For over 30 years, I've been a designer and maker of fine furniture, cabinets, and millwork continuing a long tradition of finely crafted objects built one at a time.
Born and raised in New England, my family home has been in Sandown, New Hampshire for over 50 years. What began as summers on Angle Pond became our permanent address in 1981. I spent my childhood in this beautiful natural place, and I was always drawn to the water and the woods. Working wood was always a part of my adventure; tree forts and go karts and whatever else we could imagine. My parents recognized my interest at an early age and seeing that it wasn't just a phase bought me my first set of bench chisels when I was 12 and I still use them daily! I was extremely fortunate that my local school district had great Industrial Arts programs. The educators through Junior High and High School were excellent role models and made an impact on me that I'll never forget. The smell of fresh cut Eastern White Pine immediately brings me back there.
Soon after High School I found The Worcester Center for Crafts in Massachusetts. They offered a 2-year full-time intensive certificate in Furniture Design. My learning accelerated during this time, and I graduated from the program in 1992 and went on to attend as an Artist in Residence in 1994. While there, I had the opportunity to exhibit in gallery shows and to author an article for the first issue of Home Furniture Magazine. The future was bright!
Becoming tired of the brutal New England winters and needing a fresh start post 9/11, we made the decision to move to Central Florida in 2002. I immediately found work as a cabinetmaker as I navigated this strange new place. After a while and with persistence, I was extremely fortunate to find my way into The Walt Disney Company where I worked for over a decade. While there I spent time as a woodworker, a leader, and eventually as a Fabrication Designer with Walt Disney Imagineering. I got the opportunity to work on amazing projects, travel, meet and work alongside incredibly talented people. I'm forever grateful to them and for that experience!
In the spirit of restlessness and entrepreneurism, I decided to fulfill a lifelong dream and open my own woodworking business primarily serving the Theme Park and tourism industry in Central Florida. Over the course of the next 6 years the projects were varied, challenging, and rewarding. With a little more than 20 years living and working in Florida, and having recently endured the pandemic, I made the decision to move back to my roots, to my family, in Sandown.
Landing back home in the summer of 2022 I quickly found work back at the bench in local architectural millwork shops as a cabinetmaker all the while settling back into a life that was familiar but new. Upon my return, I also found The Guild of New Hampshire Woodworkers and joined immediately; such a great group of makers who are passionate about the craft and about sharing knowledge. In the fall of 2024, I became a Juried Member of The League of New Hampshire Craftsmen. I'm honored to be a part of that great organization and I'm looking forward to a long partnership.
Today, I’m where I belong acting as my own boss creating new speculative work, commissions, and the occasional fine carpentry project in the place where it all started.
I'm more excited than ever for what the next chapter will bring, my best is yet to come.
Thank you,
Paul DeCarlo, 2024
