Living rooms and family rooms are built around comfort, conversation, and authentic materials. A well-crafted Reclining Morris Chair naturally becomes one of the most important pieces in the room. Before choosing one, there are five details worth paying attention to when evaluating quality.

1. Frame construction. Must have kiln-dried hardwood frames and reinforced joinery that ensure long-term durability. Woods that provide this are available in red & white oak, curly maple, cherry and walnut which we source from Strata Forrest Products.
2. Suspension system. High-quality support creates lasting comfort and prevents sagging over time.
3. Leather grade. Full-grain leather develops rich character and patina with use. We source these from Carrol Leather.  Their special hides come from South America..
4. Stitching precision. Tailored stitching signals craftsmanship and attention to detail. Manuel’s Upholstery here in Escondido has done our very special work for the past 15 years.
5. Balance and weight. A well-built recliner should feel solid, substantial, and refined. This creates the perfect place to read a book, have a glass of wine or take a nap.

Once selected, placement matters just as much as construction. Position your Reclining Morris Chair in an attractive space to encourage conversation. Balance it with warm wood, iron accents, natural textiles, and layered lighting to create a stunning living room. This would also create an attractive piece for your family room which feels both comfortable and refined.

This picture is a walk down memory lane.  Six years ago, we were awarded "Woodworker Wednesday", by General Finishes, our country’s major supplier of finishing products. They recognized “Brian Murphy of Murphy's Fine Woodworking! He sells a bold Mission-style line of furniture featuring dressers, desks, bed frames, chairs and more!”

“Brian has been successfully designing and selling furniture since 1989 and has been recognized in numerous magazines for his unique line of furniture with its beautiful detailing and wonderful construction. The Bow Arm Morris Chair is one of his most popular items. It is known for its modern adaption of the work of the great furniture maker Gustav Stickley!”

We are very proud to have been Featured on the General Finishes program!!! It’s kind of nice to be recognized for the Art/Work that we do. We currently have a California West Greene & Greene Chair in process without a home. Call me if you are interested in a great Chair at a great price!

In the Winter Edition of this Newsletter, we featured a selection of Mission Side Boards that we had made over the years. Many times, we have customers ask us how we build our pieces, and I would like to share a few pictures on how a Mission Sideboard is really made!

Legs mortised and shaped	Side panels book matched
Side panels installed	Case assembled ready for doors & drawers
Doors with cherry butterfly keys	Hand cut dovetails for drawers

The following pictures are Mission Side Boards that we have made over the years!!!

California West Bookcase & Display Cabinet

This case is made with quarter-sawn white or red oak and highly figured for the top. The top is 1 1/8” thick and has inlaid cherry butterfly keys along the glue lines. The doors have special antique sand glass panels which are divided by wooden mullions. The hardware has bronze pulls, and the interior has 2 wooden shelves that are adjustable with glass inserts. The left-hand side of the case will have an open side and there are two ½” thick polished glass shelves that are open to the front and side. They are adjustable. The lighting is controlled with a remote switch with controlled level of brightness.

Size:68” long by 38” high and 16 ½” deep.  Spring sale price $6,900

This case was just delivered in 2025, to a great customer who has 14 pieces of ours, and I thought that you might be interested in seeing how it went together also..  It was made of quarter-sawn white oak and stained with a light Bombay Mahogany.  The lighting system is controlled with a remote switch that can come on automatically or be controlled with four different lighting stages.

Top with cherry inlaid butterfly keys

Left side with polished ½” glass Shelves	Right side with glass & mullions
Side glue up and framed	Case assembled
Shelves in place ready for glass	Doors finished and ready for assembly

Ready for final finish

As a small independent furniture maker, we can offer a degree of flexibility and attention to detail not commonly found in larger shops. “I thoroughly enjoy and take great pride in my work. Using attention to detail and proven construction.”

I like to think that we build Extraordinary Hand-built Furniture for your Extraordinary Home.  Give us a call to chat about your dreams …

For a bit of an adventure visit our web page  Gallery Section to see the really different collections that we make.

If you have any questions, give us a call!

Very Best,

Brian & Nancy Murphy

760 613-1230
2243 Mountain View Drive / Escondido CA 92027
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