Where the Work Begins
A ca. 1848 mill building on the banks of the Salmon Falls River, Rollinsford, New Hampshire
Every piece that leaves Stratham Wood Studios begins in this room — a workshop housed in a historic mill building that has stood on the banks of the Salmon Falls River since the mid-nineteenth century. The building itself sets the tone. There is something fitting about creating furniture built to last generations in a space that has already lasted nearly two centuries.
The large windows along the east wall overlook the river, flooding the bench area with the kind of natural light that reveals every detail — the figure in a board, the fit of a joint, the quality of a surface. It is the light a craftsman needs, and this building has always had it.
The Bench Area
This is where the most intimate work happens. Hand planes, chisels, carving tools, and scrapers — the instruments of a tradition stretching back centuries. Here, machine-prepared stock is transformed by hand into finished surfaces, fitted joints, and the decorative details that define each piece. Many of the hand tools in use are antiques themselves, chosen for the quality of their steel and the feel of their handles. A good hand tool, well-maintained, outlasts its maker.
The Machine Area
Precision begins here. The jointer, planer, table saw, and bandsaw perform the essential work of milling rough lumber into the dimensioned stock from which each piece is built. Power tools are not a shortcut — they are the foundation on which hand craftsmanship is built. Every board that passes through this end of the shop is on its way to becoming something that will last a lifetime.
Visit the Studio
The workshop is open by appointment — whether you are considering a commission, exploring private instruction, or simply curious about where and how this work is made. There is no better way to understand what Stratham Wood Studios is than to stand in the room where it happens.