Charlie Durfee’s Unconventional Shop Story
In this video, Charlie explains his reasoning for his family's unconventional journey, and how his shop sheltered more than just his tools
Charlie Durfee built a home that truly housed his whole life, with a shop for his furniture-making business downstairs, and living space for him and his wife upstairs. With its pitched, gabled roof, divided-light windows, and shingled walls, it was—and is—a homey place. But Durfee’s expanding family soon outgrew the upstairs living space, and he eventually built a new home just up the hill. Now his shop his still homey, but there’s a showroom upstairs. It is, as he describes it, a “plain, simple, practical, efficient, and straightforward” workspace. And it’s still just a short walk from home.
In this video, Charlie explains his reasoning for his family’s unconventional journey, and how his shop sheltered more than just his tools.
Video by Ben Strano
Music: “Marty, Ladies and Gentlemen!” by Doctor Turtle
More on FineWoodworking.com:
- 17 Tools Every Woodworker Should Have by Charles Durfee #272–Tools & Shops 2019 Issue
- At Home in the Shop by Charles Durfee #272–Tools & Shops 2019 Issue
- Build a Bow-Front Hall Table by Charles Durfee #204–Mar/Apr 2009 Issue
Comments
Wow, what a life! Great video.
Oh to have been so lucky. I really enjoyed this video. Charlie is a very lucky man to have done what he wanted. Yes I am one of the folks who will get to do what he has done his entire life when I retire. (hoping to make it) In a lot of ways Charlie was very smart to not have taken on the debt and built as he had the money to do it.
Thanks for sharing you life. I do ask one question and it has made me wonder a lot. We as workers for companies have put money into our 401K savings for retirement. Folks like Charlie who kind of lived in the moment when work was there he had money. So were woodworkers good savers??
Many thanks Charlie, wonderful video.
Murray
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