Sapele And Quilted Maple Hall Table

I am very glad that Jeff O'Brien agreed to make a bench for me that is very similar to the one he built and posted in photo/description on CustomMade. He used size dimensions best suited for the available space in my home and communicated with me often to discuss the final design. It is obvious Jeff was very choosy about the curly maple and cherry wood pieces he acquired for the bench. He also knew the best way to further enhance the beauty of the woods in the wood finishes/shellac he used. He combined the unique characteristics of the wood with highly artistic yet precise curves and angles along the wood edges. The three dimensions displayed in both the wood and design elements for each piece of wood create somewhat of an optical illusion. The bench complements the sea shoreline theme in this part of the house. The piece is very sturdy and rests perfectly on all four legs. Jeff took great care in crating the bench for shipment across the United States.

Working with Jef through the design process was a real treat. He was very helpful and a true craftsman. The end result is a one of a kind gorgeous
piece of art that we'll enjoy for a lifetime.

Thanks Jeff and Custommade! Cheers, Mark

Functional Art

It's quite an understatement to say that Jeff makes furniture - what he really does is make Functional Art. You'll be surprised by the really incredible quality and extreme attention to detail.

We started with existing designs he had for barstools and chairs. We modified the dimensions slightly. We decided on cherry and then he picked out some amazing quilted maple to use as accents. He sent us renderings so we knew exactly what to expect.

Please don't be in a hurry. These are hand crafted with care and that takes time.

He ended up making a total of 2 barstools and 6 dining chairs for us. It was all shipped to Hawaii. Jeff even made the crates and packed them so the chairs made the trip in perfect condition.

I brought Jeff a conceptual, imaginative design for a wooden mirror frame (and shelves to compliment it) that I figured would not be do-able in the world of woodworking and art. Jeff immediately took a keen interest in the design but acknowledged this would be a tough one. The design included the joining of different species of wood complicated with numerous curves, angles, thickness variations, smooth transitions, and also proud fragile areas that had to be hand-carved. The design evolved even through the last stages of the building process. We hashed out every detail and option together. Jeff's expertise always left me feeling confident about the decisions we came to. Through some experimentation with test pieces Jeff was able to figure out the sequence of events needed to make the construction of this frame a reality. The end result is absolutely amazing and attests to Jeff's extreme love for working with wood and his desire to create the most excellent furniture possible for his customer. It has been an extreme pleasure working with Jeff on this project.

Jeff made a maple and walnut entry table that, quite frankly, was even more beautiful in reality than the photo example. He is great to deal with and his work is flawless!