It is a common misconception that the work of Stickley, Greene and Greene, Roycroft, etc. was done solely by hand. This is inefficient and, in some cases, results in inferior construction. Rather, it was the reliance upon machines for all operations and the shunning of fine craftsmanship that lead to the Arts and Crafts movement. Kessler Craftsman furniture echoes the Arts and Crafts philosophy: Time-tested traditional methods married with state-of-the-art advances in furniture results in a beautiful heirloom commission that will last many lifetimes.

Old world joinery methods include mortise and tenon joinery, splined mitres, and dovetail drawers. These methods ensure stronger, more durable furniture.

You will not find dowels, pocket screws, brads, etc. holding my furniture together. These are inferior methods of construction typically used in mass-produced furniture.

All of the drawers on Kessler Craftsman furniture are dovetailed and generally include floating bottoms and waxed hardwood drawer slides in the NK style.

Unlike some furniture that is manufactured with fiberboard or plywood backs, all Kessler Craftsman furniture is built to be viewed from all four sides. Dressers and desks have enclosed backs made of solid wood; all pieces are completely finished on all sides.

What also makes Kessler Craftsman unique is that the posts and legs of my larger pieces of furniture, which are crafted from quartersawn White Oak, feature "ray fleck" on all four sides. In nature, this is an impossibility, as ray fleck only appears on the two parallel faces of any board. This feature is accomplished by building large posts out of four highly figured wide boards rather than cutting from one solid board. Achieving this level of beauty and strength is one of the most costly and demanding hallmarks of craftsmanship. However, it produces an extremely stable post that is truly beautiful.

If your commissioned Kessler Craftsman furniture requires hardware such as drawer pulls or hinges, customers may select from a variety of manufacturers who are known for their high-quality offerings. Popular hardware styles include hammered bronze, patinaed copper, and natural woods.