I love to hunt for the perfect piece of wood – sometimes I’ll go through dozens just to find the right grain or unique feature. Once I find it, I start imagining how to highlight its natural beauty in a piece of furniture.

From there, I sketch out the design, refine the proportions, and figure out how all the parts will fit together. I’m especially interested in the joinery – I avoid screws and nails, using wooden pegs and dowels instead, and I try to learn something new with every project.

Before I start cutting, I think through how the piece will function and balance – especially important when working with live edge wood. Then I rough out the parts, do a quick mock-up, and refine the shapes and joints.

Sanding comes next: first to remove rough edges, then with a fine grit to smooth every surface. After final assembly, I finish the piece with orange oil and beeswax by hand – it's non-toxic and really brings out the grain. Then I get to do my favorite part: step back and enjoy the finished piece.