TL;DR Summary

A doctor and his wife in Bronxville, NY commissioned a custom black walnut dining table to complete their new Tudor-style home. After months of searching for the right piece, they connected with New England Table Company and collaborated on a bookmatched design that balanced elegance with natural beauty. The finished table featured a mirrored grain and live edge slab that perfectly suited their space — and on delivery day, their emotional reaction showed it had become much more than just furniture.

  • Commissioned for a newly built Tudor-style home in Bronxville, NY

  • Designed to reflect status and elegance without being flashy

  • Featured bookmatched black walnut slabs with a mirrored heart grain

  • Collaborative design process conducted over Zoom

  • Couple’s emotional embrace of the table marked it as a cherished centerpiece

When I got the call about a potential commission in Bronxville, I knew right away it was going to be something special. A doctor and his wife had just moved into a beautiful Tudor-style home and were looking for a table that would truly belong in the space. They wanted something bold, grounded, and reflective of their status — but not flashy or over-the-top. Their new home had a quiet elegance to it, and they wanted a table that matched that tone.

They had been searching for months, pouring over showrooms and websites, but nothing clicked. Then, through a recommendation from a colleague who had seen my work online, they reached out. We scheduled a Zoom call and started talking about what they were envisioning. From the first conversation, I could tell they cared deeply about craftsmanship and the story behind the piece — and they were eager to collaborate. That initial meeting built a lot of trust and set the tone for the whole process.

We talked about wood species, finishes, and the feel they wanted the table to evoke. I showed them examples of bookmatched slabs, and they were immediately drawn to the symmetry and movement of the grain. Eventually, we landed on a striking black walnut with a mirrored heart at the center — it felt regal and organic at the same time. I got to work in the shop, carefully shaping and finishing the piece to bring out every nuance in the wood.

When delivery day came, I made the drive down to Bronxville with that usual mix of excitement and nervous energy. I always want the finished piece to live up to the vision we’ve been working toward. But the moment we brought it into their dining room and set it in place, I could see it was exactly what they had hoped for. The grain danced in the morning light through the window, and the table looked like it had always belonged there.

The moment that really stuck with me was when the couple stood on either side of the table and actually hugged it. I don’t think I’ve ever had that happen before. It was a spontaneous, genuine reaction — and it reminded me why I do this. It’s not just about wood and joinery; it’s about creating something lasting that becomes part of someone’s home and story. That table didn’t just fill a space — it fulfilled a search.