Blake Weber designer & craftsman
My passion for building furniture is driven by the reward of taking a technically challenging material and bringing its natural inner beauty to the surface. Each project is inspired by the properties and complexities of the wood. I often start with the rough stock, and then allow its character and grain to guide the design.
Each piece is hand-crafted with attention to detail. I buy beautiful domestic and exotic hardwoods, and nothing is ever mass produced, rushed, cheapened, or copied. My work is constructed with age-old joinery techniques that will stand the test of time. So you can be sure it will last for generations.
Most work is based on commissions. If you like something you see, just ask. I can build something very similar and with your personal taste in mind. And, feel free to think outside the box- if you can dream it, I can work with you to create a design and bring it to life!
The Design Process
Each design is my own. I enjoy working with clients to interpret a unique design that they will love. Together we will discuss the size, colors, materials and features for your own custom box or piece of furniture... designed specifically for YOU.
Then I go to work building a detailed 3D computer model. This allows the me to approach every detail of construction, joinery and aesthetics. It also allows me to demonstrate to my client exactly how the finished product will look. We can make alterations in this phase of design and ensure that your project will be functional as well as beautiful.
My creative philosophy is to highlight the unique qualities of the material. Every piece of wood is different. I celebrate the differences in wood that production companies consider imperfections. But your piece of furniture should be as individual as you are. This is what makes you notice a piece of furniture from across a room and sets it apart from the rest.
Construction & Joinery
Wood is a living material, and it will continue to move with the changing seasons... forever! Fine furniture is built with these complex characteristics in mind. Traditional joinery methods have been passed down by craftsman for generations to conquer the test of time.
Dovetailed drawers, mortise and tenons, frame and panel doors, are all traditional methods I use throughout my works to ensure my furniture is durable enough to become a family heirloom for many generations to enjoy.
Finishing
All of the "touchable" surfaces are meticulously planed, scraped, sanded and buffed to a glass-like shine. Although I occasionally use aniline dye to colorize wood (as in the bright blue “Jellyfish Table"), I never use wood stain because I believe the natural color of the woods are perfectly beautiful.
Finishing is my favorite phase of any project, because the piece suddenly comes to life. Light oils and waxes are applied to bring out the woodgrain and protect it. Solid wood furniture should look and feel like wood. Thick, plastic-like coatings are for bartops, not fine furniture. My projects are finished in a way that will feel natural and beg to be touched.