People often ask me how I got into furniture making.  I tell them that I became a furniture maker because I couldn't find the right chairs for my dining room table.  During the search process, I actually thought to myself, "I guess I'll just have to make my own chairs!"  At this time, I had never built anything out of wood (or any other material).  So, I enrolled in a community education class: Beginning Woodworking.  Three months later, I had built a coat rack - a long way off from those dining room chairs, but on track for a new career!  I devoured all the local classes I could over the next two years and built as much as I could with all the community education class time I could buy (living in an apartment, this was the only shop space I had).  Realizing that my hobby had quickly turned into my passion, I left my full-time job to focus solely on furniture making.

Already a college graduate, I knew I wanted to take a different approach to traditional schooling, so I became an apprentice; first to Berthold Schwaiger at the Bauhaus Apprenticeship Institute (now defunct since the founder's death ) and then to the renowned maker, designer and author Jeff Miller of J. Miller Handcrafted Furniture, both in Chicago, IL.  After gaining nearly a year and a half of invaluable experience, I moved back to Minneapolis and set up shop of my own.  Five years later, I have quickly earned a reputation as an accomplished furniture maker and craftsman.

In the first show that I entered, the Northern Woods Exhibition, I won the "Top Drawer" award for my Pagoda Music Stand.  It was later pictured along with several other winners in Woodwork Magazine.  Then, in 2008 I had an article published for American Woodworker Magazine.  Issue #138, October/November 2008, features my Puritan Line Morris Chair and Ottoman in the American Masterworks section.   I was also selected to have a booth at the 9th Annual Twin Cities Arts & Craft Show.  It was a wonderful experience and since then I have participated in the 2009 Edina Art Fair and the 10th Annual Twin Cities Arts & Crafts Show.  My show schedule for 2010 will be available in the Spring.

I design most passionately in the Arts-and-Crafts, Shaker and Danish Modern traditions.  I design furniture to be simple, honest and direct. I seek solid shapes and lines, subtle details and harmonious proportions; furniture that looks and feels right.

I love the process of giving concrete form to the wishes of my clients.  It's wonderful to have the ability to stare at a blank piece of wood, imagine its form, and then bring it to life.  It's a combination of artistry and craftsmanship; a tangible expression of aesthetic judgment!  I work primarily in solid wood using a variety of traditional and contemporary construction methods.  This ensures that each piece can withstand the rigors of normal use (and abuse).  I also generally work with hand-applied finishes but realize that some furniture demands the use of modern lacquers. 

Furniture should be functional and great to look at.  It should move you to want to be around it; to sit in it, to sit at it, to display your dishes, your artwork, whatever it is; it should inspire you to use it.  My belief is that good furniture has the capacity to enrich people’s lives.

To learn more about my work, I invite you to explore my website.

I make custom furniture for my clients and for other furniture designers.  My own furniture can be found by selecting the DESIGNER'S PORTFOLIO link at the top of this page.  Furniture that I have constructed for other designers can be found by selecting the MAKER'S PORTFOLIO link.  The DRAWING BOARD link offers design ideas that have yet to be made.

If you would like to discuss a future project, my contact information and general pricing information can be found via the CONTACT link.

I hope you enjoy this site and that my work sparks your interest in custom-made fine-furniture. I look forward to working with you!  (And, no, I still haven’t made myself those dining room chairs. Maybe someday soon…)

Best Wishes,