Reclaimed 2.5" thick douglas fir. That cleaned up nicely. The cast iron posts are from an old brownstone.
A Maker who has been a valued part of this community for several years.
Customers say that this Maker ships promptly after completing a project.
This Maker has consistently demonstrated excellence in craftsmanship and customer service.
Taking what's left and making it right.
Hello folks. My name is Stephen Muscarella and I love to work with my hands. While that leads to many different ends, woodworking is my main squeeze. Specifically, I build furniture and other useful things from found, reclaimed, and/or repurposed materials. Tables with iron bases are my specialty.
I've also opened up my workshop to the public via The Brooklyn Garage. At the garage, you can build many of the pieces I make for yourself with as much or as little guidance as you require. If you've got the spirit (and time) of a DIYer, this approach is right up your alley.
A guide to the best items from the best makers and the stories behind them.
Madeleine
For Desk for MadeleineI really enjoyed working with Stephen. I needed a desk and a kitchen island for a small apartment, and he helped site and size both items perfectly. The final products are fantastic- the quality of the craftsmanship is great, as is the quality of the wood he found. Everything arrived on time as well!
Curtis Pittman
For Wooden Chillum Chess SetStephen is an extremely talented artist. I am very happy with my new chess set! He was very understanding, a great listener, and is extremely open to new ideas. The product was created in a very timely fashion and Stephen also provided pictures of the whole process along the way. I felt like a learned a lot about the process and the creation of my custom chess set. I recommend Stephen 110%! Thank you Stephen!
Jonny
For Wooden Desk - possibly slabI set out to get an heirloom-quality desk made for myself. I had an idea of what it would look like, and Stephen's portfolio had plenty of projects that were similar to what I wanted. But what really recommended him to me how he involved his clients with the creation process. Stephen drove us down to a lumberyard in New Jersey where we walked around and he educated me about various hardwoods, and giving me his honest opinion about which pieces he thought I should get. He also let me be the one to buy the raw material, saving me a good chunk of money! As the work progressed, I would get invites to the shop to see the progress and he invited me to help in the sanding and oiling processes. I would get text messages about some point of the design I hadn't thought of. I got emails each week with progress updates. We spent another few hours knocking around a home depot, creating the supports that the slab would need. From start to finish I was involved, and got a real appreciation for the craft and time that goes in to making such a beautiful piece. I ended up with almost exactly what I had originally thought of; the desk is solid, sturdy, big, and gorgeously finished. It's a real treasure and I enjoy working at it.
Frank
For A small table for a cornerI contacted Stephen after seeing some of his work on this site. He was very professional and worked diligently from the start making sure that we were on the same page design-wise. He shared his design sketches, asked questions, and updated with pictures throughout the process. I wasn't having a large piece made but you can tell he really cared about making the finished product the best it could be. I will definitely be using Stephen again in the future when I need to have something else made. I'm glad I was able to use reclaimed wood and support a local craftsman and I encourage everyone to do the same.
Rachelle
For Basic woodworking - joining and finishing plywoodStephen was great to work with. First of all, he was willing to take on our small project and get it done on a very short deadline. He was very accommodating and helpful throughout the whole process. The dioramas he made were just what we needed for our workshop materials to look polished and professional. Thanks Stephen!
Lorenz Sell
For Large dining tableStephen was a real pleasure to work with. I wanted to be heavily involved in the building of the table and he was adventurous enough to agree. From the beginning he was an excellent communicator and led me through the construction of the table start to finish. We spent three days working together intensely and had a blast. Stephen's a hard worker and easy going at the same time - a rare combination. He went above and beyond in all aspects of the job - I feel like I got both an amazing table and deep hands on education in wood working. Thank you Stephen!
charan chadha
For large and medium planters made of reclaimed woodSteve has been great to work with. From the beginning to the end, he understood my vision for what these planters wanted to be. He kept me posted throughout the project and provided pictures along the way. I am looking forward to receiving the planters today and cannot wait to tell everyone about my experience with cutomMade.