Douglas Moulder

18th Century Reproduction Furniture

Doug’s work is intricate, stunningly beautiful, and largely speaks for itself! Functional yet elegant, these are unique Heirloom quality pieces that will be cherished for generations to come.

Artist Statement: I’ve been a “DIY” person forever. I’ve always built and fabricated things, as required for home repairs or just personal interest.

My biggest project was the total renovation/restoration of my first home in 1972, a very run down 150 year old two story home in Peninsula, Ohio. This kept me very occupied for 20 years. I gutted the structure, removed the plaster and lath, and went from there.

I had grown up in a large century home in LaGrange, Ohio, and my father had done a similar thing, so I did the same. I did all the carpentry, finish carpentry, plumbing, wiring etc. I designed and built a kitchen because there wasn’t one in the house, built vanities and cupboards for the utility room and two bathrooms! You get the idea…

I had just gotten married in 1972 and had moved to Peninsula for my product designer job in Bath, Ohio. My wonderful wife put up with all this.

I received a BS in Design from the University of Cincinnati, which gave me the opportunity to work as an industrial designer in the design field for 40 years, from which I retired in 2012-2013.

My interest in furniture building and specifically 18th Century period reproductions came about in that first summer of retirement when I went to a three day “HAND TOOL” Furniture Makers event in Amana, Iowa. This is where I caught the “bug”. The Society of American Period Furniture Makers had a booth in the exhibit hall. I picked up their literature and soon thereafter joined, and started attending the Ohio River Valley chapter’s meetings. This is a great organization where I met lots of similar minded woodworkers.

With my retirement I now had the time to finish my basement woodworking shop and start making real 18th Century furniture reproductions.

Typically to start a project, I build a model of it in 3D, first on the computer, in Solidworks, a high end 3D cad program (I used this for the last ten years of my work career) that lets me see all the joinery and creates very accurate working drawings. Than I do it over for real in my shop, this time with ear protection, and a dust mask. I’m a hybrid woodworker, in that I use all the 18th century hand tools , as well as power tools.

My favorite woods to use are Cherry, Walnut, and Hard Maple. I purchase these in the rough from Amish sawmills and proceed from there. Occasionally I will use Genuine Mahogany, but it’s hard to find and very pricey!

I have built Queen Anne pieces, and also many Federal pieces of the 18th century. Shaker furniture is also in my portfolio and one of my favorites.

I just finished a Shaker Desk out of Cherry wood for my neighbor, and am currently looking for my next furniture project…

In the Spring, Summer and Fall I do play golf twice a week, weather permitting, until the snow flies. Only twice a week! I’m in my shop the rest of the time! -November through May I am in my shop daily.

-Douglas Moulder

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