T A S T E M A K E R

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Roger Deatherage grew up in Illinois, in a house built entirely byhis father, mother, and grandfather. He has a bachelor’s in envi-ronmental design and an MFA in Design, both from NorthernIllinois University. His real education occurred during the summerin between when he served as an apprentice to renownedDesigner/Craftsman Bobby Falwell. It was during this time, Rogerwas introduced to the world of studio furniture, and to the conceptof a being a designer/craftsman.

Furniture Inspirationan interview with Roger

How did your career begin?I taught for three years at the University of Houston starting in 1975,

before resigning to pursue my studio work full time. I started by doing afew shows and slowly built a client base. As both designer and maker, I amable to tailor furniture for individual clients. I apply my creative side andalso enjoy the physical process of building the piece. I have never adver-tised and still manage to build an average of 12 to 20 pieces a year. And I’vebeen doing this now for more than 35 years. Some pieces take one to sixweeks, and others have taken years.

Where do you work?I work in a shop 30 feet from the house where I live with my wife, Mary, andwhere we raised our two children. The shop was built by friends as a barn rais-ing. Once the foundation was in, I put building materials on a credit card,(easier than a bank loan), and asked friends to come help one Saturday. By3:30 in the afternoon we had a place to work, beer, and barbecue. The TexasTrifecta. I am still grateful every time I walk in.

What inspires you?I have never been able to identify or pinpoint my style.This is perhaps becauseI spent so many years working for others and trying to incorporate their tastesinto my work. The two main influences for me personally are probablyScandinavian furniture of the 50s and Japanese architecture. Both cultureshave a reverence for and an understanding of wood as a material that I think isthe basis of any good work.

Rocking chair, walnut, with woven leather backing.

ROGERDEATHERAGE

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What are your design goals?As both designer and maker, I am con-

cerned with how something feels as wellas how it looks. It should go withoutsaying that a chair needs to look com-fortable and be comfortable. Smallerdetails, like a gently softened edgewhere your hand falls or the warmth ofa finish, are just as important. They arealso the hardest to specify in drawings.Those details come from the personalityof the craftsman.

What types of materials do you likeworking with?I describe my work as quiet. I like to

think that it garners attention withoutshouting for it. As a woodworker, Ichoose material with good natural colorand proper density over exotic appear-ance. I try not to let the wood overpow-er the form. Pennsylvania Cherry is afavorite, because it is strong, warm,and responds well to tools.

How do you work with clients?I think it’s important for any potentialclient to make an appointment and seepast work in person. I ask that theybring a collection of pictures andthoughts, expressing likes and dislikesregarding their furniture, other peoples’furniture, pet peeves with contractors,and any other information that willhelp me design for them. This meet-ing often leads to a home visit to seethe space I will be designing for, fol-lowed by a written and drawn proposal(including time frame), deposit, andinvitations to visit work in progress.

Do you sign your work – and do youhave a favorite piece?I’ve found that people love seeing some-thing built just for them. Each piece issigned, dated, and marked, “MadeinTexas.” I have a different favoritepiece every time someone asks me, butI did an eight-foot diameter diningtable in cherry and ebony that I calledArthur. When the client and his wifecame to see it, they described it as bothmedieval and modern. That’s as close asI ever came to the ideal timeless design.Other favorites would be the 50 or sorockers I’ve built, and the “homes” I’vemade for books and various collections.

ABOVE: Karen bed in cherrywood.

LEFT: Pair of side chairs in cherrywood withleather backing.

BELOW: Arthur table in cherry and ebony. It waspart of a multi-year project. As with all his wood-work, no stain is used.

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Who inspires you? I could name a hundred furniture makers I would like to know better, andI have images of thousands more whose names I don’t know. I’ve learnedfrom all of them. If I had to narrow it down I’d say my main inspirationswere Hans Wegner for his wedding of machine and hand work, BobbyFalwell for his life lessons, and more than one anonymous craftsman.

Getting PersonalWhat is important to you?My wife. She has 4 jobs, I only have one. Well two now, actually. Trees,good music, and bees are all pretty important, too.

Do you own others’ works?I only have two pieces of furniture that are not my own. They’re both

chairs by Hans Wegner, and both were gifts from clients.

What makes you happy?I enjoy where I am and who I’m with. Wife, kids, dogs, cats, birds, and

squirrels, fresh citrus, and hardwood scraps to cook with. I spend mostSaturday mornings at Clark’s hardwoods sharing what I’ve learned andlearning from others. I’d like to travel and get inspired first hand, but Iknow I’ll be glad to get home and make something.

-- compiled by SFRoger Deatherage can be reached by email, rdeatherage@mac.com and byphone: 713-692-8777. His Web site is www.finewoodeninteriors.com.

ABOVE: Tansu inmahogany and ebony.

LEFT: Reference stand incherrywood.

BELOW: Dining roomtansu in cherrywood.