A lifetime in woodworking and craftsmanship
A Life in Carpentry and Craft
I come from a long line of builders and craftsmen. I am a fourth-generation carpenter, raised in a family where woodworking and construction were part of everyday life. My father was a master builder, and from an early age I was surrounded by tools, job sites, and the discipline of craftsmanship.
I first used a saw when I was four years old. By the time I was twelve, I was already working as a paid cut-man for a framing crew, learning the fundamentals of building through hands-on experience.
Later I studied engineering, which deepened my understanding of structure, materials, and design. I eventually became a New York City union carpenter and spent more than a decade working professionally in the field.
Now at 33, I bring decades of carpentry experience into my work, combining traditional craftsmanship, structural knowledge, and artistic design to create heirloom-quality furniture and boards.
Decades of building with wood
How Wabi-Lynn Started
Wabi-Lynn began when I was furnishing my apartment and discovered live-edge slabs while thrifting for furniture. I came across a section of raw slabs and was immediately drawn to the natural character and movement in the wood.
I started building furniture for myself, experimenting with these slabs and learning how to shape them into functional pieces. Friends and neighbors soon began asking for pieces of their own.
Over time I realized there was both a passion and potential in creating unique, artistic furniture. I began sourcing higher quality slabs and experimenting more seriously with design, which ultimately led to the creation of Wabi-Lynn.
Philosophy
My work is centered around respect for the natural character of wood.
I choose slabs that reveal dramatic grain, movement, and structure, allowing the material itself to influence the final form of the piece. Rather than hiding imperfections, I embrace them and often shape them into defining features of the design.
My goal is to combine traditional woodworking techniques with modern design principles to create pieces that feel both timeless and sculptural.
Every piece is built with the intention of lasting for generations.
Design Approach
• sculpted live edges
• contrasting wood inlays
• structural inlays (butterflies, stitches)
• thick slabs
• minimalist bases
Finishing
Most pieces are finished using Rubio Monocoat, a zero-VOC, food-safe finish that preserves the natural feel of the wood rather than creating a plastic-like surface.
Process
My process usually begins with slab shopping. I hand-select pieces of wood that immediately speak to me.
Once the slabs are in the shop, they may sit for some time while I work on other projects. During that time I often find myself looking back at them, imagining different possibilities and designs.
Eventually a vision begins to take shape, and I start bringing that idea to life. The design almost always evolves during the building process as the wood reveals new possibilities.
When the piece is finished, it becomes available to customers. Truthfully, by the time I complete a piece I usually love it enough that part of me wants to keep it.
Which is probably a good sign that the work came out exactly the way it was meant to.
