to work for a production furniture shop and then worked for a variety of cabinet shops. At the same time, I was reading any book or magazine I could find about woodworking. While I enjoyed reading about various techniques and trying them whenever I could, I felt that something was missing. 

When I discovered James Krenov’s books, they articulated what I had been seeking in my own furniture making. He wrote of a quiet reflective approach to woodworking and an intimacy with the wood; he writes about a process of composing a piece of furniture that reveals not only the maker’s skill but also his relationship to and understanding of the materials and the tools used. Each piece is created from this relationship between a woodworker, tools, and materials. 

In 1999, I had an opportunity to attend the renowned College of the Redwoods fine woodworking program, where Jim taught. With the guidance of Jim and the talented instructors, I immersed myself in this new way of woodworking. 

As a result of my background in architecture and woodworking, I bring a unique, full-service combination of design, carpentry, hand finishing and installation skills to every project.

Above all, I enjoy the challenge of building a piece that will offer a sense of discovery. I like to include small details, for example, intended to be noticed by a careful eye or a sensitive hand. I also always leave some questions unanswered, giving me the opportunity to let the material suggest a particular solution. Ultimately each piece is a balance of function, structure and aesthetics.

I look forward to having the opportunity to design and build something for you.

Steve