Anthony Scolaro, furniture designer and maker

1n 1978 I left Boston, Massachusetts to fulfill a dream of working close to nature in the open-air forests of the Pacific Northwest. After some years of the physically demanding work of planting trees and fighting fires, I returned to my studies and finished two degrees I had started at the University of Massachusetts. With that task accomplished, my affinity for tools and building things found me restoring an 1899 Victorian home. This, in turn, led me to attend additional vocational classes at a community college. It was there that good fortune struck and I met a third-generation master craftsman. He took me under his wing and helped me build a solid wood working foundation. With the passing of time it became clear I was dissatisfied with my job selling building materials. It was time for a transition, but I had to ask myself a couple of very important questions.

First, what had I done that gave me the most rewarding experiences? Second, how could I pair that up with meaningful work that would serve the community in some way? The answer to both of these questions was building furniture and accessories in my shop, and to that is where I turned my efforts. This has proven to be a wonderful decision. The rewards so often exceed my expectations as I meet kind and prosperous people who are interested in their homes, communities and quality of life. It is incredibly satisfying to make my living combining creativity and craftsmanship to help folks accomplish their decorative art needs.

Like many of my customers, I believe we make our world better by creating and surrounding ourselves with things we know to be beautiful. I take pride and pleasure in sending my wood furniture and accessories to distant places, as well as keeping them right here at home for the people of California and the northwest to enjoy.

Let us care, celebrate beauty, and make a difference so that at the end of the day we can enter our house justified.

Anthony