I started woodworking with my father’s now antiquated tools, 50 years ago. My first projects were functional, but very rudimentary, built from scrap pine packing crates. My father was trained as a master machinst, and put that skill set into his woodworking projects. This instilled in me the love of wood and making something from “nothing”. Always practical, projects were not intended as artwork, but useful furniture and built-ins, that in the quality of design, and execution of construction, had their own artistry.

Over the years during my time in the Navy, undergraduate, and even graduate school, woodworking kept me grounded, an outlet that grew in sophistication. I read several cabinetmaking periodicals in the days before the internet, made friends with fellow “wood-nuts”, and when I had time worked in my gradually larger and better established shop. All the time I was looking to acquire local wood and logs for my projects that gradually grew in scope and complexity, as I continued to learn.

While I built furniture for ourselves, a few pieces for family members, time demands of my family and professional career precluded much more than that until retirement. Once we completed our retirement home in the mountains of N.C., I finally had the time, space, tools and a very tolerant wife to spend the time in my shop “making sawdust”. Then COVID appeared and plans to travel and act like normal retired folks went out the window. So I stayed in my shop, using various hardwoods acquired over the years coupled with my accumulated skill set and built more furniture than we or our kids had room for. Therefore with an unintended inventory of furniture and quite frankly feeling the need to be creative, I decided to market my work.

Some cabinetmakers strive to be artistic, building evermore elaborate pieces that are designed more to look at that use. I have always taken a different tact by making high quality, very well constructed furniture that while visually appealing, is intended to be used, enjoyed and enduring. I want my customer to know that I build for you, your children and grandchildren.

Each piece I build takes many hours to mill the lumber, build it and apply a multi-step finish. I strive to do what the furniture companies can no longer do, make high quality furniture that will stand the test of time at a fair cost.

My shop is open to visitors and I can be easily reached through this website or text. I look forward to meeting you one day.

All the best,
H. Bruce Koch MD