Robert Hall Bennett

Robert was born and raised in the northern California delta. As a young adult he became interested in the art of photography and in 1976 he came to Seattle to establish his first professional career as a nature and landscape photographer, showing his work at local galleries and art fairs in the northwest and California.

In 1984 Robert built a home on Whidbey Island and soon started a second career working as a cabinetmaker on commercial marine vessels. This led to work on yachts both large and small and a growing love of the finer details of woodworking.

While continuing to occasionally build large yacht interiors, in 1996 Robert began to devote most of his time to designing and building custom furniture. In his studies of the craft he was most influenced by the work and writings of James Krenov and the Arts and Crafts derivative furniture created at the direction of Charles and Henry Greene. Today Robert finds his creative satisfaction in utilizing traditional joinery methods combined with modern technology to create fine furniture for discerning tastes.

"My furniture showcases the best traditional joinery methods," Robert explains. "I employ mortises and pegged tenons on most table and chair joints. Veneers, some from our native bigleaf maples, lend their spectacular beauty to my work while helping conserve our dwindling natural resources. I use certified sustainable lumber whenever possible. Catalyzed lacquer adds the final finish on most pieces; its durability and appearance are unrivaled."

"While I've created some limited-edition furniture, most of my work is designed with input from clients who want a one-of-a-kind piece custom-built for their home or office. I welcome the opportunity to create a single work or an entire suite of furniture that can be enjoyed and cherished for generations."