Our Story

David Ellison, the founder of Lorimer Studios, has had a lifelong fascination with antique handmade furniture. His interest in tables traces back to his childhood in Scotland. No matter his day job, he kept his passion for building and restoring at the forefront of his mind. In 2007 he left a thirty-year corporate career to pursue his dream of building affordable, handcrafted wooden tables.

Lorimer Studios is located in Pawtucket, RI, a city with a rich history of industry and innovation. David and his small crew are committed to quality, painstakingly crafting exactly the piece that each customer wants in their home or business.

We are really happy to connect with new people all over the globe with a shared interest in simple well-crafted tables. We make custom tables that last for families, designers, decorators and companies. We have shipped tables at reasonable rates to every state in the continental United States.

Our tables have been featured in The New York Times Magazine, Design Sponge, Apartment Therapy, and ETSY’s Process blog.

PHILOSOPHY AND VALUES

David knows that his tables can be found at the heart of many homes, where families congregate each night to gather for meals and to entertain friends. This is why he spends so much of his time communicating with customers, listening to their individual needs and then guiding their decisions. He even updates them as their tables near completion, sending them photos along the way.

When making tables, the wood is everything. We care about where our wood comes from, just as much as we care about craftsmanship. We use very old wood whenever possible, but because of the nature of the salvaged wood market, availability can never be guaranteed. However, we will only use very dry and very well seasoned boards to assure great character and stability.

MATERIALS

David travels frequently to search for aged materials and old growth wood to use in his creations. David is committed to converting the best and most interesting materials into quality furniture at reasonable prices. We treasure the unique details, which some might call flaws, in old lumber. Wood with history is more interesting and moreover, using old growth and reused wood is the responsible thing to do.

Our Team

Our team at Lorimer Studios is comprised of a small group of craftspeople with a wide range of talents. We are a mix of RISD, Pratt, and career woodworkers, and all have a deep passion for what we do. As a team we take enormous pride in not only the craftsmanship, but forming relationships with our clients.

Social Enterprise

edge & end

Through our collaborative workshop, called Edge and End, we work with vulnerable members of our community to teach trade and job skills, create employment opportunities, and build meaningful relationships. Our pilot partner is The Groden Network, Rhode Island's premiere organization for the treatment of Autism and other developmental disabilities. Edge and End is working with Groden and Lorimer Studios to create meaningful work experiences for adults with Autism. Groden clients are learning valuable skills from experienced craftspeople, while interacting with coworkers and the public in a challenging but supportive work environment.

building together

We specialize in building custom cutting boards together. Our pieces are made from locally sourced, repurposed hardwoods, and our finishes are natural and food-safe. We are proud of our products, but even more proud of the community we have built around them.

To learn more about this project, or to browse what's available now, click here.