Beginning with the board
The studio rarely begins with a sketch alone. It begins by standing with the timber itself and asking what kind of presence it already holds.
Some pieces ask for calm continuity, where grain runs evenly and lets proportion speak first. Others ask for contrast, movement, and a more visible conversation between edge, figure, and natural irregularity.
A beautiful board is not always the right board. The right board is the one whose character belongs to the room and to the object being made.
For tables and statement pieces, the live edge can remain part of the final language. For cabinetry and more architectural forms, consistency and structure often matter more than drama.
- Grain direction shapes how the eye moves across the piece.
- Density and stability influence where timber can be used confidently.
- Color variation affects how quiet or expressive the final object feels.
Selection is less about perfection and more about intention. The goal is always to let the material feel inevitable once the piece is complete.
