Take a Virtual Tour
of the store
– Kerry Triffin
Robin Chase – Quintessentially Integral
Robin Chase was a biochemistry major in
college, but he spent most of his time in the school woodshop. The
appeal of wood seemed to always win out over chemical diagrams and
equations, and his real career path appeared through the trees.
Now 25 years later, his woodshop in Calais, Vermont produces some of
the most attractive furniture in New England. Working mostly with
sustainably harvested cherry, Robin produces a vibrant Shaker line. But
he’s best known for his distinctive Harvestmoon collection, which
combines Asian curves with reverse-tapered corner posts and a unique
pull made of walnut and cherry. Everything he makes is guaranteed for
life.
“My whole philosophy is to make furniture that’s built to last a
lifetime, but that’s also affordable,” Robin says. “We’re known for our
cherry, and we’re really particular about our selection process.
“We’re selecting not only to eliminate off-colored spots and knots, but
also based on grain, to really match the pieces. For example, panel
doors are book-matched. A piece of wood has been split along its
thickness and turned into a pair. One door looks like it’s a mirror
image of another.
“It’s subtle, but the eye does pick it up. People can feel that it’s
more balanced and more pleasing because it’s inherently more
beautiful,” he says.
Kerry Triffin, owner of Fairhaven Furniture, said he admires how Robin
applies his principles to every aspect of his life.
“To me,” Kerry says, “Robin and his furniture or quintessentially
integral. What do I mean by that? He builds furniture like he builds
his life and his business relationships: calmly and with integrity. His
staff loves him, we love him, and we love and appreciate his furniture.”
Robin’s inspiration for woodworking came from his grandfather, who sold
Packard cars by day and planed beams by night. Later, Robin and his
brother started their own furniture business in Vermont. They split the
business after seven years, and now both run workshops a couple of
miles from each other.
Besides buying sustainably harvested woods, Robin and his dedicated
staff are careful to use only natural and safe coatings. Mostly he uses
linseed oils, based on methods used in the late 1800s for carriages and
furniture.
“What furniture really likes is to be oiled. If you keep oiling it,
with time it will become more beautiful and indestructible. Lacquers
and urethanes are like coatings on your furniture that don’t require
much care, but they also don’t let the wood breathe,” Robin says.
Naturally, he’s a perfect fit for Fairhaven Furniture.
“Fairhaven Furniture has a very interesting selection of vendors, and
I’ve always liked the showroom,” Robin says. “Kerry values people. When
he refers to a furniture maker’s line, he often refers to artist by
first name. Because he’s built fine furniture he knows what goes into
it. And he really notices details."
