I aspire to make good things, with my own hands, for people I can meet. The quality of a thing depends on everything that goes into it-- from the philosophy of the maker through to the materials used to build it. I strive to use the most excellent materials I can find, salvage locally, or buy from my community. My hope is for the things I make to be a joy to use, pleasant to look at and lasting. I love working with my hands, because I learn from my hands. Physically interacting with the material pushes my mind to find appropriate and fitting solutions that are unavailable without putting my hands to the task. Because I am making each piece myself, I am in control of the making process, the quality of materials and integrity of the building methods. Meeting the people I make things for yields a much greater insight into a client's actual tastes, wants and needs for a piece. Many times the process of meeting an individual, brainstorming and sketching with them, and finally building a beautiful and useful piece for their home transforms a client into a friend.

I approached this piece formally and structurally, thinking through joinery techniques and aesthetics to arrive at a synthesis of the original and the materials I had on hand. A piece of shingle-style cedar siding provided the influence for a low-angle taper, which I ended up carrying throughout this piece. The feather edge allowed me to make a piece which feels visually light while retaining the overall dimensions and keeping the core thickness to ensure substantial joinery. The tapering legs, the feathered edges and the dovetails all have complimentary and similar angles. The central spine is solid mahogany, providing a reference to the splines in the original while simultaneously tying the two mahogany legs together both visually and structurally. Subtle curves between the tops and the spine, along with an ebonized finish, set off the spine as a detail, referencing the original. Lets at the corners provide space, catching the eye and giving the top a floating appearance. This Chaboo variation was a pleasure to make.