Carpenter Jonathan Seaton walks that fine line between artist and craftsman, crossing into either territory with each piece he produces. At his North Bend workshop—he has no storefront, but then, he has no inventory, either—he builds wood furniture to the exacting specifications of both his customers, and himself.
“It is all custom, so I have nothing on site but extra parts or parts that didn’t work out,” he said. “I do a lot of creative engineering and not everything works the first time.”
Seaton recently shared his thoughts on his business, and on custom furniture:
Q: How do customers find you?
A: “I’m online, but word of mouth is the usual way people find out about me.”
For safety reasons, Seaton meets customers at his shop by appointment only.
“An unexpected visitor when I am running a table saw or bandsaw can be hazardous to my health,” he explained.
Q: What is your definition of fine custom furniture?
A: “Fine custom furniture means a high regard for form and function. Making a one-of-a-kind piece is an expensive proposition, because you have to spend time with the client, draw up the design(s), order the specific materials and get them, set up the tools, build, deliver and clean up.
“If I made multiple copies, I could do it more efficiently. However, if I do the work well, with respect for the customer and the wood, they will never have to spend the money again and they will have exactly what they want.
Q: People often hear “custom” and think “expensive.” Is custom furniture affordable?
A: “Not having to pay someone to fix a cheap product is one way of viewing ‘affordable.’ My goal is to have people think of me as their carpenter, just like one thinks of their doctor or their mechanic. I have been doing work in this Valley for 20 years and plan to be around a long time, so what is most important is honoring my customers needs.
Q: How long does a typical project take you?
A: “I average 12 to 20 projects a year, depending on the size. Some jobs take a couple days. One was six months of work.”
Q: On your website, you list one piece, your signature piece, as “the world’s most comfortable chair.” What’s the story of that chair?
A: “The ‘most comfortable chair in the world’ is a term Matt Stone, my old shop partner, came up with when I designed dining chairs for Terry and Antigone Mallen, many years ago. They found that guests would have dinner seated in (those) chairs, move to the living room, and then migrate back to the dining chairs. I still call it my Mallen Chair design.
“The seats are curved or cushioned and the backs are steam-bent to support the lumbar.
“The term was partly a joke as he designed my original website and added the Archive section to make it interesting.”
Seaton, 54, lives in Snoqualmie with his wife Alison. They have a son attending college in San Diego, and four dogs.
See his work at www.seatonscarpentry.com, or make an appointment to visit his shop by calling (425) 888-5779.
Seaton’s handiwork: Custom-crafted gavel and stand.
North Bend custom carpenter Jonathan Seaton puts the personal touch into the items he crafts for customers. Above, a trio of wooden urns, and top right, details on an armoire, show his artistry.
