Our Story
After working side by side for several years, Jon Ota of Gunner Grey Furniture, Mike Turner of Wildwood Custom Furniture, and Ricky Turner of RT Automotive, decided to merge their businesses together to create high end custom cabinetry and to provide a more efficient service to their customers. Both Mike and Jon have had their work featured in Fine Woodworking Magazine as well as being awarded ‘Best in Show’ at the Fine Furnishing Show in Providence, RI on two separate occasions.
After spending 15 years in varying roles within the finance industry, there was a void not being filled. I always had a passion for creativity, and if you have ever worked on endless Excel sheets, the creativity stops short. I truly enjoy working with my hands and creating something from nothing, so I decided to attended the Cabinet and Furniture Making program at North Bennet Street School in Boston Massachusetts, an extensive full-time 2 year program focused on traditional furniture making practices, the old way, the way where they are still studying pieces made a century ago. Leaving a career with over a decade of time invested and a very healthy income, it was a huge risk, but something I knew I needed. With the constant support of my wife and two kids, I emerged on the other side a better person in general with a fine tuned set of hand skills you can learn no where else other than North Bennet Street School. After school I started my own shop along with two other students I met in a building that has been owned by my family for generations. That company was Wildwood Custom Furniture. After running my own small furniture shop for a number of years, alongside other small furniture makers in the same space, we realized by combining our forces we were able to make better and bigger futures for not only ourselves, but our customers even more so.
After serving three combat tours in the Marine Corp infantry from 01-05, I struggled finding my place in life. I bounced around from office job to office job and found I enjoyed working with my hands. After 10 years as a residential carpenter and 2 years as a commercial super, there was still something missing from my life. My therapist at the time was a true believer that peace can be obtained through creative work and that creativity is a stream that must be constantly maintained. He found the North Bennet Street School and signed me up, not a place I ever imagined myself going. It was a huge risk, having a wife who works full time and two young children, to embark into a two year full time program 2 hours from home, but it has changed my life in ways I did not think possible. I am part of a team again. The camaraderie I have been deeply missing since the military has been found working alongside Mike and Ricky in a creative ever changing and challenging field. Coming from three different backgrounds, we bring something different to the table that others may not. A finance guy, a mechanic/machinist, and a combat vet with a carpentry background, have somehow come together to create beautiful heirloom cabinetry and furniture.
Coming from years as a mechanic and machinist, where thousandths of an inch count, I am dedicated to accomplishing tasks the right way, the way that will last. Although I am new to furniture making, I have been surrounded and inspired by woodworking everyday for the last several years. I am constantly engaged in helping their machines run better and finding creative ways to make them work more efficiently. My years of training and experience give me a unique perspective and ability to make things work. Some may say turning wrenches is not creative work, but if you find yourself under the hood in tight spaces trying to find a squeak, rumble or failure, creativity is the only saving grace. Metal is much different than wood, there is little to no forgiveness, so perfection is something I am constantly pursuing. Switching careers at my age with a stay at home mom and three children, is a giant risk. After spending years working alongside Mike and Jon, our shops are in the same building, I am fully confident I will make beautiful cabinetry and furniture and live a successful life. Whether it's the machines that make the furniture or the hardware that holds it all together, problem solving is one of my biggest strengths, I can make it all work where others may not.
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