Custom Woodworking & Designs

Simple, High Quality, Memorable

About Me

Hi, I’m John — a 21-year-old custom woodworker based in Napanee, Ontario.

Woodworking has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I officially started JD Woodworking & Designs in 2018 at just 13 years old, turning a lifelong passion into a dedicated business built on craftsmanship and quality.

Every piece that leaves my shop is thoughtfully designed and carefully built with attention to detail. I take pride in creating custom work that is not only functional and beautiful, but built to last a lifetime.

Johns Story

My passion for building started at a very young age. What began with Lego quickly turned into working with wood, and by the age of seven I was already building chairs and side tables from reclaimed pallets.

In Grade 6, I built an Adirondack chair for a school project, and by age ten I had designed and constructed my own custom bed frame, followed shortly by a matching desk. From that point on, woodworking became more than just a hobby — the garage became my second home.

At thirteen, I was introduced to woodturning and began crafting custom pens and rolling pins. Soon after, I expanded into cutting boards and serving trays, which led me to attend my first local market in Greater Napanee. That first market marked the true beginning of my journey as a custom woodworker.

Now, more than six years later, at just 21 years old, I regularly attend local markets and continue to grow my business. Over time, I’ve refined my skills and expanded my capabilities to build a wide range of custom pieces — from functional home furnishings to unique, one-of-a-kind designs.

If you have an idea in mind and aren’t sure whether it can be built, I encourage you to reach out. I’m always ready to take on a new challenge and bring your vision to life.

My Future Plans

As I continue growing JD Woodworking & Designs, I’m committed to constantly building and refining my woodworking skills. Craftsmanship will always be the foundation of what I do. Moving forward, I plan to put more focus into content creation — sharing my process, techniques, and lessons learned along the way. My goal is to inspire and teach others who want to create with their hands and build something they’re proud of.

My Workshop

For the first three years of my business, I worked out of our two-car garage — learning, building, and growing my skills with the space I had available.

In September 2022, I took the next step and moved into my own dedicated workshop. In 2022, with the support of my parents — who have always believed in my vision — we invested in a 24' x 28' Amish-built shop. My dad and I insulated it, installed electrical, and finished the interior with drywall, turning it into a fully functional workspace built for efficiency and growth.

Today, the shop is fully temperature-controlled, allowing me to work comfortably and consistently throughout the winter months. And even just a few years later, I’m already pushing the limits of the space — a sign of how much the business continues to grow.

My Tools

With the move into my new workshop, I knew it was time to invest in upgrading my equipment. Thanks to the savings from the early years of running my business, I was able to purchase a 10" cabinet table saw, a 20" industrial planer, and a dual-canister dust collection system.

These additions significantly expanded my capabilities, allowing me to work more efficiently while maintaining the high level of precision and quality I expect from every project.

Combined with the tools I had already built my business on, the new equipment quickly filled the shop — and continues to support the growing demands of custom work.

I regularly reinvest in new tools and equipment to improve productivity, accuracy, and overall craftsmanship. Having the right tools ensures I can consistently deliver professional-grade results on every piece that leaves my shop.

Ethically Sourced Lumber

Approximately 90% of the lumber I use is salvaged or locally sourced within Canada. I work with local sawmills and trusted distributors to ensure the materials I select are high quality and responsibly obtained. I also source live-edge lumber from suppliers across Ontario to create unique, one-of-a-kind pieces.

The remaining 10% consists of carefully selected exotic hardwoods imported into Canada through established suppliers. These materials allow me to incorporate distinctive grain patterns and rich tones when a project calls for something special.

Quality craftsmanship starts with quality materials — and that begins with responsible sourcing.

Instagram

Check out my Instagram feed to see what I'm actively working on, get a behind-the-scenes look at my latest projects, and stay inspired by my handcrafted creations.