Passion

Jay Acheson came to Leavenworth in 1980, and opened the current shop — which smells pleasantly of sawdust, if you peek in through the front door — in 1986. Since then, he’s made a name for himself as an old-fashioned craftsman, designing and building kitchens, furniture, and other parts of people’s homes.

Acheson started woodworking in 1974 as a senior in high school in California, refurbishing furniture. In 1975, encouraged by his father, he opened an antique store and worked on refinishing furniture. That store closed right before his move to Washington in 1980.

Acheson said his interest in woodworking came in part from the artistic side of it.

“It’s a creative outlet, especially with design,” he said. “Translating a client’s ideas into a workable design is always a challenge, but it’s also why I love my job.”

Detail

His original intent was to create furniture, but the expense of furniture and the demand for cabinetry and kitchen design led him to expanding his services.

For those looking for long-lasting, high-end woodwork, Acheson said the shop isn’t exclusive, and can be competitive in price. He said he’s grateful for the patronage of the people who support his work, and he doesn’t take their decision to choose him lightly.

Legacy

Because of their ongoing patronage, the shop is slated to be passed down to Acheson’s son, Jacob. Jacob grew up in Leavenworth and around his father’s craft.

“I’ve got my name scratched in the concrete outside,” he said. “I grew to love this more and more,” Acheson said.

And his father enjoyed having him around the shop.

“It was fun for me to teach him more hands-on in the shop,” he said. “Watching my son and apprentice of 15 years emerge as a fine craftsman — (there’s) nothing richer for me.”

Jacob brings with him not only the skills he learned from his father, but also an appreciation for the time this kind of work takes. As for the shop, Acheson looks forward to fostering the reputation his father has built for it.

“Hopefully it will look similar,” he said. “I’d like to keep doing things the old-fashioned way.”

The old-fashioned way can be hard, though. Designing and building pieces from scratch involves creating a general concept, creating an outline using computer software, and then creating the piece one finely shaped and finished hunk of wood at a time. The tedious work is the worst part for both Jay and Jacob, who prefer creative, one-of-a-kind pieces. That said, it’s work they both love.

“I feel very privileged, very blessed, to make a living doing this,” Jay said.