Stephen Hammer

A guitar-making course was what spurred Stephen Hammer into woodworking. He worked for a contractor in New York City and later completed the 12-week intensive woodworking course at the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship in Rockport, Maine. In 2001, he opened a shop in Brooklyn, N.Y., making high-end furniture and cabinetry. After the birth of his two daughters, he and his wife moved to Connecticut.