In 2004 John Rose found himself in a unique situation. Although he had retired from executive life, he was still too young to spend his days sitting in front of the television waiting for whatever would happen next. Instead, John founded Custom Furniture Creations, a company that utilizes the skills he had gained while involved in his twenty-year hobby of woodworking. We met with John recently, and listened as he outlined his philosophy of woodworking and the offerings of his new company;
Custom Furniture Creations is a woodworking shop specializing in all types of wooden creations. My work ranges from furniture items, such as tables, beds, and dressers, to specialty items like butcher blocks, rolling pins, gaming tables, picture frames, and pet coffins. I harvest all my own wood, cutting the trees down, taking them to the sawmill, and drying them in my kilns. I've personally known each piece of wood with which I work a year or more.
I enjoy creating pieces that reflect the variety and beauty found in nature. No two pieces are ever the same because no two trees are alike. Unlike many woodworkers, I use all of the different grains and shades inherent within a piece of wood to create a true work of art. However, I must give most of the credit to nature as she has created the beauty within the wood, I am merely enabling nature to exhibits it's work.
I strive to artistically enhance the wood's natural beauty and personality. Very few of my creations utilize stain to achieve the desired coloration. Instead, I choose species of wood that will match the colors already found in your living room, dining room, kitchen, or wherever the furniture I'm building will be placed. Almost all the finishes I do are hand rubbed, meaning that the wood becomes deeply embedded with the natural oils I apply as a result of the heat generated from my hands during the rubbing process. This technique not only enables deeper penetration of the oils, but also makes the wood last longer.
Everything I create is hand built using mostly hand tools instead of machinery. I utilize very little metal in the construction process, preferring instead to rely on strong, precision fitted joints that will stand the test of time.
A piece of furniture created from 100% real wood is a living, breathing creation that needs specialized care. If the furniture was built correctly, it will allow the various pieces to expand, live, and breathe. An all-wooden piece of furniture that lives and breathes is healthy and strong, and the best way to take care of a piece of it is to treat it like your skin. Just as you need to keep your skin soft and moist in the wintertime, wiping down your furniture with a little bit of oil will keep it from drying out and enable it to last forever.
At Custom Furniture Creations, I'm the only craftsman. From design through completion, each piece of wood, each piece of furniture receives my full personal attention. When a piece of wood leaves my shop, it's had the equivalent of a day at the spa.
Custom Furniture Creations provides custom designed and unique furniture that blends the beauty of nature with unparalleled hand craftsmanship. Call Custom Furniture Creations today, and don't forget to tell them The Advocate sent you!
