About Us
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Traditional, with a modern flair.
Thomas William Furniture is Tom and Linda Dumke, working out of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. Tom designs and builds every piece himself, from laying out the first board to signing and dating the finished work.
How it started
Tom spent 25 years as a CNC machinist, where precision was everything. He started building furniture part-time in 1996, and in 2003 he left his job to do it full-time. Today, he still works alone, and each piece is designed, laid out, glued up, sanded and built by Tom.
What guides the work
Tom takes his cues from the furniture makers of the 17th and 18th centuries, and especially from the Shakers: clean, unadorned lines, honest function and careful craftsmanship.
Drawing from that shared knowledge, passed down through generations of craftsmen, Tom continues a tradition rooted in excellence. He readily acknowledges the influence of contemporary masters such as Thomas Moser, Garrett Hack, and Chris Becksvoort, whose work reinforces the enduring relevance of traditional craftsmanship.
He reads each board's grain and figure to decide where it belongs, so the wood itself becomes part of the design.
How it's made
Every piece is solid native hardwood, sourced from dealers in Southeastern Wisconsin. Tom joins his work with pegged mortise-and-tenon and dovetail joints, the time-tested methods that keep furniture together for generations. A well-built piece that lasts 100 years is always a better value than one that has to be replaced every ten.
Made for you
Want something in a different wood, finish or size? Tom builds custom pieces to fit your space. Shop visits are by appointment, so get in touch and tell us what you have in mind.
Our mission
To build fine furniture that celebrates the natural beauty of wood, with graceful design that's a joy to own.
