Long-time member
A Maker who has been a valued part of this community for several years.
Fast shipper
Customers say that this Maker ships promptly after completing a project.
Great service
This Maker has consistently demonstrated excellence in craftsmanship and customer service.
Luke Barnett was born on May 6th, 1985 in Adrian, Michigan. Which is where he currently resides. He is a woodworker and artist that specializes traditional American Windsor chairs. Luke has been selling Windsor chairs since 2011, and has been a full time chair maker since December 2013. Luke is the director of the Adrian Community Woodshop in the beautiful Adrian, Michigan. He serves his community as and executive board member of the Lenawee Council for the Visual Arts. He travels around the U.S. to teach and share his gifts with other artists and woodworkers. Luke has won awards and been featured in internationally published magazines, Including November 2014 of Popular Woodworking Magazine in which his Continuous Arm Rocker in aged mustard finish was picked for best in the seating category for 2014. Early American Life magazine named Luke as Top American Craftsman in the Windsor chair making field for 2015 and 2016. Luke also received international recognition for his Contemporary birdcage rocking though multiple media outlets and publications. Luke has had chairs on display for a traveling Smithsonian museum exhibit called “The Way We Work”. Luke currently works and sells chairs out of his home in Adrian, Michigan.
Artist Statement.
Comfortable, Durable, and Beautiful. Every chair I make must be the best of the best in all three of these categories. I want to set the new standard on what a world class chairs and rocking chairs can be. Authenticity and true high quality is timeless and will always remain in fashion.
I start with the locally sourced raw materials. I choose the very best maple and oak logs, . The logs are hand split, and all my parts are riven out to ensure that I get the best quality, straightest grained wood. This process is very labor intensive but essential to get the strength and flexibility that I need to make light and elegant chairs. Machine made parts need to be made thicker, and bulkier for sufficient strength. The thicker parts tend to be very stiff, making the chair uncomfortable. When using traditional Windsor technology, you do not rely on glue to hold the chair together. The entire chair is joined together as if it were one piece. As if all the part “grew” from the seat. Although glue is not necessary, it is still used as a backup. I use hot hide glue pellets that I mix fresh for each chair. I also mix my own milk paint, and I use shellac flakes, imported ultra-fresh from the only place you can get them. For a top coat I use an oil/varnish blend recipe that was passed down to me from a boat builder that lived in Alaska. The reason I do all of this is to ensure the best possible quality. There is not one step of the process that can be improved upon to result in a better quality chair.
What people are saying
- ME
Melissa Everett
For Hand Turned Chair Legs Or Table Legs5.0We had custom table and bench legs made and the experience was fantastic. Incredibly timely even on our tight schedule. Polite, knowledgable, helpful, talented... Thank you so very much!!
- JV
James Veltrop
For Modern Rocking Chair4.7First rate craftsmanship. Admired by all who have seen it. Packaging could be better. Would buy from again
- TB
T B
For Rocking Chair. Continuous Arm Rocker Bamboo Turnings5.0Luke was extremely easy to work with and exceptional in his responsiveness to questions. I was very fortunate to find him with a custom rocker coming off exhibit; met my timeline which was very short. The craftsmanship is first class. I have purchased several heirloom quality pieces and Luke's rocker is among the best. Delivery was on time and as promised. He exceeded expectations and I have no hesitation in using him again. Well done Luke!
JFJason Forest
For Top for a piano5.0Working with Luke was an incredible experience! He masterfully executed every item I custom ordered. I had very specific needs for a project I was working on, and Luke was able to listen to the details and create work that not only met the needs of the project, but way exceeded my expectations. Communication was always forthright and clear- and met all my project deadlines. Really excited about how everything turned out, and I hope to work with him again on future projects.
- HM
Heather Marks
For Heather's Dining table5.0Our Custom farm table is AMAZING!!!! Luke Barnett does amazing work, it was all hand crafted, the detail and construction are unbelievable! If you are looking for craftsmanship that will last generations and made in the USA then Luke Barnett is the craftsman you want! He even signed the bottom of our table with his initials and made for Heather and Justin with the date. We cannot wait for all the memories that will be made around our table.
- LR
Linda Rosenfeld
For Low Stool5.0I was looking for someone who could make four stools to go with my great grandmother's large, round, carved oak dinning table. Someone, who could translate my ideas into reality and help me mix the modern with the antique. The table originally came with very heavy, oversized, carved oak chairs. Although very interesting, the table and chair combination overwhelmed my townhouse. I commissioned Luke Barnett to make the stools for me. I was so lucky to find Luke on CustomMade and here's why. Luke is passionate about his work. He included me in every step of his mostly hand-made process. Luke even sent me videos of himself scooping out the seats and attaching the legs. (He has made some of the tools himself. He uses very little glue.)The process of making these stools from the planks of oak was painstaking and amazing. Luke is a craftsman with an unusual ability to explain and demonstrate how he does his work. Although we were impatient for the final product, my husband and I enjoyed our interactions with Luke. The stools are perfect: very attractive, comfortable and look fantastic with our old table. We will treasure them. Linda Rosenfeld, Arlington, VA
- AK
Alexandra Kennedy
For Alexandra's cheese board5.0I received my boards yesterday, they are amazing!!! The workmanship is beyond my expectation! The boards were bevelled! That is an extra feature that I didn't even mention to the master! My husband was so surprised that he immediately posted our boards on his Facebook. I hope that we can spread the good word and help Luke to get me orders. The pricing was extremely reasonable! I am already thinking of other projects for Luke! Alexandra
Maker Policies
Discover true craftsmanship each week
A guide to the best items from the best makers and the stories behind them.
