Can you share your background and what ultimately led you to start Northeast Woodworks and pursue custom cabinetry as a career?
I started out in high school doing basic carpentry with my father and then my uncle. A lot of framing and eventually got more into trim carpentry. I was never in love with that type of work but I always had a job so that’s just what I did. Eventually things got slow and I got a job in a high end cabinet shop and quickly fell in love with the work. I knew after about 6 months that I wanted to learn as much as I could and then start my own business. After 4 years of working there and doing my own work on the side I finally made the leap and started Northeast Woodworks.
Northeast Woodworks builds pieces meant to last for generations. How do you approach craftsmanship and longevity in your work? What philosophies guide your decisions when designing and building cabinetry for clients’ homes?
The shop that I learned this trade in was a very high end shop in Fairfield County Connecticut. I got the chance to be a part of building some really cool stuff. I took the things that I learned there and applied them to my own business. I knew going into this that for me to survive as a small custom shop I would have to go after higher end work. Our processes and procedures might not be as fast as a production shop but the quality and craftsmanship is what sets us apart. We are building things that will last generations!
When beginning a new project, what inspires your design direction? How do builders, designers, architects, and homeowners influence the final result?
This is different on every project. When working with designers, a lot of the time they are laying out exactly what they want and we have to build it. There are times where some things might work on paper in a drawing but practically they don’t make sense. It’s my job to work with the designer to come up with a plan that will work. Working direct with homeowners we have a lot more design input. Typically they will send us a bunch of inspiration photos from Pinterest and we can take our knowledge and expertise to come up with a design and bring it to life. A big part of this is educating the client on different styles and types of cabinetry that will get them the look they want and also fit their budget.
What’s been one of the most memorable challenges you’ve faced as a shop owner or cabinetmaker? Whether technical, logistical, or creative, how did you overcome it and what did it teach you?
The thing that has brought us the most challenges has been scheduling. Just last year we had jobs that were supposed to be spread out and they ended up all piling on top of each other around the same time. Trying to get multiple jobs done at the same time is very difficult. We had to grind it out and put in long hours to get things out the door on time. We do our very best to hit our deadlines so that we are not holding up a job. Scheduling is something we have taken a hard look at to see how we can be better moving forward.
Custom cabinetry often requires precision, consistency, and efficiency. How has Laguna Tools supported your workflow and helped elevate the quality of your finished work?
Since adding the Laguna sliding table saw it has taken our productivity to another level. We are able to break down sheets goods very efficiently and accurately. The way we were breaking down sheet goods before was a slow process. Adding the dust collector has improved our dust collection immensely. I am big on keeping the shop as clean as possible and this has helped a ton.
How has relocating to the Pacific Northwest influenced your work or the types of projects you take on?
We started our business in Connecticut which is where the name comes from. Now we are in the Northwest which people let me know all the time lol. In Connecticut we were doing a lot more traditional framed inset style of cabinets. Out here in the northwest we definitely see a much more modern style. Most of what we build now are frameless euro style cabinets.
Looking ahead, what are your goals for Northeast Woodworks in the coming years, both creatively and as a growing custom shop? Are there new types of projects, capabilities, or growth goals you’re excited to pursue in the coming years?
In the coming years we are looking to streamline our process more and more. We are always looking at ways to improve what we do to make us more efficient and make a higher quality product.
