I originally started Soulwoods in 2014 in the Pacific Northwest, the Seattle Metro specifically. I set out to build high quality furniture and wares that would not only stand the test of time, but also be able to be repaired if needed, something of an anomaly in these days of planned obsolescence and gen next. The latter, also, is a cornerstone of another one of our core philosophies – sustainability.
When you live in the Pacific Northwest, at times, it can be quite literal! We tend to live outdoors! Spending my weekends in the mountains gave me an incredible appreciation for the beauty of nature in the form of trees all around me. When I wasn’t in the mountains, or at the day job, I could usually be found doing repairs and improvements around our family home. In this, being the latter, that I found that not only do I love working with wood; I really love it.
I love everything about it…The creative design process, the planning, execution, and ultimately the satisfaction of seeing a completed piece; a completed piece that is not only cherished, but honors the source for years to come.
So, as things progress when you are a “Type A” “Go-Getter”, I leapt in head first and started like most, with repairs. My policy was simple, leave it in better condition and of higher quality than when I found it . What literally started with “starter home” laminated window sills being replaced with beautiful white oak pieces, grew into improvement projects, then into small wares projects (cutting boards), bigger projects, and then ultimately consigned large pieces to doing farmer’s markets, Maker Shows, and distribution at local retail.
A shift in priorities for our family shifted our focus and spurred a re-location to Northeast Indiana. After a number of years, history repeats itself (of sorts), and I find myself again at the helm of Soulwoods. Feel free to contact me at PJ at Soulwoods dot co.
PJ