...experience woodworking
| Come into the woods... ...experience woodworking |
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| Testimonials If you are a client of Tom's, and would like to write a testimonial to be included here on our site, please do. We would love to hear from you at info@mclaughlinwoods.com. We'll let you know as soon as it's posted. Thank you! | ||
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"We really love the final piece, and it fits perfectly. We have had several poople in to see it and they all are very impressed with the workmanship and character. Hopefully we can do another piece in the not too distant future. Again, thanks for your interest and hard work." "I first met Tom approximately 15 years ago when he was working as an apprentice with P.A. Moore in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. P.A. Moore and his father were uniquely known for their quality handcrafted furniture. The Moore’s work was highly praised and sought after in North Carolina, as well as other east coast states. When I met Tom, he impressed me from the very beginning as being the perfect choice as Mr. Moore’s successor. When discussing a piece with Mr. Moore, he quite often made reference to his great satisfaction with Tom’s ability to work with wood and to hand carve fine details as he had once been known for himself. Tom’s innate talent and developed skills have led him to level at which he performs today. His work has always exceeded my expectations and the pieces that I own that he crafted are distinct and will be kept in my family for many years to come. Whenever I have company in my home, Tom’s work is always recognized and praised for its pureness and quality. Tom will always be my first choice when I decide to commission another piece of hand crafted furniture." "Whoever crafted this piece is a master." I thought to myself while feasting my eyes on a bookcase that was drawing me forward because of its beautiful patina. I could see that the depth of the finish revealed a lovely grain that made a statement about the high quality stock chosen for this project. Tom McLaughlin produced the work of art that suggested to my husband and me we needed to replace our dining room table. Our visit with Tom was special. As he observed our space, he educated us as to the options we might wish to consider for period authenticity and scale of our table. Friends are unable to define where the leaves come together as they follow the mahogany grain across the top of our work of art. It is fun to watch folks lie under the table as they look for the signature of Tom McLaughlin, the man who designed this piece! Thank you, Tom, for the added distinction you brought to our pedestal table." "It has always been my desire and philosophy to adorn my home with few yet fine furniture pieces. The idea being the age-old adage: quality not quantity. This is however easier said then done in today's competitive fast paced consumer market. The time and skill it takes to exercise a trade or craft to perfection, to elevate ones work to an art like status, is seldom possible to procure. When I first saw Tom McLaughlin's Occasional Game Table I knew I was looking at a level of craftsmanship guided by years of practice, patience and a true feel for the life of the mahogany. After I had unwrapped the table at home I had a chance to truly admire its joinery, its original and beautiful design. The eloquence of the table made me feel as though I had stepped into the 18th century. This piece has become an instant family heirloom, a modern antique, and a resplendent addition to my everyday field of vision. If someone has the opportunity to have Tom make them a piece of furniture, a piece of history; they should jump on it." "My introduction to Tom was thru my association and as a member of the Friend of Historic Hope Committee in Windsor, North Carolina. There I met Tom and Mr. Moore and an example of their talents in the form of two gorgeous corner cabinets located in The Heritage Center. When I saw them I resolved that when the time came for furniture I knew the direction I would take. Not long after I wanted two pieces for my home in Norfolk, Virginia. One piece was a four-poster bed and the other a glass top coffee table to display collectables, which I refer to as a vitrine. As a family we visited Toms' workshop, at that time, near Rocky Mount, North Carolina. My what a rewarding visit that turned out to be! After a brief conversation and a few rudimentary sketches Tom came up with exactly what we wanted. A few telephone calls followed and then the finished products were delivered. Beautiful Cherry wood, beautifully crafted and then assembled with care. We could never be more pleased with what we got and I would recommend his work to anyone. Additionally, since then I was fortunate enough to acquire, at the New Hampshire Furniture Masters Auction, a lovely oval end table built by Tom. It is such a pleasure dealing with Tom. He listens, offers worthwhile, constructive and deliberative suggestions in a calm and carefully thought out manner. He seems to have the ability to sense exactly what you have in mind, all done in a courteous manner. I cannot recommend Tom and his talents more highly. I hope I can drop by next time I am heading for Rhode Island or Maine." "Thought I'd write to tell you how much we are enjoying the table. It is a beauty and is holding up very well so far. We do not have a large kitchen so we eat in the dining room whenever we eat as a family in addition to gatherings and special occasions. Our two-year-old recently graduated to sitting at the table with a real chair and I'm happy to say the table looks no worse for wear. My father, a former furniture buyer for Bloomingdale's in the sixties recognized it's quality immediately and agreed that the light wood gives a nice glow to the room on a sunny day. It looks like it belongs in our home." |