Behind the Build: Ryan Rosenberg

The Danish principles of “hygge” are a primary inspiration for my woodworking process. Hygge (pronounced “hooga”) is the idea of taking time away from the daily rush to be together with people you care about, or even by yourself – to relax and enjoy life’s simpler pleasures, typically at home or another quiet location. The right furniture can contribute to that feeling, especially if it is something like a table to host family dinners. The natural warmth of wood, with its intricate patterns and varied colors, and its history as a living being, contributes to this feeling as well. I enjoy knowing that a tree lived on, through my labor, as a special piece of furniture in someone’s home.

The precision of traditional woodworking joinery techniques is also an inspiration for my work, and I try to incorporate them as much as possible. These joints offer incredible functional strength as well as aesthetic interest and beauty.

How I work: I will be your single point of contact during the entire process. I enjoy working with people to come up with a design that will fit their ideas and space perfectly.

• After listening to your ideas, I typically start with a simple sketch – during this phase I encourage you to share reference images to guide my direction.

• We can then discuss a quote for the piece and estimated timing, typically based upon the wood species used and complexity of the build.

• Once we agree on a quote, I typically require 1/4 of the estimate as a deposit for materials. I will then move quickly to a more detailed drawing or mockup to ensure we are both on the same page and will also guide me during the process.

• I will then carefully choose the wood from a local sawyer and initiate the build. I will send you photos along the way to show progress and keep you involved.

• When the piece is complete, local drop off can be arranged if in the Hightstown, New Jersey area. If you are not local, we can arrange shiping as well.

Each piece that I build is a custom order and no two pieces will be exactly alike. Everything on this site can be ordered as is or can be modified in size or wood species.

Use the contact information below to reach out and get the process started. I look forward to hearing from you.