This pair of 3-drawer demilune chests was made for clients of Lifestyle Interiors, a local interior designer.  Demilune is a word of French origin, and means half-moon.  The half-moon curved shape of these chests was an excellent design choice for the foyer of the Middleburg, VA home where they reside.

The star of these chests is pie-matched mahogany crotch grain, which is the grain pattern found in the trunk of a tree as it branches in two.  The inlay work is done in satinwood, and adhered traditionally using hide glue.  The drawer pulls are brass, from White Chapel Hardware, LTD.

The Koi Pond Coffee Table is an original design.  It was first shown at the 2014 Philadelphia Invitational Furniture Show. 

The marquetry, glass tabletop, and curved base are designed to evoke the look and feel of a koi pond.  The marquetry’s butternut background and walnut shadows create a 3-dimensional appearance for the fish and lily pads.  The base is a series of bent laminations, made of ash, that combine for a graceful pond outline.

The glass for this table is expertly made by Dulles Glass and Mirror.

Photos by Teresa Arthur Photography.

This unique piece is an ergonomically designed desk for a Missouri customer who wanted to stand for his daily reading and writing.  This beautifully designed piece is part of a trend of furniture for people who prefer to stand while they work.  It is made of Black Walnut with a reading surface and drawer front of remarkable Laurel Burl.

The design collaboration with the client resulted in a desk tailored to his specific requests and ergonomic needs.  He wanted a clean contemporary look with no visible hardware.  The height and angle of the reading surface were made to his preference.  The rear of the bookshelf was canted downward so gravity would assist holding books in place with no need for a bookend.  The shelf was moved back to clear knee space, and an aluminum-lined foot rest was added.  For storage space, I included a large drawer and partitioned space under the hinged reading surface.  Sections within both sides of the tabletop extend for additional space, for things like a coffee mug.

The interior’s partitioned space has ‘free’ office supplies with marquetry images of pens, pencils and a paper clip inlayed in the surface.

The simple beauty of the curved legs in the Alton Coffee Table led me to experiment with a similar but more unique design.

      The result is the Mappa Burl Coffee Table.  The star feature of this piece is the stunning Mappa Burl that adorns the tabletop.  Its random scatter of knots and 3-dimensional grain is hand finished and buffed to display an exceptionally beautiful wood.  The edge is American Cherry, in a waterfall grain pattern.  A clean line of brushed aluminum inlay rings the boundary of these two woods.

      The base consists of a gracefully curved tripod.  Each leg is anchored by a series of brushed aluminum rods.  The legs meet at the center in a simple but graceful geometric intersection.  The simplicity of lines within the complex design allows wood's beauty to be the main feature of this stunning coffee table.

First photo by Teresa Arthur Photography.

The Game Cube Table is an original design inspired by an idea from my wife.  It was first shown at the 2013 Smithsonian Craft Show. 

The creative design stems from a cube that can be lifted, turned, and placed back into the table to expose any of six faces.  Three faces are game boards for chess, checkers, backgammon, and Scrabble.  The remaining faces are an inlaid compass rose, a tumbling blocks pattern, and a field of maple burl.  A drawer under the cube holds all game pieces, and springs open with a gentle push.

This piece is sized to function as an end table.  It can reside next to your favorite chair, its glass top waiting to hold your drink with no fear of leaving a ring on a wood surface.  Whenever it’s time for a round of your favorite game, this table is ready to go.

A prospective customer called to ask if I would make a desk for his wife.  She was preparing to be ordained as a Moravian minister, and he wanted a special gift to recognize this milestone.  He wanted a desk style that would fit in a church environment or in their home, as well as a Bible stand to use on the desk.  From his ideas, I designed & drew a proposal that became the desk shown here.  Its design draws upon mission style furniture.  The front panels incorporate marquetry of the Duke Divinity school symbol, and the Moravian symbol.  The panels are removable and reversible, and held in place with embedded magnets.  It is made of African mahogany, which is noted for its beautiful ribbon stripe grain pattern.  I delivered it to a super-secret location in Raleigh, NC, where it awaited presentation day. 

Making things that become meaningful gifts is very rewarding.  It was a privilege to design and make this desk.

The Alton Coffee Table was a special one-of-a-kind piece, designed and made for clients in California.  It was the result of a careful long-distance collaboration with the clients to arrive at this final design.  

The tabletop is fashioned of exquisite African makore with a mahogany border.  The makore’s striking crotch grain pattern is carefully matched in a six piece pie-match.  The table’s base is mahogany, formed to graceful curves that match other furniture the clients have collected.

The most unique aspect of the Alton Coffee Table’s design is the silver and ebony inlay that adorns the tabletop surface.  These elements, as well as the base’s centerpiece, are interpretations of Limoges porcelain patterns.  The final product is a striking and unique coffee table, designed and made to compliment the Alton street address where it resides.

The Marcum Office began as a desk to be built of black walnut that had been harvested by the client’s grandfather from their Missouri family farm.  After a lengthy collaboration, we arrived at a design for a custom workspace tailored to her work habits.

Her desire was for a clean contemporary look that would showcase the black walnut.  Drawer pulls were cut within the drawer fronts in a European style, eliminating the need for distracting hardware.  The workspace included several features such as a ventilated cabinet for her computer, hidden channels to conceal cables, a drawer for an ergonomic keyboard, and customized compartments within drawers.

The project grew to include built-in file cabinets & bookcases.  Two alcoves were fitted with file drawers and topped with walnut countertops & bookcases.  I retained the black walnut's natural edges as a design element, resulting in a simple but elegant look that is repeated in the top moldings of the bookcases.  I also repeated the desk’s drawer pull design for the file drawers.  

The end result was a beautiful and functional home office made from meaningful family walnut. 

Made from African etimoe, this dining table features an inlaid 32-piece compass rose at the tabletop’s center and base.  When the leaf is added, the star splits to become two.  The stars are surrounded by pie-matched etimoe burl, providing a rich and unusual background for the intricate inlaid star design.

The pedestal’s base plate creates a low center of gravity, resulting in a very solid and stable table, even when the leaf is added.  I chose the combination of straight-grained and burl etimoe for its beautiful colors.  Under strong light, the burl reflects a beautiful spectrum of colors throughout its irregular grain pattern.

This piece won honorable mention in the 2006 Craftsman’s Challenge competition, and resides with a wonderful customer inPennsylvania.

The Dysart Bench is one of the most interesting pieces I have designed and made.  The customer wanted a bench to give his wife for their 30th anniversary.  He also provided the primary material; weathered oak boards that had been recovered during the restoration of a home near Upperville, VA.  The boards were significant because the home was once owned by George Washington.  

The challenge was to design a piece that paid homage to the historical value of the material, as well as the sentimental value of an anniversary gift.  I shaped smooth seats into the weathered boards, leaving the original weathered surfaces around the edges.  The stretcher was made from the last two remaining boards, neither of which was long enough to make the full stretcher.  So I made an oval connector, which became a “canvas” for marquetry to commemorate the anniversary.

Today the bench resides within an alcove in the foyer of the Dysart’s home.  An alcove especially made to be the home for this special bench.

A wonderful customer in Colorado wanted a credenza to match a desk I had previously made for him.  He wanted the design to include a falcon because his company’s logo features a falcon.  I retained the same design features as his desk, using mahogany as the primary wood with a border of curly maple.  I decorated the credenza’s front doors with an in flight falcon in marquetry against a mountainous skyline.  The doors use concealed hinges, and there are adjustable shelves within.

I made this kitchen island for a local customer.  The family wanted an island that would satisfy specific storage needs, while matching the kitchen’s décor.  The kitchen has rustic oak cabinetry and a hardwood floor.  It was important for the island to appear authentically antique, with worn painted edges.

So I made a large quartersawn oak tabletop that matched the look and feel of a butcher’s block.  The tabletop’s breadboard ends allow for seasonal wood movement.  Joinery within the tabletop was left visible, as is often seen in antiques.  The base holds three dovetailed drawers that can be opened from either side of the island.  Behind the center door is a storage bin and one extendable drawer.  The storage space at each end holds an adjustable shelf.  The heavy weight of this piece makes for a solid and stable kitchen island.

Wonderful customers in Arlington, VA wanted a versatile dining table that would seat four comfortably, but could expand for up to ten people.  This size and leaf configuration fit their available space and satisfied the requirement.  The table has a split pedestal that separates when leaves are added.  Other dining tables in this portfolio use a single pedestal configuration.

This dining table is made from pie-matched black walnut with an outer satinwood and ebony border.  It measures 56” in diameter and accepts one or two leaves for expanded lengths of 76” or 96”.  These pictures show the table with one leaf installed.

This project was an example of making a versatile dining table that could adapt to a variety of needs within specific dining room space.

I made this mahogany display case for clients of Lifestyle Interiors, a local interior designer.  This is a very large case, measuring 7 ½’ tall, 5’ wide, and 1 ½’ deep.  Its purpose is to display a variety of special items collected from around the world.

Glass and mirrors were an important part of this project.  All were precisely cut and provided by Dulles Glass & Mirror of Manassas, VA.  The interior LED lighting, by Haffele, can be dimmed and adjusted for color temperature with a handheld remote control.  The brass door hinges and pull are from White Chapel Hardware in Jackson, Wyoming.

This versatile standing desk fulfills a variety of needs.  The client wanted a desk where he could comfortably sit or stand to read or write.  The solution was a standing desk with a matching stool and an adjustable surface.  It is made of walnut, with stunning laurel burl and ebony inlay.

For writing, the desktop lies flat with a 42” wide surface that grows 16” when 2 drop leaves are extended.  A center drawer, with pencil tray, provides storage for writing tools and stationery.

For reading, the tabletop’s center panel can be raised to a comfortable angle of choice for a book or tablet.  A second lift releases the panel to return to its flat position.  Bookshelves on either side accommodate large books and binders.  The desk’s 42” height is ergonomically tailored to the client’s 6’ height.

This desk is proud to reside in a beautiful Washington DC office that overlooks the capitol.

Photos by Teresa Arthur Photography.

This rocking chair is a replica of a design by Sam Maloof, a famous woodworker in California.  In 2009, Sam passed away at the age of 93, after an amazing 60+ year career as a woodworker.  His contribution to woodworking was legendary, and he encouraged others to adapt his designs to their projects.  It was my pleasure to meet Sam Maloof in 2001. 

This rocking chair is made of walnut with maple accents within the rockers.  It was one of the most challenging pieces I’ve ever made.  The chair’s curves and shapes required hours of careful work with traditional hand tools.

This beautiful pair of corner display cases was commissioned by Shoshana Datlow of Lifestyle Interiors for a client’s home.  She designed the mahogany cases to provide illuminated display space in adjacent corners of the home’s dining room.  These floor-to-ceiling cabinets provide ample storage space while the corner design consumes a minimal footprint of floor space.

The cabinets feature crotch grain mahogany in the bottom doors and top panel.  Fluted columns adorn the sides of each case.  Beveled glass in the doors and solid brass handles provide elegant details.  The cases are linked to a wall-mounted dimmer switch for the interior display lights.

This pair of corner cabinets flank an entrance to the dining room, and provide an impressive way to display family heirlooms.

This coffee table is another in the series of curved leg bases.  It features a tabletop with a six-piece pie match of American Cherry surrounded by Macassar Ebony in a waterfall grain pattern.  A thin line of Holly inlay separates the two, as well as inlay that geometrically traverses lines and curves within the tabletop.  The hand-rubbed urethane finish is topped with a buffed wax protective layer that provides a smooth satin sheen.

This table was made to be given as a graduation gift.  Important lifetime events, like graduations and weddings, are perfect occasions to give special gifts.  A uniquely designed piece of furniture can be that special gift that goes on to become a family heirloom that’s handed down for generations.

I first designed and made the Rocking Horse cradle to give as a gift.  Since then I’ve made several more for clients and relatives.  The cradle pictured here is made from crotch grain mahogany with a satinwood border.  The rockers and curved tops are solid wood bent laminations.  The inlaid rocking horse could also be a monogram or another image.  It is sized to accommodate standard cradle linens available from www.aBaby.com.

This Cocktail Table is a beautiful and functional centerpiece to a home that was professionally decorated by Lifestyle Interiors of The Plains, VA.  It is fashioned of mahogany with fluted legs.  The tabletop features a repeating marquetry border of mahogany and satinwood.  The beveled glass tabletop and lower shelf offer generous space for books and periodicals.

The table’s well-executed design contributes to an elegant, comfortable, and functional home space.

Moor Green is a historic home in Manassas, Virginia.  It is on the National, State and County Registers of Historic Places.  It is also a private residence, whose owners commissioned this tabletop to recognize the property and the families who have owned it over more than 200 years.

The tabletop is fashioned of pie-matched American cherry and features the Moor Green symbol in the center.  A marquetry border displays the eight family names who have owned the property, along with the year and an image of the American flag at that time.  This tabletop is 6 ½ feet in diameter, a size that comfortably seats seven people.  It is mounted on a brick base that is a portion of the home’s original outer wall.  The addition of a kitchen to the home created the space for this special tabletop.

I adapted the look and feel of a 1930’s Morris Chair into the design of this bench.  Although Morris Chairs are traditionally made from quartersawn oak, this bench is crafted from walnut.  I used lighter colored maple accents in the feet, and in inlay lines in the front stretcher and along the back rail.  The highlight is the fox and vine marquetry work on the back oval and along the stretcher. 

The leather upholstery was superbly done by Wilbanks and Wolfrom of Warrenton, VA.

The end result is a unique, comfortable, and beautiful bench.

This large table is the boardroom table for PolyCello, a product packaging company in Nova Scotia, Canada.  PolyCello’s logo is a compass rose, which is matched by the compass rose in this table.

The table is made of Columbian mahogany, and features an 8-point compass rose in the center surrounded by a pie-matched field of laurel burl.  When the table is split for a leaf, the compass rose splits to become two.  The compass rose theme is repeated in the base.

At 6 feet in diameter, the table easily seats 8.  Adding the 24” leaf increases seating capacity to 10 – 12.

It was a privilege to design and make this table for PolyCello.  They are consistently rated as one of Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies.

The Slab Desk is an original design.  It combines the unique look of a thick slab with an angled base.  Although massive in appearance, the piece is lightweight.  The desktop is made from Karelian Birch Burl, which comes from Finland and Russia.  The amazing grain of this beautiful wood is mirrored in four quadrants.  The angled bases are made from Black Walnut and Butternut (aka White Walnut).  The textured edges are hand carved. 

This desk is as functional as it is beautiful.  A hidden drawer accommodates a full size keyboard.  There's also a place to hide computer and phone cables.  Removable grommets lead to internal channels for cables.  A built-in power strip takes power cords, leaving one cord that discreetly exits the bottom to the nearest outlet.  Bases are removable from the desktop, so it ships and stores easily.  Adjustable feet adapt to any floor, so the desk sets firm, level, and free of wobble. 

This buffet was designed and made as part of a professional interior remodel by Lifestyle Interiors of Middleburg, VA.  There were several requirements.  The buffet had to match in color and style with other mahogany pieces in the room.  The room's large size called for a large buffet with adequate storage space inside.

The mahogany buffet is 9 ½ feet long.  Crotch mahogany on the door panels adds an impressive and elegant look to the piece. Interior drawers are mounted on heavy duty extenders to ease access to stored items.

Photos one & two are courtesy of Mona Botwick Photography.

Debbie called to ask for a coffee table for her husband Steve’s birthday.  From the website, she liked the ebony coffee table with a compass rose.  I suggested a few design changes, and she agreed. 

This table has four tapered black legs.  The 16-point inlaid compass rose is made from holly and etimoe.  The ebony pie-matched grain pattern extends to the tabletop’s edge, and “waterfalls” to the side over an ebony bevel. It is finished with a water-based varnish, polished to a mirror sheen.  Delivery day was a joy as the surprise was maintained until I knocked on the door.

A local hospice organization (Hospice Support of Fauquier County) called to ask if I would make a Tree of Life display for their office in Warrenton, VA.  They had considered commercially available Tree of Life displays, but wanted something more unique.

After some research, I submitted a proposal and made a ¼ scale model of the display for the Board’s consideration.  The model was necessary to show what the full-size product would look like, and it guided my decisions on the most appropriate woods and techniques to use.  The project was approved, and the result was this 52” x 52” display, with 2 side panels.

Over time, Hospice Support will add personalized leaves and birds to the display to recognize contributors and volunteers to their cause.  This was an interesting and rewarding project that I hope will serve Hospice Support well for years to come.

Learn more at this journal entry.

A classmate from our days at the US Air Force Academy called to inquire about a coffee table.  He wanted a table that would display memorabilia from his Air Force and commercial flying careers.  He also wanted our 1979 class crest prominently displayed.  Collaboration began that resulted in this table.

Each side of the table houses a shallow drawer under glass to display items.  The center panel’s class crest is done in hand-cut marquetry within a border of aluminum inlay.  The table is made of walnut.  The drawer bottoms reflect the Academy’s terrazzo pattern using ash burl and holly.

Made from macassar ebony, this elegant writing desk features marquetry of a wandering vine over a gold trellis.  The marquetry work adorns the fronts of three dovetailed drawers.  Two pullouts add convenient extra space when needed, and repeat the wandering vine theme.

I chose macassar ebony as the primary wood for its rich colors.  Careful grain matching provides a symmetry in this piece that must be seen to be appreciated.  Gentle curves down the side of each leg terminate in solid brass feet.  It’s a luxurious piece that I am proud to have designed and made.

The Zebrawood Desk was made to satisfy several objectives.  The clients wanted a large desk for a corner of their newly remodeled home office.  Since the family would share the desk, they wanted plenty of drawer space.  It would reside in a room with a stone floor, with un-level imperfections.

I designed a large (6 ½' long) desk with 3 large drawers.  They liked zebrawood, with its long straight grain and spectrum of brown hues.  The tabletop is bordered by sycamore with a line of ebony inlay.  The drawer fronts and aprons share the same wood combination.  The aprons and drawer fronts have a curved arch that adds a graceful line to the overall appearance.  Tapered legs add the final touch for an elegant look.

To accommodate the stone floor, each leg has adjustable feet pads that allow the desk to sit firm and level, without wobble.  The durable finish is varnish, hand polished to a mirror gloss surface.

- the dining table of your dreams

- that customized desk for your home office

- a special hand-crafted gift for graduation next Spring

- a gift for that upcoming Anniversary

- a coffee table that hides the remotes

- or whatever's on your mind