PAINT AND TEXTURE:

Through the years Stephen has studied and worked in restoration from small pantry boxes to wonderful buildings.   He has been fascinated by the importance of "texture" and "finish".  Even as he scans the countless decorator magazines, it is obvious texture creates the ambiance whether in fabric, wall coverings or furniture.  Stephen believes that a fine creation can be destroyed by an inadequate finish.  Spending some time working with a sculptor friend whose medium is Styrofoam that he shapes and epoxy coats before applying stone effect finishes, Stephen was enlightened to a style of texturing previously unknown to him.  

This sculptor's techniques coupled with Stephen's years of study and practice of the painted finish has brought a new found dimension to a method already admired by his peers.  Great lengths are taken to bring the original colors, tones and character out of the historic wood we use in our furniture art.  In short, the trick is to bring forth the original time worn surface and not to produce a new one. 

You will find Stephen's furniture creates a relaxing and inviting warmth in your home for family and friends to enjoy.

As the turnings were hand-made by our forefathers, Stephen's turnings too are made one at a time, by hand.  Slight variances in calibration are welcome evidence of true hand work.  An even greater feat is to finish these turnings so they look 200 years old.  Paint has to be worn to the right degree in the right locations.  Even little details like the protruding peg worn ever so slightly by the abrasions of time truly denote the utmost attention to detail.

The interplay of deep contrasting colors has always been one of our unique traits.  Note here the addition on the panel of some light faux graining.

Our worn, textured, antique white paint has always been a favorite as it compliments any decor.

With proper manipulation of existing finishes and the (quite erratic at times) use of glazes, finishes can actually take on the look and feel of leather.

In these pictures, please be reminded that you are looking at brand new wood painted to look old and worn.

WOOD FINISH:

Our table tops were finished with a blend of marine spar varnish and boiled linseed oil.  Each coat penetrated the wood giving a finish that is in the wood and not on top of the wood.  With the building of many coats, we brought it to a luster and depth achieved unlike any other method.  Once our clients brought their table home, some found the maintenance to be a little overwhelming. 

In the August 2005 issue of Fine Woodworking magazine there is a comparison study of all the finishing products on the market today.  They found that "all but two performed well, but they were particularly impressed with the performance of Minwax Wipe-On Poly."  We tested it out ourselves and found it works just as well as the finish we were making and it is much easier for our customers to purchase a small can and maintain their treasured furniture art as needed.

Stephen pours on amber colored finish, which he lets soak into the wood of this tabletop.

Finish is being hand rubbed into the table.  Table is allowed to set for several minutes.  Occasionally more finish is rubbed into areas that are absorbing more finish than others.

First coat of finish after it has penetrated into the wood.

In this picture, Stephen is shown putting the same finish on his canoe paddle that he just put on the table top.  He figures that if the finish will hold up and is good enough for a paddle, it is definitely an optimal finish and surpasses any other finish for your table top.

FINISH MAINTENANCE:

Warning:  Cloths saturated with mineral spirits and/or varnish, left bunched up or in a pile, are highly combustible!