Building Custom Furniture & Forcing My Grandpa Out of Retirement

I began my first official furniture project hopeful but quickly channeled my great grandfather by swearing like a sailer. After growing tired of this I decided it was time to call my grandpa to get some extra help (with the swearing).

I had big plans for my first woodworking project because it was something I intended to make for my mom. My mom loves gardening but dislikes impractical furniture cluttering the house. I knew she needed something that saved space and could be used in many ways. This chair also functions as a table, plant shelf, and basket. It also offers storage space underneath for her bucket of gardening tools.

The first project we were assigned was to make a functional chair entirely out of cardboard with a partner. The chair we made was inspired by architects Frank Lloyd Wright and George Nakashima. We wanted to capture Nakashima’s style by designing the back to resemble the unique wood pieces he used in many of his works. To create contrast and reference Wright’s style we included sharp lines and a throne-like silhouette, both elements he often used in his works. Throughout the project we had a few small problems, but none of them altered our design direction or damaged the chair's integrity.

This is why I assumed the process for my mom’s chair would be similar. Don’t get me wrong I knew it was going to be more difficult than making a cardboard chair. I just didn’t realize how hard it would be without having an extra set of hands. Oh and did I mention we could only use a hammer and nails to put this chair together?

So in comes Mike Aubry a certified sheet metal worker and my favorite guy to call when I want to get the power tools out. I would say he is retired but the word doesn’t really fit him. With all the projects I throw at him, he has barely taken a day off since the day I was born 22 years ago.

Photo taken inside the original Mike and Granddaughter’s Garage in Point Place, OH. You can see Mike Aubry’s talking and pointing skills he learned through years spent working in the trades have not regressed.

The projects usually begin with me calling him past 7 p.m. during which time he is already winding down the day in his recliner probably enjoying an ice cream bar. This is the best time for me to call not because I can sense he will be agreeable but because I like to keep him on his toes. I send him over my drawings and his job from there (which he doesn’t get paid for) is to tell me if it’s even structurally possible. After he tells me it’s not, I tell him it is. We go back and forth like this for about five minutes which typically ends with him thinking of a way.  “JesUs CHrIst” he’d say “Do I have to do everything around here?”.

After talking more throughout the week we came up with a game plan to start the project at Mike and Granddaughter’s Garage. This is of course the unofficial name I’ve created for his garage full of tools that he looks at and tells me “See… this is all important”. He’s right.

The following weekend we started cutting the pieces for the frame and nailing them together. This is where an extra set of hands was crucial. Having someone offer their experience in woodworking and sarcastic commentary really sped up the process. I then took the frame and finished the rest of the project during class in our college workshop.

Despite many problems along the way such as splitting the wood, cutting an angle for the leg the wrong way, and not using enough wood glue, I still felt pretty satisfied about the project in the end. Don’t get me wrong I was frustrated the whole time but I do feel much more equipped to handle the tools necessary to make the things I need in the future (please do not follow up with my professor on this as there may or may not have been an incident with a table saw).

Would I recommend woodworking to a friend if they had the opportunity? YES. It gives you the freedom to design and build exactly what you want rather than find something that only half fulfills what you need. Not only that, but it can also be an excellent creative outlet. It is for me.

Grace

House I built for my sister’s cat for a project that required us to deconstruct furniture to make a different piece of furniture.

Ink and paint carrier my grandpa and I made.

Work table in my studio:)