We love building custom pieces here at Son of a Woodcutter  – it’s what makes us who we are as a company. Our goal is to help our clients achieve their vision of what’s possible – bringing that vision to life to create beautiful pieces for your home, just as unique as you are.

You’ve probably heard the term “butcher block”. We’ve seen a lot of confusion around this wording. At some point in time, many people started calling any solid wood tables or countertops “butcher block”. (Not to point fingers or anything, but we’re thinking it may have been thanks to Ikea) There is a difference between the two, and treating your counter the same way you would a butcher block could result in long term damage to the wood. So, we think it’s important to make the distinction. 

In traditional Japanese home design, there are three things that are given the utmost importance: simplicity, functionality, and attention to nature and space.

These values are so similar to our values here at Son of a Woodcutter that it’s no wonder we were inspired by Japanese furniture design to create one of our newest dining tables. In a traditional japanese home, every piece has a function and simple elegance. This is what we aimed for when we designed the Kantan table, which literally means “simple” in Japanese. This simple beauty was designed to look incredible in any home, bringing balance and a healthy dose of nature to your dining room.

The Design

Japanese design is clean and uncluttered. The modern base of our Kantan table is what really makes this piece unique, with its clean lines and simple elegance. We’ve used natural wood with a dark stain to bring nature into the home. The Kantan is available in a variety of sizes, ranging from 6ft x 3ft all the way up to 10ft x 4ft.

The Materials

In traditional Japanese homes, wood was used in much of the construction, and much of the furniture was made with wood. Japanese furniture design has always seemed to lean towards a connection with the natural. 

As with all of our furniture, the Kantan is built with Ontario wood making it a sustainable and durable choice. The locally-sourced Ambrosia Maple wood that this table is made of is carefully hand-picked here in Toronto. Ambrosia is part of the hardwood family, and sits at the softer end of the scale. It’s a little softer than common hardwoods like Walnut, which actually improves the way the wood soaks up stains. Ambrosia Maple makes for beautiful satin finishes.

Because Ambrosia maple grows faster than many other wood species, it is a great cost effective option. We’ve also custom-mixed the stain to mimic walnut – a great affordable alternative.

Want to know more? You can take a look at our Kantan table here.

We’re seeing floating shelves everywhere lately. They offer a clean and stylish way to display your items on your wall. They’re modern, minimal, and a great option for bathrooms, offices and even kitchens. The downside? Without the right support, they sag, droop, and can be a safety hazard. The struggle is real when it comes to floating shelves. 

With so many tiles and textures to choose from these days, a kitchen redesign can feel more overwhelming than ever. And when it comes to your countertops, you want to be sure to choose something that’s not only pleasing to the eye but durable. A well-designed kitchen puts function first! So why choose wooden countertops for the kitchen?

When we connected with Toronto interior designer Natalie Chong through Instagram, we were excited to work with her to design and build custom furniture for her clients. So, we wanted to know a little bit more about her life as an interior designer. Here’s what she had to say!

Wondering where to buy lumber in Toronto? We’ve got you covered. Recently, we launched Canadian Hardwood Supplies, where you can now purchase locally-sourced lumber. This new venture was inevitable, as we’ve been sourcing quality lumber from an Ontario Wood Partner for quite some time now and we’re passionate about offering sustainable wood.

A lot goes on behind the scenes at Son of a Woodcutter. The work we do wouldn’t be possible without our awesome team. They’re dedicated and hardworking. They’re passionate about their craft. Will is no exception. We asked him a few questions about his background in woodworking and his role at Son of a Woodcutter. Here’s what happened!