The year was 1957, and my father decided to build a boat. All I wanted to do was ride my bike and play, but my dad wanted to teach me about design, building, and tools. I suspect he mostly needed free labor, but in the process, I actually learned about design, building, tools, wood, and the beautiful things that can be created.

I was the kid who wasn’t the first choice for the neighborhood pickup baseball game, but I was the one who designed and built the cool forts that are probably still standing. In high school, I still wasn’t much into school sports, but surfing was cool, and I designed and created intricate wood fins.

As much as surfing was my passion, it was time to grow up. I went to college at Long Beach State, then on to grad school at Princeton University, and then a postdoc at UC Berkeley—not in design or architecture, but in chemistry. However, while at UC Berkeley, I discovered a book by James Krenov that inspired my creative energies. With a PhD in chemistry and a young family, I pursued a career in chemical research, which provided the funds to start collecting woodworking tools. While I was working, I took the many skills and tools and built a house. For my 39th birthday, after my house was finished, my father gave me a book: Greene and Greene Masterworks. “Wow.” The Greene and Greene furniture was the second major influence on designing furniture.

I was living in Southern California and decided to further my craft by attending William Ng School of Fine Woodworking. I also went to the Sam Maloof Workshop, and that was the other really big influence on my design decisions. I actually had the privilege of meeting Mr. Maloof before he passed. Sam Maloof was the third major influence on designing furniture.

When I create a piece of furniture, it is a process. I am inspired by working with clients to achieve their vision. I do this by listening, creating three-dimensional drawings, and then making mockups. This gives the clients a realistic idea of what the final product will be.