I cannot say that I developed my passion for woodworking as a young boy at the knee of a kindly grandfather who immigrated to America with only his favorite hand plane and European furniture making skills. My path to a career as a custom woodworker was considerably less direct.

After serving two tours of duty in Southeast Asia as an Air Force munitions specialist, I was a newspaper reporter in Washington, D.C., a taxi driver in Northern Virginia, and a trial lawyer in Chicago. Along the way I developed my woodworking skills by reading everything I could find on woodworking and furniture design and by building pieces for my family or any friends willing to pay the cost of lumber.

About ten years ago a total stranger offered me a commission for a stereo cabinet and it occurred to me that perhaps I could work and enjoy myself at the same time. That stereo cabinet was the beginning of my woodworking career. Today I spend about 95% of my time designing and building custom pieces in my shop in Woodstock, a rural farming town in northern Illinois near the Wisconsin border. The remaining 5% of my time involves a suit, a tie, and an occasional legal brief.

After experimenting with various styles of furniture over my years as a hobbyist and then professional woodworker, my designs have settled in the Arts & Crafts style with a distinct Asian influence. This particular style finds its roots in the work of Charles and Henry Greene, California architects and designers who in the early 20th century introduced Chinese and Japanese design elements to the American Arts & Crafts movement. As you will see in the accompanying photographs of my work, my own interpretation of this style results in pieces that are lighter in appearance than more traditional pieces, a style I believe is more consistent with contemporary tastes.

Each piece I build is hand-crafted, one at a time, using the finest domestic and imported hardwoods. I am particularly partial to the combination of Pennsylvania cherry and walnut from the north woods of the Midwest, the contrasting hues of these domestic hardwoods provides a piece of furniture with an elegance that is simply stunning. I only use natural finishes that are applied by hand and then rubbed out to a satin sheen. I take great pride in my work and the workmanship of each piece is guaranteed for life. My goal is that my customers' grandchildren will enjoy each piece as much as the original owner.

I hope you will enjoy traveling through my Web site and I encourage all inquiries and comments. Thank you for your consideration!

Howard J. Rigsby