Laurie McKichan

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. And, although a relative newcomer to the ranks of full-time furniture makers, 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. The last two years I have received outstanding praise from the judges. Now, I'm excited to be involved in my second article for American Woodworker Magazine. Coming out in October 2008, it will feature my Puritan Line Morris Chair and Ottoman. The first article I was involved with, building a "Sapele Display Cabinet", is in issue #134 March 2008. Authored by Richard Helgeson, I was privileged to be asked to build the piece for the article.

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.

I believe commissioning original furniture should be an exciting experience, one in which the client and craftsman come together in the creation of something personal and distinctive. The commissioning process begins with a visit to your home to share and discuss ideas. We will consider the current physical environment and how the new piece will fit into the larger context of your own aesthetic sensibility. After this meeting, I will come back to you with sketches. Once we agree upon a direction, I do scaled drawings (as well as mock-ups and prototypes as needed). Upon approval of the drawings, work can begin! This process can take weeks or months. It depends upon your project and my work load. I will always keep you informed as to how your piece is progressing. I realize that designing and executing furniture becomes a very personal process for both of us. I want to ensure that upon delivering your piece, there are no surprises and that all you feel is peace of mind; knowing you received exactly what you expected and desired.

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,