Master Furniture Maker & Millwork Engineer

Crafting Timeless Spaces &
Bespoke Furnishings.

Bridging the gap between traditional heritage joinery and modern architectural precision to create heirloom-quality functional art for discerning clients and top-tier design firms.

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Professional Journey

2018 — Present

Founder & Lead Craftsman

Thorne & Oak Bespoke Studios
  • Established a premium bespoke furniture studio, successfully delivering over 50 custom commissions for private estates and commercial boutiques.
  • Spearheaded collaborative design processes with 5 top-tier architectural firms to integrate custom millwork seamlessly into overarching interior designs.
  • Optimized raw material yield by implementing advanced cutting algorithms alongside traditional sourcing, reducing exotic wood waste by 30%.
  • Pioneered the integration of hidden structural steel armatures within delicate solid wood profiles to achieve seemingly impossible spans for dining and conference tables.
2014 — 2018

Senior Architectural Woodworker

Lumina Architectural Millwork
  • Directed a fabrication team of 4 junior carpenters to engineer and install a highly complex, curved $2M commercial lobby installation ahead of schedule.
  • Developed standardized hidden fastening systems for modular wall panels, directly reducing on-site assembly and installation time by 25%.
  • Operated and maintained 5-axis CNC machinery, translating complex Rhino 3D architectural models into precise cutting paths for intricate parametric ceiling installations.
2010 — 2014

Journeyman Restorer

Heritage Restoration Guild
  • Meticulously restored 18th and 19th-century cabinetry and architectural details for state historical landmarks, adhering strictly to period-accurate conservation guidelines.
  • Mastered advanced traditional hand-tool techniques, including French polishing, hide glue veneering, and hand-cut dovetail replication.
  • Formulated custom stains and finishes utilizing raw historical pigments, increasing the durability and UV resistance of restored pieces by an estimated 40%.

Craftsmanship Radar

Materials & Techniques

Traditional Joinery 95%
Veneering & Marquetry 85%
Steam Bending 80%
Hand-Rubbed Finishing 90%

Design & Engineering

AutoCAD / Rhino 3D 90%
Parametric Modeling 75%
Spatial Problem Solving 95%

Hardware & Tooling Ecosystem

Proficient across both heritage hand tools and modern automated fabrication systems.

Lie-Nielsen Hand Planes
Festool Domino System
Shaper Origin CNC
Laguna Lathes
5-Axis Routeing
Japanese Pull Saws
HVLP Spray Systems
Rubio Monocoat Application

Selected Works

Close up of a bespoke wooden table surface

The Aurelia Dining Table

Black Walnut Brass Inlay Trestle Base
Case Study

Commissioned for a modern minimalist dining space. The challenge was to engineer a structural base capable of supporting a 400lb solid live-edge slab while maintaining an exceptionally delicate and airy visual silhouette. Achieved through a hidden tension-rod system integrated within the wooden trestle.

Architectural wooden library shelving

Horizon Executive Library

White Oak LED Integration Millwork
Case Study

Collaborated directly with lead architects to integrate extensive bespoke millwork seamlessly with acoustic wall paneling in a high-traffic corporate environment. Devised a modular french-cleat mounting system allowing for invisible fastening and future reconfiguration without damaging the structural walls.

Sculptural wooden chair with curved elements

Sculptural Steam-Bent Series

White Ash Steam Bending Ergonomics
Case Study

Developed custom compression straps and positive/negative steam molds to achieve a continuous, tight structural curve in solid Ash. This technique eliminated the need for complex, weakened joints, reducing material fatigue over time while vastly increasing ergonomic lumbar support for the end user.

Intricate wooden staircase restoration

Heritage Staircase Restoration

Honduran Mahogany Hand Carving French Polish
Case Study

Tasked with the complete revitalization of a neglected 19th-century estate staircase. Painstakingly recreated 24 missing intricate balusters using historical reference photographs. Applied a traditional layered French polish finish to match the undisturbed patina of the original surviving newel posts exactly.

Education & Credentials

Master Craftsman Certification

Guild of American Woodworkers • Advanced Joinery & Conservation

2016

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Furniture Design

Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) • Graduated with Honors

2006 - 2010

Professional Endorsements

"Elias possesses a rare combination of structural engineering intuition and profound aesthetic sensitivity. His ability to translate our conceptual architectural sketches into flawless, tangible millwork has elevated our firm's interior projects immeasurably."

Sarah Jenkins
Principal Architect, Studio North

"I have contracted dozens of fabricators over the years, but the attention to detail and uncompromising material standards at Thorne & Oak are unmatched. Elias delivers not just furniture, but heirloom assets that define the space they occupy."

David Vance
Master Builder, Heritage Contractors

"Commissioning a piece from Elias was an incredibly collaborative and transparent process. He guided us through material selection and design iterations patiently, resulting in a dining table that is truly the focal point of our home."

Elena Rostova
Private Client

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