Forest to Table Woodworking

Contrast. These days it is so often overlooked. White, grey, and black dominate the landscape but a focal point like a coffee table needs stopping power and contrast is the key. Grain, colour, and dimension can be manipulated to compliment or contrast and hit any part of the spectrum in between. This coffee table is exactly what contrast can bring to a living space. Intense figure hidden away in the hickory’s prominent grain is given depth through colour manipulation and blac...k epoxy. Reclaimed chestnut barn timbers, resawn into every component of the table base, offer a complimentary open grain while forming the perfect backdrop for both a white dye and a white grain filler. A distant glance immediately draws your eye to the tabletop. Closer inspection reveals the old nail heads, insect damage, and magnificent texture behind the winter white exterior of the chestnut timbers. Separate, they are beautiful expressions of what their species has to offer. Together, they are a work of art. #f2twoodworking

Coming soon to Red Dragon Dairy, my largest piece to date! An enormous live edge counter top and a few other interesting additions to the store front. Stay tuned!

With great anticipation the Byers family table has arrived! The silver maple bookmatched table top and matching bench pair beautifully with the ebonized red oak legs. Clear epoxy gives life to the table-length voids and the high-grit Osmo finish brings a new level of lustre. Enjoy :)

Gift-season is upon us and the first of many sets is complete. This set is an interesting one. Three pieces - three species all rapidly declining from the landscape. Disease and land use change are two driving factors for species decline. In this case you have an American elm cutting board (top) and live edge coaster made from butternut (right) and hawthorn (left). Elm and butternut have been in decline from their respective fungal diseases for decades and hawthorn is constantly displaced due to changing farm practices and loss of shrubland. All three were cut dead-standing and exhibit beautiful grain patterns. The hawthorn was dyed to add contrast and finished with a thinned poly. The butternut and elm were soaked in mineral oil and buffed with a combination of danish oil and orange oil. #f2twoodworking

Barn board this, barn board that... with down-time comes home improvement projects and a barn board accent wall almost seems obligatory these days. For good reason!! Just look at it - a mix of degraded floor boards, joists, and dry-rotted timber combines to make something multi-dimensional and pleasing to take in. Knowing me there has to be a little twist and in this case it’s not just an accent wall, but an accent ceiling. Whether I am actually at the forefront of this particular trend I’ll never know but stay tuned for pictures.