The passion never wore out. To this day, I’m still trying to find more time to jot down and keep track of all the designs I’m excited to build. The difference is that now I have a shop, the tools, the staff and the resources to bring those ideas to life. The only piece I could use a little more of is time!

Having some level of design risk involved always keeps things exciting too, so I do like to play with balance and proportions in a way that grabs attention. When people find that a design looks risky or unstable — it is actually quite to the contrary — it really ups the ante.

Beyond that, curved lines tickle my fancy. I find that when I encounter curves, I tend to relax a lot. My body says, “yes,” right away.

“We have overall shapes that seek to say something, but the wood tells the story of the tree within that canvas. The best projects have a visceral unity between the design and the grain patterns.”

The computer gives legibility to designs that makes it very easy for the shop to produce. When it was just me, I would figure out all of the part sizes and details in my head, but I’ve gotten much more organized with it all over the years as more craftsmen have come into the shop.

Then we get started making templates and cutting wood. This is where “Dancing Grains” come into play and the wood begins to speak. We have overall shapes that seek to say something, but the wood tells the story of the tree within that canvas. The best projects have a visceral unity between the design and the grain patterns. Every piece creates a dance between the design and the material.

At this point, the details tend to come out at least as good as the vision, but they often have an even more striking influence.

Thus begins the exchange of driving energies. Our customers get inspired by what they see and bring their leanings to the table. With our experience and expertise, we can guide the process toward a design that is most functional and aesthetically appealing for them.

Urban logs are the most sustainable form of lumber available because these trees are coming down regardless of whether we are able to use them. We do not lose any standing trees that could live on to sequester carbon for years to come, we do not consume as much fuel in transport and we save these amazing logs from the chipper!

I think Americans are tired of the chain of heartless consumer goods and are becoming more interested in being surrounded in a space with furnishings that have a story to tell, offer more energy back and add to the overall greater good. By sourcing this way, we are doing the most we can to offset our environmental impact, while also bringing materials from the area with an emotional significance.

Beyond time in the outdoors, relaxation for me involves not doing. There’s so much to do on a daily basis that just setting it down and turning it all off is best for me. My home helps me do that by not being too much more or less than what I need.

If your home is created with the beauty and abundance that you want to experience in your life, there’s no way it can’t affect you toward that end. It’s sort of like an energetic investment — with diligence and care, you choose what you surround yourself with and over time it becomes easier to be on the best path for you.