WALNUT FURNITURE COLLECTION

Furniture Design

 

Woodworking is a skill that has been passed down for many generations in my family. My father, a woodworker, cabinetmaker, and self-taught draftsman has practiced the trade my entire upbringing and naturally became my main source of inspiration when considering a career in interiors and furniture design.

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This walnut furniture collection was our first joint collaboration. I embarked on the idea just prior to deciding to enroll in an academic program at the New York School of Interior Design, a decision I frankly did not have wholehearted confidence in at first. I drew sketches for a file cabinet, safe, nightstands, and bench and shared them with my dad, hoping that this would provide me the reassurance I hoped to gain that I, too, may be able to carry on the family legacy.

 

Over the course of several months, I was able to explore ideas important to me and my future goals as a designer, most significantly, sourcing wood from sustainably managed forests. Hardware, finishes, and a cohesive, consistent look for the collection were also important to my vision. I drew out plans, collaborated with a metalworker to get custom legs made for the nightstands, and coordinated with a draftsman to complete shop drawings and details of each piece that the woodworkers then referenced for fabrication. The furniture was carefully built, assembled, sanded down to a silky, soft touch, and coated with a water-based finish. Seeing designs of my own creation come to life was one of the most profound experiences of my earthly existence.