The art of custom woodworking -

Since man stopped living in caves and began building shelters to live in, he created furniture to serve as functional parts of his daily life, but it wasnt long before it evolved into a medium of creative expression.

In ancient Egypt it was elevated to an art form, when finely carved pieces of furniture were inlaid with ivory, gold and silver. In fact, the Egyptians were the first to use gold leaf foil to adorn their furniture. The ancient Greeks took things further and used precious metals and cushions with fine fabrics in their designs. They also brought a perfection of form to the principles of design that are still applied by designers today.

The Romans elaborated on the Greeks principles of design by adding curved lines and ornate carvings. In the Renaissance period the form of a piece of furniture became more important than its function. It wasnt until the 18th century that English designers achieved a balance of form and function, that has out lasted the fads of many generations since.

Some pieces of 18th century furniture have been auctioned off for over $370,000 - attesting to the value of the design as well as the workmanship. The creators of these master pieces knew their work would out live them, and that is the very heart of their craft - to design and build a piece of furniture that is functional, stunning to behold and will stand the test of time. They breathe a spirit of joy into their works that will be felt by many others for generations to come. It is a very noble way to live ones life, crafting a functional work of art that will inspire others.

Choosing to be Inspired -

Owning a piece of custom furniture today is not what it was a century ago. Then only the more wealthy were able to afford the luxury of having a skilled craftsman grace their home with rooms laid out in raised paneling and ornate cornices, custom cabinets and all kinds of furniture. It was a symbol of success and affluence.

Through the centuries as techniques and machines evolved, todays craftsmen are able to accomplish many of the complex tasks need to create a piece of fine furniture in less time than their predecessors and to a greater degree of quality. Despite the use of modern machinery the heart of the craftsman is still present in every aspect of his craft, maybe even more so since modern machinery has freed him from many of the mundane tasks required to build a piece of furniture.

In our 21st century way of life with all its modern conveniences the one thing that still stands the test of time is a finely crafted piece of furniture. And owning one becomes a cherished memory that passes from one generation to the next. When you walk into a room that has been transformed by the natural beauty of wood, and see the subtle pattern of the grain, the color and shape of the cornice, or the gentle and graceful lines of inlaid exotic woods, precious metals and stone. Youll begin to feel the warmth and majestic power that the room possesses, and find yourself caught up in a moment of pure joy as that power passes into you.

This is the secret of living well, its what our ancestors knew from the moment they began designing and refining their works. To live an exceptional life, you have to surround yourself with inspiring things.