TL;DR Summary

An elderly couple in Milford, NH commissioned a custom dining table crafted from Ash trees they had harvested and milled decades earlier. Wanting a modern version of a beloved table from 30 years ago, they supplied their own wood and design inspiration. The resulting piece became not just furniture, but a family heirloom rooted in history and made with purpose.

  • Commissioned by a couple who had a similar table built 30 years prior

  • Crafted using Ash trees they harvested and milled themselves decades ago

  • Built to fit their newly constructed home and large dining space

  • Recreated original table design with fresh scale and detail

  • Intended to be passed down to their children as a meaningful heirloom

Some stories start long before the first sketch or cut — and this table’s story began decades ago. An elderly couple in Milford, New Hampshire reached out to me about creating a large dining table for their spacious new home. Unlike many clients, they didn’t need help visualizing what it could be — they already knew. Thirty years earlier, they had commissioned a table they loved, and now they wanted a new one, almost exactly like it, to fit the scale and style of their current home.

But this wasn’t just a matter of replicating a design. As we spoke, they revealed something remarkable — years ago, they had a grove of Ash trees on their property that they had harvested and milled themselves. That lumber had been drying in their garage ever since, patiently waiting for its second act. Now, decades later, those very boards were ready to be transformed into a table that would carry their history forward.

Working with wood that holds personal meaning is always a humbling experience. These weren’t just materials — they were part of the couple’s land, their past, and their vision for the future. My role was to honor both the original design they cherished and the unique character of the Ash boards they had preserved for so long. Every step, from selecting the right planks to crafting the border and finish, felt like an extension of their story.

The finished table was expansive, graceful, and filled with quiet detail. Its light tone and elegant grain pattern brought warmth to the room, and the proportions suited the space perfectly. It was both a faithful recreation and something new — a modern heirloom rooted in memory and made with intention.

When I delivered the table, I could see what it meant to them. It wasn’t just another piece of furniture; it was a continuation of something deeply personal. Knowing it will one day be passed down to their children — with both the table and the story of where it came from — made the whole project feel timeless in the best way. It was an honor to play a small role in helping their story live on.