It was 1968 when Peter Murkett first set up shop in a New York City storefront. Several years later he moved a few hours north to the Berkshire hills of western Massachusetts. 

He was a founding partner in the North Family Joiners, where he reproduced Shaker designs that were sold at the Hancock and Chatham Shaker museums, as well as at the Metropolitan Museum in New York.

Later on he was an owner of the Old Inn on the Green in New Marlborough, Massachusetts, where he built fireplace surrounds, the corner bar and its wicket, Windsor sidechairs, barstools, cabinetwork, a wall clock, and harvest table to complement the historic setting. His work is also prominent in the restored Stebbins and Thayer houses alongside the Inn on the New Marlborough village green.

During the 1980s, Peter focused on chairs. He made hundreds from fresh-cut logs, practicing the green-wood joinery perfected by chairmakers over two hundred years ago. The old, proven methods in comfortable, elegant new seats. He also joined large splits and hewn elements in garden and pathway gates of native white oak and locust.

This long engagement with traditional forms and methods evolved naturally into a style which we call New England Modern. Here plain forms have surfaces rich in color and texture, spare details have dramatic impact, and wood remains wood—cut, joined, colored, and polished only to enhance its natural warmth and beauty. This is lively, contemporary work with strong traditional roots, built to last. Once made, just so, every piece leaves the shop to begin a generations-long process whereby use and care impart their own magic. These pieces keep.

the community

These are a few of our favorite friends and neighbors...

Amber Construction & Design  
Architectural Components, Inc. 
Bidwell House Museum 
BOLA granola
Buggy Whip Factory 
Catlin Interiors 
Country Workshops
Curtis Buchanan Chairmaker 
Dave Sawyer Chairmaker 
Farm & Home
Greenagers
GreenWood
Hancock Shaker Village
Jed Johnson Associates
Kingsland Architectural Millwork
Lauren Clark Fine Art
Michael Wainwright USA
Monterey Masonry
Shaker Museum Mount Lebanon
Southfield Store
Stephen Sills Interiors

As seen in...