New Shaker Studio
Warren

Overview

The Catholic high school that I attended in Greater Boston in the 1960s didn’t offer shop class, but my grandfather’s basement was an effective substitute. My Irish immigrant Grandfather was a self-taught carpenter who, in retirement, bought old steeple clocks to restore. Of all my brothers and cousins, I was the only one that was interested in what he did and by assisting him, I learned the basics of using tools and how to work with wood. When my grandfather died in 1973, I inherited his unused wood, assorted tools, and plans.

I built my professional career outside carpentry, first as a teacher, then becoming a computer programmer and later as an IT project manager consultant. In my spare time, I practiced the skills taught by my grandfather (focusing on building and repairing clocks). But when I found myself needing new beds for my two daughters (1990), I decided to build them myself. Seeking a pleasing style, I discovered the craftsmanship of the Shakers and built a pair of cherry twin beds based on a design from the Shaker community in New Lebanon, New York.

From that point on, my focus was on building reproduction Shaker furniture. I built furniture and woodenware for my extended family while occasionally selling pieces through various fairs and artist guilds. But, with retirement (from IT consulting in 2022), I decided to open my own shop in Warren with my nephew (Mike Curran).

“The Book of Shaker Furniture” by John Kassay and “The American Shakers and Their Furniture” by John Shea serve as our key reference sources although we also have access to over 30 books that detail Shaker furniture. To the degree that we can, we try to copy it exactly as it is defined in these books.

The simplicity and functionality of Shaker furniture allow it to fit most any type of decor. Our “bottom line” is that our furniture and woodenware will serve a purpose now and continue to fulfill that purpose well into the future (for example, the original two beds that I built for my daughters, now serve my niece’s daughters in North Carolina).

We want our furniture and woodenware to last forever.

Our Products Are Available At The Locations Below

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