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Morrow Creative Consultants LLC Custom Woodworking is based in Fairfield County, Connecticut. With my workshop and my home together I am able to create an environment that provides an open and inviting atmosphere for all to come look at completed examples in daily use as well as view assorted pieces in progress in the workshop.
Each piece is developed and then created on site in the workshop. The designs are based on Shaker traditional pieces and altered to meet the specific needs or placement of the individual piece.
Upon completion of the design I then hand select the woods to be used for the individual piece. While my primary choice for wood in the work I complete is cherry, I have also worked with other species pending on the personal preferences of the client. I use soft maple or birch as a secondary wood for inside casework and drawer sides and bottoms. This wood has similar characteristics as cherry and is an appropriate choice for internal structures of the pieces.
All of the wood that I select is typically rough-hewn or rough-sawn. I then dimension the materials in my workshop using a combination of power equipment and hand tools. Upon the completion of this I select specific pieces of dimensioned materials for various parts of the finished piece, using grain pattern and coloration to determine the choice.
The construction methods used in my work are traditional, using time-tested methods that will produce work that will last. Each piece is designed with specific joinery in mind for various components of the work. Drawers are constructed using half-blind dovetails for the sides to the front and through dovetails for the sides to the back. The drawer bottoms are solid secondary wood that is chamfered on the bottom and is in a dado in the drawer sides and front, pinned in the back with room for movement. Casework, such as the Bookcase and the Enclosed Cabinet, feature through dovetails which join the top to the sides of the case. Sliding dovetails are used for the shelves within the case. These run the full depth of the shelf and are glued within only the first three to four inches of the case front to allow for movement of the wood. Even the moulding on the top of the casework is designed to allow for movement, using a sliding dovetail and keys for attachment.
When building pieces that use legs, such as the Single Drawer Side Table and the Double Drawer Side Table, mortise and tenon joinery is used for attachment of the legs. These are then pegged with square pegs to prevent the joints from failing. This type of joinery is also used for panel frame construction, as seen on the Bookcase and Enclosed Cabinet.
After final inspection and sanding of the piece, they are finished with a standard Danish oil. This finish uses equal parts of boiled linseed oil, turpentine, and polyurethane. The finish is applied for a minimum of 4 coats, penetrating and protecting the wood. At the completion of the Danish oil, and after it has hardened, the final step is waxing the piece with butcher's wax. The result of this finish is one that is durable and easily maintained. Additionally, because of the use of boiled linseed oil, it will richen with time, creating a beautiful patina.
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