Tom Phillips Woodworks

60 Fifth Street
Ashland, OR 97520
541-482-4829

Tom Phillips builds custom home and office furniture in his small shop in Ashland, Oregon. He has been working wood since an introductory class in hand tools and layout work high school — some 25-plus years ago. After high school Tom worked as a carpenter’s helper in Berkeley on a Frank Lloyd Wright designed home. He went on to build his first kitchen with rough Redwood and no power tools while living in Northern California. Tom has always liked the problem solving aspects of designing for both function and beauty.

After coming to Ashland in the summer of 1978, Tom moved to his current home in early 1980. He expanded an existing 160 sq. ft. ‘cabin’ by adding a 24' by 16' shop. His shop’s main focus is on one-of-a-kind furniture, though he has done kitchens, staircases, windows, small remodels and some furniture repair. Like many other woodworkers, he makes things that people cannot buy elsewhere, due to the unique design features and wood choices.


*Tom Phillips in his shop*

Tom has been President of the Siskiyou Woodworkers Guild since the early 1980’s. He started the guild after studying at a summer seminar presented by the Mendocino Woodworkers Association and taught by James Krenov in 1980. This was before Krenov and College of the Redwoods started its full Cabinetmaking program.

Thinking back, Tom says, “I was impressed with what these craftspeople were able to do to promote themselves as a group. When I returned to Ashland I started talking with other woodworkers to see if there was interest in developing some type of organization here.” The rest is history.

If you happen to have a copy of Jim Tolpin’s Built-Ins book, you can find a photo of a staircase with drawers and cupboards below the treads that Tom built. The design is of Japanese influence and made of Oak and Madrone.

When asked about who has influenced his work, Tom said, “I do like to work with natural edges and George Nakashima is definitely a major influence when it comes to that. Being mostly self taught in the shop with power tools, I am grateful for my early exposure to hand tools and to Krenov for refining my skills and eyes.”

Book Stand

Tom knows that each client he works for is different and so must ask a lot of questions to determine what exactly it is that they want. Photos, drawings, and mock-ups are all useful in finding out what people will like before the finished product is being made. Tom says, “Good communication skills and clear financial agreements are a big help in making sure everybody gets what they want out of the job.”

You can see more of Tom's work by visiting his web site here.