THE PROCESS
Simple Designs came into being in December of 2004 as a one-person owned/operated 1500 square foot wood shop. Since then thousands of board feet of lumber have come in rough and left as finished furniture. The furniture is built one piece at a time for a specific purpose. Designs may be altered, but not reproduced. Each piece remains unique and custom in design and materials.
The construction of the furniture utilizes age-old methods of joinery, often using only hand tools. Each piece is cut, hand cleaned, and built using primarily wood and glue. The furniture contains few, if any, nails and screws. It relies instead on mortise and tenon, spline, tongue and groove, dovetail, and other joints.
The hardware, however, ranges from modern European hidden hinges and 100 pound drawer slides to more traditional bronze hinges and wood slides. The handles and knobs may be of handcrafted wood, various pre-made metal, or custom designed and cast bronze or iron.
The finishes I use are the most durable and beautiful available. Furniture is both looked at and used, so the finishes should reflect beauty and strength equally.
Most of the wood I use is cut and milled at a family run mill where sustainability and ecological soundness are essential values. This mill is a member of the American Tree Farm System as well as a lifetime member of the International Wood Collectors Society. I also use salvaged and recycled woods, often including 150+ year old Heart Pine, when available. I am often able to choose specific logs and oversee the milling process, thus allowing me to see the wood go from its most raw form to finished furniture.
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