Milbourn Woodworks

07/25/2026

1900. Water powered. One man operation.

Spent an afternoon at the historic sawmill Ballenberg Museum with Urs.

Watched an entire Linden log get milled into boards the old way. Methodical, meditative, and seriously impressive.

Pulled out the cinematic rig for this one. More coming soon.

07/25/2026

06/21/2026

Switzerland bound. ✌️

Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there holding it down for their families. I’m in Switzerland training for a new chapter and missing my family and friends back home today more than usual.

This picture is from the PDX airport before I left. Hardest part of this whole adventure is the distance, but everything I’m doing right now is for them.

More on what I’m up to soon. For now, just grateful for my people back home and proud to be a dad doing hard things to build something better for my family.

06/20/2026

16 years. Over 900 pieces. Over 450 commissions. Looking back, I get to reflect on what it took.

Started out making rustic furniture and reclaimed fir tables at street markets, earning trust and trying to prove I could actually build something people wanted. My early stuff wasn’t very good, but I hardly charged enough for it either. No formal training. Just some stubbornness, a table saw, and a few basic tools from my grandpa. This was before social media and YouTube culture, before the explosion of “creators” who turned furniture making into a glamorous lifestyle. Trust me, it’s not.

Somehow it turned into a real business. Against the Grain was taken from a Bad Religion song from my rebellious days. We became Milbourn Woodworks the year I married Tiffany, because the work had gotten too personal to keep the old name, and “against the grain” had become a generic phrase slapped on every gluten-free cookbook imaginable.

I grew a business and a family at the same time, which nobody warns you is basically running two full-time operations. Trading work schedules around my wife’s career and the kids. Late nights in the shop. My wife pulling the majority of weight at home. Plenty of mistakes along the way. The journey was tight, steep, and often unforgiving.

And the clients. Genuinely, less than 1% of every commission I’ve ever taken was a nightmare. That’s hundreds of wonderful people who trusted some guy to build something they’d keep for life. I don’t take that lightly.

The work evolved right along with me. Rustic farmhouse tables turned into commercial projects and high-end hardwood furniture. The street market hustle turned into private commissions people waited months for. Same hands, completely different craftsman and finished product by the end.

This chapter’s closing for now. Not because the story’s over. I did everything I set out to do. Developed my style, put my soul into every piece. Produced more work than most who give it a try. What I learned, I get to take with me. Now I get to create for myself and my family first. Get back to what makes me passionate. On to the next! 🤙

05/31/2026

Tools put away. Shop cleaned up. Lights off.

Sixteen years of sawdust, late nights, early mornings, and everything in between. Almost 470 projects for clients who trusted me with their homes and businesses. I gave everything I had to this craft and I have zero regrets.

Milbourn Woodworks isn’t gone. Just resting.

I’m stepping into something new and I couldn’t be more ready. A new chapter is beginning and I’ll be sharing more very soon.

Thank you Portland. Thank you to every single client, supplier, and collaborator who was part of this journey.

The best is yet to come.

05/29/2026

Custom cherry bed frame for Kailen in Newport, Oregon.

Built this queen size frame designed specifically for a tall guy in a small coastal studio apartment who wanted an investment piece that would grow with him.

Six trundle drawers split evenly on each side - spacious and functional. Right now it fits perfectly in his studio with just enough room to spare. When he eventually moves into a bigger space he’ll be able to access both sides fully. Built it right the first time so he doesn’t have to think about it again.

FSC certified cherry from Collins Pine The color on this wood is gorgeous and only gets better with age.

When it fit into that tiny room just perfectly his face said it all. That’s what this is about.

This was my last coast delivery before wrapping up the shop and heading out of the country. Newberg to Newport in one trip, then back to Portland to turn off the lights.

Next chapter incoming.

05/26/2026

Custom walnut armoire/wardrobe for a client in Newberg.

This piece was a challenge to build by myself. Lots of joinery, hand-fitted doors and drawers. Built to store clothing while being a centerpiece in their bedroom.

Combination of Oregon black walnut from with natural color variation and rich grain, with contrasting cherry dovetail drawers and back, and hand machined white oak closet dowel.

One of my last pieces before wrapping up the shop. Proud of how this one turned out.