California West Greene & Greene Chair

This Chair just won 4^th Place in the International Design in Wood Show at the Del Mar Fair..!! There were 364 entries this year. One of the largest fields in years. Just stunning woodworking in all areas of design. I was blessed with 4th prize in chair design.  It is not sold so it is ready to find a new home..! You will find this chair to be a stunning addition to your home.  Using Cherry from Pennsylvania and Curly Maple from the Indiana area we have designed a contemporary rendition of our award-winning Bow Arm Chair.   The Cloud Lift Detail of side stretchers in Curly Maple create a stunning profile for the design. The Laser Cherry side panels are a new design for us. All the pieces are assembled with mortise and tenon joinery This design sets the standard established by the brothers, Charles & Henry Greene.  The leather is from Italy and is a perfect match to the wood colors. Cheyenne is a premium leather coming from an Italian tannery. It was designed to capture the look of vintage wax/crackle leather while offering stronger protection for furniture use. This effect gives it a distressed, aged character, but the finish is set so it will not continue cracking over time. Each hide is aniline dyed and then given protective treatment through their Purely Protected® technology. This helps provide durability for higher-use furniture while still keeping a soft, silky hand and a subtle matte finish. The leather is meant to show the natural beauty of the hide, so markings such as scars, belly wrinkles, healed scratches, and insect bites may be visible. These characteristics are part of what makes genuine leather unique. This leather on the chair is like a fine set of Italian gloves. The back has a five-position adjustment. The chair includes the footstool. The California West Bow Arm Chair was also among the top 5 designs for the Custom Business Magazine contest. CATEGORY: Residential Furniture-Freestanding

Size: 40” high by36” wide and 42” deep. 

Summer Sale SAVE +++!!!!

$3600.00 Standard Price in Cherry, Curly Maple & Italian Leather

$2900.00 Sale Price Delivered Free in Southern CA.

$2900.00

We Will Pay The Sales TAX…$253.75

Call 760 613-1230 or Contact via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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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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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Website

We would like to share our Spring Sale Program which includes 2 renditions of our famous Morris Chairs. We’ve had the opportunity to purchase a limited supply of curly maple from Strata Hardwoods, and we are using this wood in design of our Bow Arm and Spindle Arm Chairs.  The curly maple is used for the arms, front and sides of the chairs and the vertical woods can be Cherry or Walnut from Northern California.  The upholstery can be ultra-suede from New York or South American leather from North Carolina .  We have made 2 of these chairs since October and have one pending order at present.  They are stunning!

If you have a desire for that special piece of furniture in your home, we can create that special design to fulfill that dream!

Many of you know that my wife, Nancy Murphy, was a Vice President of CDC Commercial for 20+ years and has retired and joined me in the design and marketing for my business.  I encourage you to contact Nancy or me to discuss your design needs.

I would like to share something that I have done in my career.  Each piece is built from the design stage to finish by myself (with occasional help from others) and then signed, numbered and dated.  This ultimate act of accountability ensures the commitment to detail that is evident in all the furniture that we produce. We have created 400+ pieces and there almost 150 chairs in this journey to date…

Hope you are enjoying early Springtime,

Save the date For the Escondido Arts Partnership annual art auction gala fundraiser Panache.

Saturday March 28th an art auction of fine artworks donated by regional artists.. Nancy and I have donated a special Chair to the Auction for the past 16 Years!!!
They also have a donated signed lithograph by Niki de Saint Phalle, a generous donation from the Niki Charitable Art Foundation.

Nancy and I have donated this chair to the Auction this year..! Curly maple, cherry and Argentina  leather.  It has a stain finish and very, very comfortable to sit in..!!!

Side View	Curly maple side stretchers, great figure

Top view of curly maple arms, Stunning figure, Great leather ..

>2019 Panache Chair	2025 Design in Wood Show Del Mar Fair
2024 Panache Chair	2020 Panache Chair
2015 Noah Murphy (Grandson) Panache Chair
Chris Cochran trying out a Panache Chair a few years ago…!

California West Greene & Greene Chair

This chair and footstool are using the Curly Maple and Cherry.  The legs are solid cherry and feature the Blacker Leg Indent Detail done by Charles Greene from 1907-09.  The Cloud Lift Detail of side stretchers create a stunning profile for the design.  All the pieces are assembled with mortise and tenon joinery and they are plugged with ebony pins. This design standard set the standard for the Greene & Greene which was established by the brothers Charles & Henry Greene.  The leather is from Argentina, and we have a selection of colors to match your decor.

Size: 40” high by36” wide and 42” deep.  Spring Sale Price $3495.00

Laser side detail	Sides assembled with arms
Chair assembled & arms installed

California West Bed

This stunning bed complements our California West Design program. It fits very well in most homes today. It is available in different sizes to fit your mattress. Queen Head Board is 50” high and the footboard 30” high. The king/California King is 60” high and the footboard is 40” high. The bed is available in red oak and in quarter sawn oak and also cherry. This bed is an outstanding project that fits very well in most homes today. The Art's & Crafts style is reflected in the head and foot boards and sets a modern theme of this classic design. The bed is constructed with mortise and tenon joinery and they are pinned in place with cherry pegs. The tapers on the legs lend a striking touch of style to the bed. It is available in Queen, King size and California King to fit your needs.

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,

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

Well, here I am a couple of years ago with our Bow Arm Chair and the Spindle Arm both upholstered in Cloth.  This was part of the Escondido Arts Partnership Show which Nancy and I have sponsored for the past 16 years..!  We have one of our California West Green & Green chairs in process right now for the new Show this month of January.  It will be donated to the Panache Auction in March which we have also done for the last 16 years..!

The Escondido Arts Partnership is pleased to announce the Sixteenth annual presentation of WOOD; A Furniture Show. This exhibition features a gathering of some of the very best furniture makers in Southern California. Handcrafted furniture and art works in a variety of wood mediums crafted with traditional and contemporary techniques. Curated by Brian and Nancy Murphy of Murphy's Fine Woodworking. Join us for opening receptions Saturday, January 10th from 4 - 6pm (awards presented 5:30 pm)

Save the date !
for the EAP'S annual art auction gala fundraiser Panache.
Saturday March 28th an art auction of fine artworks donated by regional artists as well as a signed lithograph by Niki de Saint Phalle, a generous donation from the Niki Charitable Art Foundation.

California West Greene & Greene Chair

This chair and footstool are a new design for us.  The legs are solid cherry and feature the Blacker Leg Indent Detail done by Charles Greene from 1907-09.  The Cloud Lift Detail of side stretchers create a stunning profile for the design.  All the pieces are assembled with mortise and tenon joinery and they are plugged with ebony pins. This design standard set the standard for the Greene & Greene which was established by the brothers Charles & Henry Greene.  The leather is from Argentina, and we have a selection of colors to match your decor.

Size: 40” high by36” wide and 42” deep.  Winter Sale Price $3400.00

Laser side detail

Sides assembled with arms

Chair assembled & arms installed

Mission Sideboard Collection

We feel that his piece which I have made at least 12 times and have taught to 15/20 students at a school just outside of Indianapolis represents our Mission Line at its very best.  The three dovetailed drawers and the doors with the inlaid butterfly keys reflect the Arts & Crafts style. Available in both red and white oak and cherry it fits today’s homes very well.  In quartersawn wood it is truly stunning.  Size: 39” high by 65” wide and 22” deep. Winter Sale Price..$3995.00

Hope Chest

We were very fortunate to find the material that this hope chest is made of.  It was a one-of-a-kind piece.  We have been sourcing wood from Strata Hardwoods in San Diego, and they have been carrying Spelie that is very grain distinctive. Size: 21” high by 47” wide and 17” deep.  Winter Sale Price $1500.00

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,

760 613-1230
2243 Mountain View Drive / Escondido CA 92027
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Website

We would like to take this time to express our profound thanks to all of our customers over the years. I keep a diary of every major piece that I have made through the years. It totals over 400! Plus, in addition, there are almost 150 Chairs over the past 30+ years..!

This is the Murphy Manger. The first year that we were married my folks gave us the manger pieces that were made in Germany. No Manger, no tools, so I borrowed a jig saw and that was when apples and oranges were shipped in wooden crates. Found a crate behind a grocery store and alas my first wood working project was created! Comes out every year and graces our fireplace.

Then there is the Christmas Box. I forget how many of these we made - at least 20 for family and friends. But it has 2 amazing books in it. The first is The Christmas Box, by Richard Paul Evans. It was first published in 1993 by Simon & Schuster and should be in everyone’s collection. Then our daughter Lisa said Dad you need to include A Christmas Story, written by Jean Shepherd and made into the great hilarious movie that we watch every year! The Boxes are made of quilted, curly Australian wood, red oak and black walnut and are loved by all that received them.

This beautiful California West Chair is my entry for the Show and if it does not sell at the Show it will be donated to the EAP Panache Auction that will be held in March. This will be the 15th Chair that Nancy and I have donated to assist with the funding of this great organization! It just left today to Manuel’s Upholstery here in Escondido to be fitted with a great leather.

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 by 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 H Murphy

760 613-1230
2243 Mountain View Drive / Escondido CA 92027
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Website

Jon & Susan Rodriguez wrote: “When we began to look for dining room and living room furniture, we had 3 criteria in mind: quality, reasonable price, and local production. In Brian Murphy, of Murphy’s Fine Woodworking, we found everything we were looking for, and more. Brian is more than a woodworker who makes furniture; he is an artist with a refined eye for detail. Each piece was hand-crafted of superior quality and exquisite detail. For our project, he used quarter-sawn oak to give a spectacular grain pattern then handpicked the pieces with the most distinctive grain to use in the most visible areas of each piece. The drawers of our bedroom dresser were made from the same piece of oak, and the grain pattern flows continuously across the dresser. We were so impressed with the Mission style living room and dining room furniture Brian made for us, that we commissioned him to make a bedroom set, as well. We now have 24 family heirlooms and beautiful pieces of “art” throughout our home. We love the furniture, and we loved working with Brian”.

This couch with its loose cushions matches our Morris Chairs and Coffee Table for our living room collection Using Quartersawn Red Oak for the top and the sides makes this a very striking piece. The corbels on the sides balance the design. The fine Italian leather makes a perfect couch. It is also available in cloth.

This is a complete view of Jon & Susan Rodriguez living room and dining room.. We also did their complete bedroom with dresser, special bed, Spindle arm chair and great stained glass floor lamp!

In my business every once in a while you get to work on a great project. This couch and table just got off the freight elevator for the San Diego Natural History Museum and will go in storage for the next week. Next week it will become an anchor part of the Coast to Cactus Exhibition. Thank you Michael Fields, Director, for having selected me to do the work.

Nancy and I were just at the San Diego Natural History Museum, and it is holding up very well..!  Not too bad when you consider the thousands of folks that have used this great couch and table.

San Diego Natural History Museum

Tim & Lori Pfeiler wrote. We bought a new house, and we picked our new floor to show off Brian Murphy's furniture! The picture below is of their old house..!  A dark cork floor to show off the light wood. And it really does. You walk into our living room, and we hear, Wow! Your furniture is so beautiful, your chairs, couch, coffee table fit this room and invite you in. We arranged our living room to show off Brian's fine wood working. And it shows. The grain of the wood shows: the style/shape of the furniture fits our room perfectly.

And then, we have a sideboard. Its purpose is to show off our beautiful glass collection. What a presentation.  Beautiful wood, great color stain, contrasting with a collection of hand-blown glasses. In addition, we have 6 chairs and a beautiful dining table.  Finally in my office we now have a stunning double book case. For a total of 14 amazing pieces!. Brian Murphy is a master wood worker. He is meticulous with his furniture; he falls in love with the grain and makes it shine.

Our Bow Arm Chair was Featured on the cover of Fine Woodworking’s new Book!!!!!!

We have been really busy this year as we have made 5 of our famous chairs since the first of January!!! In addition, we have a Livingroom commission for 6 pieces.   One of the 5 chairs we donated one to Neighborhood Health’s fundraising auction that raised $600.000. 

California West Greene & Greene Chair & Footstool

Much better picture than above!

As a small independent furniture manufacturer, 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. By 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 Gallery Click Here to see the variety of collections that we make.

For Living Rooms Click Here

For Dining Rooms Click Here

For Bedrooms Click Here

For the Office Click Here

If you have any questions, give us a call!

Very Best,

Brian H Murphy

760 613-1230
2243 Mountain View Drive / Escondido CA 92027
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Website

Summer time here in California and we have decided to offer a very special sale pricing for one our famous Morris Chairs..  This Chair is Priced at $2900 which includes the footstool!!  We will also pay the sales tax of $253!!!  This Chair is finished and ready to pick up as it was built to display at the Design in Wood Show. It is made of solid cherry and curly maple and is really quite stunning. This is quality workmanship at its finest!

Ready to pick-up and take home!!!!The Curly Maple is Stunning..!  I can send more pictures..

This just arrived in my mail box.  I had shared in the past that I was nominated in this art program.  Well today I am among the top 5.  Rather humbling when you’re part of a great group of people here in the North County!!  Thank you everyone who voted for me!!!!

Dear Brian,

We’re thrilled to officially announce that you have been selected as one of the five finalists in the Best Established Artist category for the 2025 North County Arts Awards, hosted by the California Center for the Arts, Escondido Foundation.

Your creativity, passion, and cultural impact have made a lasting impression on our community, and your work continues to enrich the artistic fabric of the North County. This recognition places you among an exceptional group of leaders, innovators, and changemakers being honored this year.

As a finalist, you will be celebrated at our black-tie awards ceremony on June 28, alongside other remarkable creatives and cultural stewards from across the region.

This past Saturday was so exciting for me and Nancy.  I was a finalist in the North County Arts Awards for 2025!  We sat at a table with Chrisanne Moats and Katie Werner of the Escondido Arts Partnership and Cathy Carey and Mike who were also nominated for awards.  This program had over 800 entries starting and was broken down into 18 groups of about 5 finalists in each.  Cathy and I were in “Best Established Artist with Significant Community Impact.” Suzanne Nicolaisen Won!  We had an amazing evening, and it was so great to see how many folks support the Arts here in town!!!!

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

California West Greene & Greene Chair

This chair and footstool are a new design for us.  The legs are solid cherry and feature the Blacker Leg Indent Detail from Charles Greene from 1907-09.  The Cloud Lift Detail of side stretchers in Curly Maple create a stunning profile for the design.  All the pieces are assembled with mortise and tenon joinery This design set the standard established by the brothers, Charles & Henry Greene.  The leather is from Argentina and is a perfect match to the wood colours.

Size: 40” high by36” wide and 42” deep.  Special Sale Price $2900.00, Regular Price $3400…!

Traditional Spindle Arm Morris Chair 

This Chair is a direct reflection of the work done by William Morris in England in the early 1900’s. We have taken a bit of our own design to make it modern.  This chair and the Bow Arm Chair feature quadralinear leg post construction.  These posts have 4 quartersawn boards mitered and then glued.  This construction technique best displays the oak’s ray flake which seems to wrap around the leg. The Chair is shown in red leather, ultra-suede and cloth.

Size:  40” high by 36” wide and 42” deep   Sale Price $2900.00, Regular Price $3400…!

Award Winning Bow Arm Morris Chair

 Our design of this chair was featured on the cover of Fine Woodwoking’s new book on the 33 Best Furniture Projects!  When asked, I will say that we have done close to 200 of these Chairs in the last 30 years. A great comfortable chair.  Shown in 2 colors of leather and Ultra-suede. 

Size:  40” high by 36” wide and 42” deep   Sale Price $2900.00 Regular Price $3400…!

California West Bow Arm Morris Chair

Using Cherry from Tennessee and quarter sawn red oak from the Indiana area we have designed a contemporary rendition of our award-winning Bow Arm Chair.  All our chairs have a 5-position back adjustment.  Size: 40” high by 36” wide and 42” deep. 

Special Sale Price $2900.00 Regular Price $3400…!

For Living Rooms Click Here

For Dining Rooms Click Here

For Bedrooms Click Here

For the Office Click Here

We have had requests from customers about reducing the size of the chairs. We custom fit many chairs to fit the stature of the buyer. Just a bit less deep and slightly narrower to fit the customer perfectly. If you have any questions, give us a call!

Very Best,

Brian H Murphy

760 613-1230
2243 Mountain View Drive / Escondido CA 92027
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Website

Our Mid-Summer sale runs from the end of August thru the end of September!! Select any piece from our web page and we will pay the Sales Tax for you!! We will also discount your piece by 10%

Bow Arm Morris Chair & Footstool in Leather 40” high 36” wide 42” deep	Spindle Arm Morris Chair & Footstool in Leather 40” high 36” wide 42” deep
California West Greene & Greene Chair & Footstool in Leather 40” high 35” wide 40” deep	California West Bow Arm Chair & Footstool 40” high 36” wide 42” deep
Mission Students Desk 30” high 27” wide 55” long	Mission Book Case 69” high 50” wide 14” deep
Mission Queen Size Bed	Mission Buffett 44” high 52” wide 20” deep
Mission Sideboard in Quartersawn Red oak with pecan finish. 39” high 65” wide 22” deep
Mission Armoire/Entertainment Center Fruitwood finish 69” high 43” wide 24” deep	Mission Dresser with custom stain with custom stain 36” high 73” wide 20” deep
Mission End Table Finish Fruitwood 27” high 29” wide 29” deep	Mission Coffee Table Finish Fruitwood 46” long 36” wide 18” high
Mission Wine & Spirits Cabinet Pecan Finish 38” high 17” deep 42” wide	Mission Nightstands Pecan Finish 27” high 16” deep 28” wide
Contemporary Mission Nightstand Pecan Finish 28” high 24” wide 18” deep	Contemporary Mission Curio Cabinet Pecan Finish 70” high 46” wide 18” deep

This furniture is constructed from Appalachian Red Oak flat sawn and quarter sawn Red & White Oak. The workmanship that goes into a Murphy Fine Woodworking piece is renowned and incorporates the most durable construction methods known to furniture making. All of this furniture is created with true mortise and tenon joinery, inlayed butterfly keys, solid brass and solid bronze hardware and a finish that is applied by hand. Many of our special features are side-hung drawers and center guided drawers, half bind dovetails on all drawers, through keyed and pined tenons and special bed rail hardware.

The finish that Murphy’s use is the superb Daley’s oil-based finishing products. The finishing process takes four days to complete and requires a complex series of applications. The first step is an oil-based stain of your selection, and a sealer. Three coats of either a semi-gloss follow, or gloss hand applied final finish. Our craftsmen carefully sand, rub and polish all exterior and interior surfaces to give the soft lustrous finish.

The extraordinary care and skill that goes into a Murphy’s finishes guarantees that each piece of furniture has its own special beauty. No two finishes are ever exactly the same.  But every finish is deep, lustrous and displays the glow of the natural wood to its best advantage.

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.

For Living Rooms Click Here

For Dining Rooms Click Here

For Bedrooms Click Here

For the Office Click Here

If you have any questions, give us a call!

Very Best,

760 613-1230
2243 Mountain View Drive / Escondido CA 92027
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Website

Our Mid-Summer sale runs from the end of August thru the end of September!! Select any piece from our web page and we will pay the Sales Tax for you!! We will also discount your piece by 10% ... Just give me a call to save $$$ Hundreds!!!!

As we move into Fall I thought that I would revisit a great article that was done in 2018, 6 years ago.  We have been in business since 1981, 43 years we have been building beautiful furniture! That is quite a time ago, we still enjoy designing and building for folk’s homes & offices. This January Nancy and I will host WOOD A Furniture Show XV (15) at the Escondido Art Partnership.

Brian Murphy, November 1, 2018 at 5:05 PM:

Well, today I received a great opportunity to share from Rockler Woodworking & Hardware who have over 30 stores in the USA and there is one in San Diego. They publish a great magazine the Woodworker’s Journal, and this week on the email version I am featured!!! It is a truly a great story about my career which I have been so blessed to chase after.

BRIAN MURPHY: CHAIRS, ARTS AND CRAFTS AND A FURNITURE SHOW

BY JOANNA WERCH TAKES • Nov 1, 2018

As we head into January, woodworker Brian Murphy is getting ready for the 10th iteration of a woodworking furniture show he founded to highlight the work being done in his region.

“Wood X, a Furniture Show,” will run from January 11 to February 1, 2019 at the Escondido Arts Partnership Municipal Gallery in Escondido, California. Also, a founding member of the San Diego Fine Woodworkers Association, Brian started the Escondido show after wondering “what would happen if I had a show in January which didn’t conflict with the show in June?” Another motivation was his involvement in the Escondido Chamber of Commerce and his belief in its mission: “I truly believe that the chamber is the voice of business and the more that you promote your business within your community, the better it is for everyone. I’m a businessman working in my community, and I support businesses in my community.”

His own business is Murphy’s Fine Woodworking, which focuses on custom-built furniture, largely in the Arts and Crafts style. Previous business ventures have also included the proprietorship of woodworking retail stores The Cutting Edge, from 1980 to 1989, and American Furniture Design woodworking plans company, sold within the past few years to Lee Valley Tools.

He’d done some smaller woodworking projects before then but became more involved and started building custom furniture while running The Cutting Edge. “I keep a diary, so every piece of furniture that I have made [is recorded]. The first one was ‘001,’ and it was done in 1982. It was a butcher block mobile kitchen unit, hard rock maple top, birch sides, inserts and walnut sliding doors with dovetails.” Piece number two was a grandfather clock in white oak with Carpathian elm burl inserts on the crown and base. Piece number 256 was a table that a customer picked up in December.

“The adventure of being a custom woodworker [is], unlike the big store manufacturers, when we build chairs and build furniture, we select the perfect board – not pieces, the board – to showcase the piece.” For example, the arms on a chair “are usually so stunning in grain pattern that they just kind of jump at you,” Brian said.

Chairs are a specialty of his. He’s working on two new ones, one for his own show in January and one as an entry for the San Diego Fine Woodworkers Show in June, but over the years, counting those he has made and those he has taught, Brian estimates “I have produced and influenced almost 100 chairs. That’s a lot of chairs.”

While most of his chairs are large, they are built to fit the person. “I had a gal who was extremely arthritic, and the chair had to be narrower and shorter for her to get in and out of the chair.” Stylistically, they owe a lot to the Arts and Crafts movement. “Some of that furniture was truly ultra-simple, so in my adventure with Arts and Crafts, it has been to modernize it just a bit, to make the chairs so comfortable that when you sit in them, you take a nap. In the original Stickley chairs, you can’t do that,” Brian said.

Still, he is fond of the Arts and Crafts styles. While he has produced “all kinds of furniture, from Queen Anne sideboards to rolltop desks – you name it, I have built it,” it’s the Arts and Crafts style that most appeals to him. “I fell in love with Gustav Stickley,” he explained. “I loved the turn-of-the-century Gustav Stickley, William Morris type concept.”

With the focus on mortise-and-tenon joinery in this type of furniture, Brian notes that his floor-mounted mortising machine has been a worthwhile tool investment, helping to ensure that the pieces he builds “will last for a very long time” (at least one client has the Murphy’s Fine Woodworking pieces they own included in a family trust for their children).

Brian notes that’s also “always developing new stuff, which is fun.” He’s known for a California West Greene and Greene chair which riffs off the influence of the Greene and Greene woodwork in Pasadena’s Gamble House. “It is Arts and Crafts, but it’s a softer look, and it’s truly a beautiful chair. Stickley is more square and rigid, and the Greene and Greene style is softer.”

In addition to building his own chairs, Brian has taught chairmaking at the now-defunct American Sycamore Retreat, as well as smaller tutorials in his own shop – including, through a school work-study program, to his grandson, Noah, who entered and sold the chair he built through that year’s furniture show. “Not everybody has that truly unique opportunity with your grandchildren,” Brian said. “It’s pretty special.”

And yes, the show is a for-sale show, with about 30 participants this year – up from six the first year. “And it’s only furniture. We don’t do anything else. And the pieces are just stunning,” Brian said.

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.

For Living Rooms Click Here

For Dining Rooms Click Here

For Bedrooms Click Here

For the Office Click Here

If you have any questions, give us a call!

Very Best,

760 613-1230
2243 Mountain View Drive / Escondido CA 92027
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Website

This is the Murphy Manger. The first year that we were married my folks gave us the manger pieces that were made in Germany. No Manger, no tools, so I borrowed a jig saw. That was when apples and oranges were shipped in wooden crates. I found a crate behind a grocery store and alas my first wood working project was created! Comes out every year and graces our fireplace.

Just Delivered!!!!!

This case is made with quarter-sawn white 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 glass which are divided by wooden mullions. The hardware are bronze pulls, and the interior has two wooden shelves that are adjustable with glass inserts. The right side of the case has a glass open side and so will the left. The left side has two ½” polished glass shelves that are open to the front and are adjustable.

Size: 68” long by 38” high and 16 ½” deep    Call for Special Christmas Pricing

Also Just Delivered!!!!!

The Mission Table is a pleasure to own. The mortise and tenon joinery will ensure that the table will last for generations. With the center leaf in place the table will seat 8 very comfortably. The top is made of solid white oak and has inlet cherry wood keys at the joints in a true Stickley style.

Size: 68" long by 42" wide and 30" high. There is an 18” leaf. The Mission Chair’s are made with mortise and tenon joinery and will assure you of a chair that will last. Size: 41" high by 18" wide and 18 1/4" deep.

Mission Chair $950.00 Quarter sawn white oak with custom leather seats

Mission Dining Table $4,595.00 Quarter sawn white oak with inlaid cheery key and center leaf

We feel that this piece, which I have made at least 15 times and have taught to 15/20 students at a school just outside of Indianapolis represents our Mission Line at its very best. The three dovetailed drawers and the doors with the inlaid butterfly keys reflect the Arts & Crafts style. Available in both red and white oak and cherry it fits today’s homes very well. In quartersawn wood it is truly stunning. Size: 39” high by 65” wide and 22” deep. Christmas Sale Price ... $3,995.00 in Quarter sawn white oak

This striking design was made to provide a place to display a few nice bottles of wine and wine glasses for people who don’t have the space or can’t afford a wine cellar. The tapered legs create a nice balance with this design. The inlayed cherry butterfly keys make a true reflection of the Arts & Crafts style. The cabinet is assembled with mortise and tenon joints and solid bronze hardware. Every Cabinet comes with 6 wine glasses and a complimentary bottle of wine.
Size: 37 ¾” high 17” deep and 42” wide.  Christmas Sale Price ... $3,695.00 in Quarter sawn white oak…

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.

For Living Rooms Click Here

For Dining Rooms Click Here

For Bedrooms Click Here

For the Office Click Here

If you have any questions, give us a call!

Very Best,

760 613-1230
2243 Mountain View Drive / Escondido CA 92027
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Website

Well, it is Spring time here in California and we have decided to offer a very special sale pricing for all our famous Morris Chairs.  They all will be priced at $2900 which includes the footstool, choice of stain colors and leather!!  They will be our new Greene & Greene chair, the Traditional Bow Arm, the Spindle Arm and the California West Bow Arm.   You can get to participate in the process by selecting wood, finish and leather or fabrics.  Stop by the shop and watch the progress of your piece as it comes to life.  This is quality workmanship at its finest!

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

California West Greene & Greene Chair

This chair and footstool are a new design for us.  The legs are solid cherry and feature the Blacker Leg Indent Detail from Charles Greene from 1907-09.  The Cloud Lift Detail of side stretchers in Curly Maple create a stunning profile for the design.  All the pieces are assembled with mortise and tenon joinery This design set the standard established by the brothers, Charles & Henry Greene.  The leather is from Argentina and is a perfect match to the wood colors.

Size: 40” high by36” wide and 42” deep.  Special Spring Sale Price $2900.00, Regular Price $3400…!

Traditional Spindle Arm Morris Chair

This Chair is a direct reflection of the work done by William Morris in England in the early 1900’s. We have taken a bit of our own design to make it modern.  This chair and the Bow Arm Chair feature quadralinear leg post construction.  These posts have 4 quartersawn boards mitered and then glued.  This construction technique best displays the oak’s ray flake which seems to wrap around the leg. The Chair is shown in red leather, ultra-suede and cloth.

Size:  40” high by 36” wide and 42” deep   Spring Sale Price $2900.00, Regular Price $3400…!

Award Winning Bow Arm Morris Chair

Our design of this chair was featured on the cover of Fine Woodwoking’s new book on the 33 Best Furniture Projects!  When asked, I will say that we have done close to 200 of these Chairs in the last 30 years. A great comfortable chair.  Shown in 2 colors of leather and Ultra-suede. 

Size:  40” high by 36” wide and 42” deep   Spring Sale Price $2900.00 Regular Price $3400…!

California West Bow Arm Morris Chair

Using Cherry from Tennessee and quarter sawn red oak from the Indiana area we have designed a contemporary rendition of our award-winning Bow Arm Chair.  All our chairs have a 5-position back adjustment.  Size: 40” high by 36” wide and 42” deep.  Special Spring Sale Price $2900.00 Regular Price $3400…!

For Living Rooms Click Here

For Dining Rooms Click Here

For Bedrooms Click Here

For the Office Click Here

We have had requests from customers about reducing the size of the chairs. We custom fit many chairs to fit the stature of the buyer. Just a bit less deep and slightly narrower to fit the customer perfectly. If you have any questions, give us a call!

Very Best,

760 613-1230
2243 Mountain View Drive / Escondido CA 92027
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Website

NEW WOODWORKING CLASSES
BUILD A BOW ARM MORRIS CHAIR IN A WEEK!!!

For almost 8 years I taught at American Sycamore, a woodworking school in Indianapolis for a week-long course to build one of our famous chairs. Class size was 12 students maximum.  That school has since closed and I’ve done the course a couple of times here in Escondido.  One of my students many of you will remember was the CEO of the Chamber of Commerce for many years. Rorie Johnston!  The chair made by Noah Murphy was a special high school class for San Marcos High School that I taught here in the shop..! The chair that you will make will be Eastern Cherry, Curly Maple or Quarter Sawn White Oak, Leather, cushions, and final finish.  We use Carroll Leather from North Carolina and Manuel’s Upholstery here in town to put the cushions together. This project will last 5 + days; lunch is included.  The day will start at 8 and end at about 4!  All material and labor are included.  The price for the class is $1800.00 It will be offered in 3 sessions: June, July, and August.  Each class is limited to one student to assure very personal guidance and direction.

Bow Arm & Footstool

Bow arm in glue up Lamination really works the best for the arms.

Drawing the chair side to match the contour of the bow arm to be cut on the bandsaw.

Chair assembled and ready for stain..!

Footstool ready for assembly

Recliner pins for the back

Our Chair on the cover of Fine Woodworking Book

This collection of Bow Arm Chairs is just a small part of the 250 + chairs that we have made over the years.  We have designed four styles of chairs, the Traditional Bow Arm, the Spindle Arm, the California West Bow Arm, and the California West Green & Greene Bow Arm Chair.

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 by 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.

For Living Rooms Click Here

For Dining Rooms Click Here

For Bedrooms Click Here

For the Office Click Here

If you have any questions, give us a call!

Very Best,

760 613-1230
2243 Mountain View Drive / Escondido CA 92027
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Website

California West Greene & Greene Chair

This is a walk down memory lane.  Four 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 on 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 on how we build our pieces, and I would like to share a few pictures on how a Mission Sideboard is really made!

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 which are divided by wooden mullions. The hardware are bronze pulls and the interior has 2 woodeen shelved that are sdjustable 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 last week, 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 controlled with four different lighting stages,

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.

For Living Rooms Click Here

For Dining Rooms Click Here

For Bedrooms Click Here

For the Office Click Here

If you have any questions, give us a call!

Very Best,

760 613-1230
2243 Mountain View Drive / Escondido CA 92027
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Website

Well, here I am a couple of years ago with our Bow Arm Chair and the Spindle Arm in Cloth. This was part of the Escondido Arts Partnership Show which Nancy and I have Sponsored for the past 14 years..! We have one of our California West chairs in the new Show this January. It will be donated to the Panache Auction in March which we have also done for the last 14 years..!

Art Auction | Benefit | Gala

SAVE THE DATE! the Panache Art Auction Gala is coming up Saturday March 23, 2024.

Once again, we are bringing the community together to support the arts. Come share the joy of art, mingle with the contributing artists, collectors, and auctioneer Ruth Kingcade as we raise funds for the EAP’s mission of inspiration. It’s a celebratory evening with live and silent auctions, live music, complimentary libations, specialty-crafted mocktails, tray passed appetizers and a luscious dessert table. Festivities start at 5:30, tickets go on sale February 9th online or at the gallery. 21+ year old event..

This chair has been donated to the Panache Auction.. Be sure and come and bid for a great deal!!

California West Chair

The legs are solid cherry. All the pieces are assembled with mortise and tenon joinery. The arms, and sides are curly maple, and the arms are just stunning with the grain pattern.  The footstool is a perfect match for the chair. The leather is from Argentina, and the chair can be seen at the Escondido Art Partnership as it is on display at the WOOD A Furniture Show XIV

Size: 40” high by36” wide and 42” deep.  Winter Sale Price $3800.00 includes Footstool.

Mission Sideboard Collection

We feel that his piece, which I have made at least 10 times and have taught to 15/20 students at a school just outside of Indianapolis represents our Mission Line at its very best. The three dovetailed drawers and the doors with the inlaid butterfly keys reflect the Arts & Crafts style. Available in both red and white oak and cherry it fits today’s homes very well. In quartersawn wood it is truly stunning.

Size: 39” high by 65” wide and 22” deep. Winter Sale Price..$3995.00 in Quarter sawn white oak

Hope Chest

We were very fortunate to find the material that this hope chest is made of. It was a one-of-a-kind piece. We have been sourcing wood from Strata Hardwoods in San Diego and they have been carrying Spelie that is very grain distinctive.

Size: 21” high by 47” wide and 17” deep. Winter Sale Price $1700.00

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.

For Living Rooms Click Here

For Dining Rooms Click Here

For Bedrooms Click Here

For the Office Click Here

If you have any questions, give us a call!

Very Best,

760 613-1230
2243 Mountain View Drive / Escondido CA 92027
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Website