An email from a furniture designer sparked my curiosity and led me to Parker Street Studios in East Van. Just off Clark Drive, in an industrial neighborhood, Jeff Martin met me by a sunny yellow door, where I was greeted by his warm smile and firm handshake.Jeff explained a bit of Parker Street Studio’s history with me as we walked to his part of the warehouse. Parker Street Studio from the outside looks to be an old 4 story abandoned warehouse, with grey stone walls, small windows, chimney stacks, backdoors and loading bays. Way back then it was a mattress warehouse, but now over 60 artists rent out its spacious heritage like rooms as creative space and studios.

Jeff Martin is an up and coming artist. He is a furniture builder who prides himself in creating quality solid wood furniture customized for the individual and built to last. He works, shapes and produces unique wood furniture using rescued trees, making sure that his materials are salvaged from residences, municipalities, and orchards – instead of coming from wild forests.Jeff is finding that there is a change as younger people are becoming more aware of joinery, woodworking, and furniture design. Rather than buying manufactured furniture from large corporate chains, younger people are looking for one of a kind, local, unique tables, cabinets and chairs. Custom made furniture.Jeff enjoys all aspects of the process; from sourcing lumber and working with local sawyers to working through designs with clients and hand fitting all of the intricate joints in his work.

But how did he learn how to make furniture?Educated by carpentry classes in high school and motivated by working with his stepdad on their cottage, Jeff Martin learned to love working with wood and creating furniture. But it all really started when a neighbor asked Jeff to cut down some of the young trees on her property. After chopping them down and making one tree into firewood, he asked to keep the rest of the trees, which he made into a small bed side table. Back then it wasn’t perfect, but he has mastered his craft and is very familiar with wood and making quality pieces.What makes him different from other woodworkers?Minimalistic. Simple and well balanced.Jeff Martin Joinery creates solid wood furniture handcrafted from salvaged and responsibly harvested timbers.For more info please check out www.jeffmartinjoinery.com or email jeffmartinjoinery@hotmail.com

Photos by ALEX YELIZAROV