How do you find tranquility amidst the utter chaos of restoration?

That question naturally has you thinking about home remodeling, doesn’t it. Well, actually it’s about the restoration of life in the middle of chaotic times.

The last half of May found me shop hunting and house hunting at the same time, with the intention of combining the two. The ideal location was almost obtained, but the day I was moving out, it fell through. So, I had to find some temporary housing until I can finally discover the new home of Adam King Studio. Thankfully, the current shop location is still available, but not for much longer as they are needing that space for expansion.

Going back to moving day, I recall being a bit sore the next day, and waking up the day after in serious pain. As the week progressed it got more and more intense. That’s when I knew something was way wrong. I have bad shoulders in the first place, but my right shoulder was in serious distress. A visit to the doctor revealed a bulging disc around C3 or C4 that is pinching the nerves running into my right arm. This in turn was causing the muscles in my shoulder to seize and feel as though it was dislocating. To put it into perspective the Dr. said I am one false move away from laying face down on the operating table as they fuse my neck together. Needless to say, I am now under very strict orders to not do anything that will put strain on the disc and the nerves running to it. This includes moving and it certainly means no woodworking until I’m out of the danger zone. These two scenarios are also sprinkled with a few odds and ends of other small issues that seem to be attempting to trip me up where I stand. It would seem that this whole thing I call life is in utter chaos.

So, what do you do when the vision of peace and tranquility you have for life just doesn’t seem to be the current reality? Let’s look at three simple perspective shifts that will keep you from crumpling like a prize fighter who just got his ribs caved in.

Your environment is where you are at right now.

I emphasize tranquility within the home’s interior quite a bit. It’s my core message.  But, what if you aren’t in your home? What if you don’t have a home at the moment? That’s the beautiful thing about tranquility. It isn’t picky about where you are. It can exist anywhere. Just as you engineer a space in your home to produce tranquility, you can alter a temporary space to do the same.

Are you in a hotel room that isn’t conducive to working and resting in peace? Well, move the offending furnishings around until you have a flow that resonates with you and increases the ability to work or rest in a peaceful manner. What about a temporary home? If you’re couch surfing, you obviously don’t have a lot of space to manipulate, but you have personal belongings. Keep your couch surfing supplies in check so they don’t take over the precious little space you’re borrowing. There is an old saying that gets passed around the primitive campers, “Leave no trace.” That’s the general rule to follow in any temporary housing situation. You stand a better chance at a tranquil experience if you keep your things from disturbing the environment you inhabit at the moment. Let them blend into the surroundings of you will.

Tranquility begins inside in order to spill over to the outside.

I know this is something that sounds a bit cliche and over used, but the seeds of tranquility have to begin within you. How can you achieve it if you have no real desire to have it in the first place? How do you expect to take the steps necessary to learn what it is and how to maintain it if there is no internal desire for it? The desire to experience real tranquility breeds the drive to take action on obtaining it. But it’s an inside out experience. Starts inside, and manifests outwardly. The end goal is to be able to engineer tranquility in any environment by first creating it in the interior of the mind.

Chaos is the training ground for tranquility.

How can you expect to maintain your current pant size without training? How can I expect to excel at making high end furniture without constantly testing my skills? In order to maintain and then get better at something that improves your life, you need testing and training. Enter chaos. It is the training ground for achieving and maintaining true tranquility. Just as fire needs water to keep it in check, you need bits of chaos to maintain the ability to engineer tranquility in the mind and the home. Here’s the hard part. In order to really make the most of the training, you have to accept the chaos and even embrace it. Be grateful for it, because without it, you would loose sight of the precious end goal.

I could close this out with a deep thought, or zen-like summary of the whole matter, but not this time. Instead, I’m simply dropping this in front of you so you can examine it, test it, and see if it works for you.

Tell me your thoughts in the comments.

If you follow me on Twitter, then it’s no secret that I’ll be moving soon

The building where I have my shop is owned by another company and thee good news is they are growing and need to expand! The other news is that I need to find a place to move now. Notice I didn’t say, “bad news?” That’s because it isn’t bad news. It’s just change. In fact it might even be good news.

It’s exciting to think about a new environment to design and create in! In fact, I’m glad it’s happening. Don’t get me wrong, I really liked the old space. But sometimes, in order to take the next step in creative work, there has to be a dramatic change. Whether it’s location, methods, medium, or perspective, a big change can unlock parts of your creative self that may never have revealed themselves before. I know for me, it’s just the kind of change I need to make the next generation of furniture coming from the Studio.

I have a few leads on a new place and am very close to finding the new home of Adam King Studio. In the meantime, it occurred to me, as I was cleaning the other day, that the less I have to move, the better. It’s no secret woodworkers can be pack rats. Especially when it comes to lumber! But the less I move the easier it will be, so here’s what I’m going to do:

I have just about two weeks left in the old place and that is just enough time to make the Sassafras cabinet and get it out to you. That’s cutting it close , but it’s certainly possible. So, if you order by Sunday evening at the latest, then you will have the Sassafras Cabinet headed for your door in two weeks! Otherwise it will be at least a month before anything can ship with all the moving, cleaning, setting up, etc.

I really want to get just one more piece created in the old shop before I leave. Call me sentimental. It would mean a lot to make it a piece for someone who will enjoy and cherish it for generations to come. So, why not have that someone be you.

I’ll let you all know where the new shop is and what it’s like once it’s all set up and running. It’s an exciting time. Thanks for coming along with me.

P.S. Don’t forget, you have until Sunday evening to order the cabinet if you want it delivered quickly.

$1050.00

Well, by now I’m sure you’ve noticed the changes around here. It was quite evident that the first upgrade I did back in June, just wasn’t enough. It needed to be taken further if you were going to have the best experience possible, here. So, welcome to the new and improved Adam King Studio. I’m glad you’re here.

Let me tell you, it wasn’t easy. I’m a natural DIYer, so I thought I was up to the challenge of making this site the best it could be. Almost two weeks later, I was near the end and stuck! People were clueless, experts were stumped, and I was becoming a bit balder in the process. That’s when I knew it was time to enlist help.

Enter my newest friend and fellow creative, Rachael E.C. Aklin of Caffeinated Design Studio.

With her keen eye and detective skills, she had me up and running – fast. Seriously. What would have taken me days of research and trial and error, she had done in a couple of hours. She was able to help me continue to tell my story in a big way by fixing the site problems.

I say she helped me continue telling my story, because without the site working I would not be able to write this. I would instead be pulling what’s left of my hair out trying to even comprehend how to go about fixing the problems. I had to accept her help in order to continue doing what I do.

I can hear it now, “Great story, but what in the world does this have to do with furniture?” My point is simple. At some point, we need help telling our story.

You see, each piece, each design, has a story. Even the materials can have a tale of their own to tell. That’s because as a person, I have a story to share. My work, and this website are means to tell that story with all of you.

All of you have a story too, and if you can help communicate that story through the things you surround yourself with, then you engineer a much more cohesive environment to exist within. The key is surrounding yourself with the handmade. Those items that speak to you and seem to “get” what you’re about. Expressions of who you are. They become very important means of communicating your story to everyone who encounters you there.

That’s why the “Portfolio” page is now the “Available Pieces” page. I knew there needed to be a place for you to come and find pieces available now that will help enable your story to continue. It has all of the pieces you know and love from the past, but I’ve included items for sale that are exclusive and haven’t been commissioned. Originals from my sketchbook to your home.

Here’s a preview:

I’ve been working on taking my influences and shrinking them. Larger Japanese cabinets that have a multitude of functions and spaces take up a lot of room, some of them stand over 6 feet.So I have been translating the elements in those cabinets that capture me, and attempting to shrink them down in to a smaller more delicate size. This piece was the first cabinet to come from the endeavor.

The design of this wall cabinet was inspired by several styles of tansu once common in Japan. The result is a smaller, more delicate piece that could live comfortably on top of your dresser or hanging on your wall.

The case is crafted from local Sassafras:  a lighter wood with fascinating grain patterns and has a spicy aroma resembling root beer. (Sassafras tea anyone?) It starts with a light golden color that mellows over time to a cinnamon hue.

The sliding door panels are Curly English Sycamore veneer, and the cabinet back is a frame of Sassafras with traditional mulberry paper, bringing a warm glow to the interior. Hand carved pulls adorn the drawers and sliding doors – giving your hand a natural almost organic place to engage the piece. The drawers are constructed with traditional hand cut dovetails, ensuring a lifetime of holding your precious objects.

Sassafras Wall Cabinet: 36″ l x 10″h x 8″d      Price:  $1050.00

This is one of a couple pieces that are available to you now. The pieces will change based on availability, material supply, and whether or not I desire to continue crafting the piece. So, now is the time to acquire your own piece of a legacy and start telling your story. If you don’t see what you’re looking for, then perhaps it’s time to begin designing your legacy instead.

P.S. To be one of the first to get a look at new pieces, subscribe to get free updates from the Studio as new work is posted.

If you ever need ANYTHING in the graphic design/website world, then go see Rachael. It will be a rewarding experience as she helps enable your story to be told too. Tell her Adam sent you.

(You can follow her on Twitter: @caffeinatedelf. Love that name! )

If you’re a professional interior designer or architect, you no doubt are aware of helping your client express themselves with the overall design of their home. In essence you’re providing an expression of your client’s values, beliefs, and principles. Hopefully, you’re also working with the rare customer who is employing you to design around their passion as well.

What if you could take this even a step further? What if you raised the value of your client’s experience by raising the scope of your offering?

Being the good designers and architects that you are, I’m sure what I’m about to say isn’t anything new. If this does end up being new to you, then you’re about to learn something that will greatly increase the value of your service. What I’m talking about is legacy.

Don’t just design a space, design a legacy.

Your clients come to you to help design the ideal environment for their particular stage in life. Whether they’re just starting out in life, midway through it, or nearing the golden years. You’re not just building them a retirement home, or designing the ideal kitchen, you’re helping them build a legacy. It’s true. You’re allowing them to do something most people don’t ever accomplish; having a carefully crafted structure stand as a testimony to their existence. Seriously.

Now, envision how much more passion and excitement will go into your work as you view each interaction with the client as a chance to add more to their legacy for future generations to experience. It’s not just about heirlooms and property any more, is it?

A shared vision is essential to the legacy.

In order to accomplish this in the most valuable way possible, it’s going to take more than just a mindset shift on your part. It’s going to mean restructuring your whole approach to client work. Your core message, marketing, and systems will have to make the shift as well. I’m not talking about a complete rebranding, I’m simply saying that you will have to take a long look at these aspects and tweak them to help accomplish this newfound mission.

Now that I’ve got you thinking about this, start going through your vendor and provider lists. Are these vendors and suppliers delivering the best that you can get from them? More importantly, are they aligned with your goals and visions for the client? Are they open to approaching the work they do for you in the way I’ve presented above?

If so, then you are well on your way to securing the legacy for your client with each project. If they aren’t operating with this outlook, what can you do to open them up to this concept? If you’re unsure,or they’re unwilling, then it may be time to look for a new supplier.

You’re building a legacy of your own.

Approaching the client’s needs in this way elevates not only your offering, but you as well. Good or bad, you are all establishing your own legacy with each conversation, and each interaction you have with your clients. Why wouldn’t you take your own legacy from good to amazing? It may only start with a small shift in perspective and approach, but the results are generational.

I have this privilege every time my hand touches the tool. Each pass of the plane helps bring to life someone’s legacy. I am finally becoming more aware of the importance of my own in this bigger game we call life.

I’ve been thinking on this idea lately and it’s led me to begin working on something that will enable you to provide a lasting legacy to your clients in a bigger and bolder way.

Have I peaked your interest and curiosity? Good. Subscribe to the Studio Blog to find out more.

What about your approach to this concept? As a professional, is building a legacy part of the offering? Why or why not?

Let’s discuss.

Woodworking and design are activities that are natural to me. I am at my best designing and crafting quiet elegant pieces for all of you. Writing, however, provides a wee bit more of a challenge.

If you’ve followed me here at the Studio for a while now, you know that I maintain the Studio Blog as a means to help further solve you needs and connect in deeper ways. However, I don’t mind being honest in saying I do not always know what to write about.

“What’s the point of this article? Will anyone even care if I publish this? Am I simply writing what I want to read? Is it normal to have this echo in my head?”

These questions run through my mind as I search for topics that would best serve and inform you. Sometimes I have moments of clear inspiration and other times I feel like I’m grasping at carcinogenic sawdust particles floating through the air. I enjoy writing the blog, don’t get me wrong. It’s just hard sometimes to see what would serve you best in the way of informative, problem solving, and entertaining content.

As I sat at the bench contemplating this it hits me like a piece of White Oak over the cranium: Ask them what they want to read. You would think a solution that simple would have come earlier, but remember what I said about carcinogenic sawdust particles? Yeah.

So, what do you want to read here at Adam King Studio? What would be the absolute best content you could receive here? What would help you solve a problem, obtain answers to a question, and add the most value to your follow?

I truly want to know. It’s my hope to make the Studio a place for you to come to knowing it will always have something of value to help you in the greatest ways possible. In short, I want to inspire you. The only way for that to happen is for you the reader to let me know what will serve you best.

So please tell me. Drop me a suggestion in the comments below, email me, or if you follow me on Twitter, hit me up there.

I can’t wait to hear what you have to say and I’m excited to help you in greater and more meaningful ways. I appreciate all of you.