I recently finished a built-in home office desk made from one of my favorite woods: Cherry. Look at that color!

While I was building it, I had ample time to contemplate the things that set custom-made furniture apart from pre-made pieces. One thing that makes this piece special is the care that I used when I was choosing each piece of wood.

Cherrywood has a LOT of variation, as you can see even in these unfinished boards.

The big left-hand board is fairly bland, while the one right next to it has an arrow-like pattern of ribboning. (This is another reason I love cherry... it can have a lot of depth and interest in the grain.)

As I added the first coats of poly, you could really see the difference.

When I built the drawers, I chose pieces that made a continuous wrap-around pattern, so they're as pretty on the inside as they are on the outside.

The sides of the desk also wrap around to match the header.

I got an especially pretty piece for the top. It's hard to get photos of wood grain, so you'll just have to use your imagination when I say that it had complex patterns that threw back gleams of light.

The desk really transformed the wall, which went from small and bland...

... to big and bold!

The cherrywood will darken over time and become redder as well, so this desk will just get better with age.

If your home office could use a little pizzazz, we can do that for you. And we'll pay attention to all the little details, too.

... ESPECIALLY if you already love white rooms.

But before I show it off, allow me a quick comment. In the past decade or so we've seen a lot of people paint their furniture, especially those who prefer airy, contemporary rooms in a neutral palette. And don't get me wrong... I love painted furniture and some of my favorite projects have been painted plain white.

But dark, rich brown wood has its place in light-colored rooms. It makes a beautiful foil against the white walls, and it can have complex grains which bring texture and interest to what would otherwise be a bland space.

Walnut is one of my favorite dark woods. It's got a chocolatey purple undertone and a grain pattern which, while subtle compared to oak, can often include arched patterns that add an Art Deco touch.

​Case in point: our latest project.

A custom built-in AV cabinet in a bright, contemporary living room.

Or do you like it better without doors?

It's really hard to capture the beauty of this wood in a photograph, because grain patterns move with the light. They glimmer and shimmer.

​But here's my best attempt:

There's a satiny ribbon effect that really catches the eye.

By the way, the shelves are adjustable in height to allow you to store larger items like stereo equipment or a hidden TV. I love the versatility of this piece. It could be a pantry, a clothes closet, a display case... you name it.

And it's eight feet tall and four feet wide, so it's much more substantial in real life.

If you've got a modern room that needs a little architectural interest, give us a call. We'll help you design a piece that changes your space... and lets you store all your stuff out of sight... so you can live a clutter-free, stress-free life.

If your family loves to do paperwork (or homework) in the dining room, this is a great solution for keeping everything tidy.

At first glance it's a cozy built-in banquette... which is already really cool... but wait, there's more!

​It opens up to reveal a hidden "secretary" desk where you can stash your papers and books.

We started by building the case in our studio. As you can see, the benches are also hollow, with flip-top lids to hide large objects. You could even hide a computer router in here, and stash the laptop behind the seat, to make a home office that's invisible when it's not in use.

The dining room we installed it in was fairly small...

...so the built-in banquette seating made efficient use of the space.

You may notice that there were a few changes to the design. For example, we added two doors to the back instead of one, and painted the bottom kick to match the baseboard. That's what sets custom furniture apart: the ability to customize it to your preferences.

With cushions and pillows, the built-in windowseat became a comfortable place to relax with a book and a mug of tea.

If you've got stuff all over the dining room table, this banquette could help you reclaim your eating area but still have a place to stash things out of site. Give us a call to get one for your home, so you can be beautifully organized.

Our latest project is perfect for when you've all been playing in the snow and you need a place to capture those wet boots and mittens.

Our customers have a goal of becoming a "no shoe" household to preserve their white carpets, but there was no place for people to sit down and take off their shoes.

As usual, we worked with them to create a 3D model. They weren't sure whether they wanted to use horizontal ship-lap or vertical V-groove panels, and this really helped them visualize it.

That's just the first draft; there were several rounds of revisions to add and remove features.

We eventually included a pair of figures in the model so we could put the hooks at the right height for kids to reach them, while making them high enough to be easy for Dad to use.

Models are always theoretical, and the customers and I made a few small tweaks while I was building the cubbies. We had hoped to build a bench with a single span from wall to wall, and I even tested several methods support it in the middle. But in the end we decided that there was still too much flex, especially since several people might be sitting on the bench together.


Speaking of the bench, the homeowners requested a hardwood seat. I used a beautiful piece of oak which I stained to coordinate with the floors.

The final piece turned out really well. One of the homeowners said that she was surprised that such a big piece of furniture would make a small room feel larger.

On the other side of the foyer is a pair of French doors which I also installed, so the whole space has that elegant feeling which traditional moldings bring to a room.

We can bring the same beautiful style to your home. Just shoot us an email with your ideas. We'll be glad to help.

No pun intended, but is this fireplace hot or what?

I've had this project on the website for awhile now, but I recently got a chance to stop by and snap a picture with the books on it.

Here's what the room looked like before we added the shelves, mantel and cabinets. It was a nice, airy room but somewhat bland.

​And as with most fireplaces, the chimney breast butted out into the room, leaving awkward niches on either side.

We filled those niches with cabinets which are perfect for hiding electronics.

We've done several projects where we've turned the awkward space next to the fireplace into useful and beautiful storage.

We can help you design a solution for the little niches next to your fireplace. Just give us a call.