Philip Morley

I am a custom furniture maker located near Austin, Texas. My studio is a one-man shop in which I design and build one-of-a-kind furniture for clients across the United States. My studio is also my home where I reside with my wife and three wonderful children. I originally was trained in carpentry and joinery under the City Guilds in London, England. I had the opportunity to work on refurbishing historic buildings in London, including a project at Covington Gardens. I turned my interest to furniture while working with an RISD (Rhode Island School of Design) graduate in Providence, Rhode Island. I fell in love with the precision required in furniture making and the challenge that every piece brought of forming wood into functional yet aesthetically inspirational pieces of art. The craftsmanship involved was truly inspiring. Each project is a new journey in this process. I was able to apply my knowledge of traditional joinery to the art of furniture making. Indeed, the integrity of each piece is every bit as important as the appearance.

I moved to the United States in 2003 to be with my eventual wife, Carmen. I continued exploring furniture design under Richard Chillcott in Apollo Beach, Florida. Working with the Chillcott Group opened my eyes to new design possibilities. After the birth of my son, we moved to Texas, and I served as an apprentice to master craftsman Michael Colca for six years. Under Michael I learned truly superior craftsmanship in furniture construction. I was also introduced to Austin Community College (ACC). I have since been working as an adjunct professor in the Building Construction Technology Department teaching Advanced Woodworking, Cabinet I, and Jigs and Joints in Austin, Texas. Through teaching, I have been able to share my passion for this craft with others.

I design and build studio furniture. My approach is to build unique pieces of functional art while maintaining the time-honored integrity of traditional craftsmanship.