My name is Nate Belasco and I’m a DC-based woodworker on a mission to make beautiful, long-lasting furniture made from sustainable sources. I use the leftover scraps to create wall art and sculptures. My goal is to use as much reclaimed/scavenged/discarded material as possible and avoid buying virgin wood. I take a material-first approach to furniture design; I start with a pile of lumber and determine the best usage for what’s on hand. Then I work in software to iron out the measurements before moving onto construction.

I like to imagine I’m building things in a post-apocalyptic scenario where the materials available are limited and I am forced to be resourceful. Sometimes I find a piece of discarded furniture on the curb, take it apart, then challenge myself to make something new with only that found material. In my experience limitations lead to innovation while abundance promotes design stagnation.

I believe in the power of glue to make durable heirloom furniture and I reject the mass-produced allure of disposable flat-pack “storage solution I use a mix of traditional joinery techniques, like mortise and tenon, but I also appreciate the strength and simplicity of the screw. I use zero-VOC and/or water-based finishes to seal my work pieces. My designs draw from a mix of tried and true Shaker cabinetry and practical modern minimalism. I specialize in small furniture, cabinetry, and atypical built-ins.