"Three things. First, my materials. I sustainably harvest and mill my own timber, and I have an enormous supply of raw materials at my farm waiting to be worked. It’s exciting to see the raw logs—cut from dead and dying trees—and know that they will become something beautiful, useful, and extraordinary.

The further along I get in my career the less I impose my will in my work; I let the wood speak for itself. And the design inspiration comes from what is revealed as I mill the logs. That’s inspiring.

Second, I do a lot of commercial work for clients in the restaurant and hospitality industries, and I’ve been really influenced and inspired by working with several James Beard-award winning chefs, who take raw ingredients and turn them into the most amazing and delicious food. That inspires me to take my raw ingredients—my wood—and turn it into something beautiful and useful for their restaurants and homes.

Third, I am inspired by where and how my clients live. We have so many clients who live and work in incredibly beautiful places—Jackson Hole, Park City, Amagansett, Lake Tahoe, skyscrapers in Chicago and New York, beach and lake houses, etc. It’s inspiring to make pieces as beautiful as those settings, and to give my clients what they want—a beautiful piece of natural furniture that will grace their home or office forever."

"Get to work. It’s that simple. You can’t think about the work, you need to do the work. You have to put in the time and effort and hone your craft. You have to immerse yourself in it. Do the work."