John's Custom Furniture

I’ve been building furniture for about 20 years. It’s custom furniture, but it’s just a hobby.

To make custom furniture, you must learn everything from wood selection to the finishing process. Design. The proper use of hand tools and power tools. Carving and turning, since both are necessary for making period furniture.  Working with solid wood and veneer. How to source materials, since you can’t find these items at Canadian Tire!

Studying with carver Mary May

It’s a never-ending learning process.  My approach has been to take courses  with some of the best in the business.

Over the past 20 years I have studied with (in no particular order): Garrett Hack, Hendrik Varju, Mark Paddison, Bess Naylor, Rob Cosman, Mickey Callahan, Darrell Peart, Mary May, Mike Pekovich and Paul Ross. Incredibly talented people in Canada and the U.S. who build and teach and write about custom furniture-making at the highest levels.

I am currently an Associate Editor with the Society of American Period Furniture Makers (SAPFM) eMagazine “Pins & Tales”