Daniel J. Craven
proprietor
Dan has been doing substantial woodworking projects since buying his first serious tool, a Jet ProShop Table Saw, in 2009. He is the owner, operator and craftsman behind Richmar Drive. After more than a decade in the wine trade, a combination of burnout and the COVID-19 pandemic caused him to reconsider his career and gave him the impetus to turn a longstanding hobby into a business.
Drawing inspiration from a diverse array of classic design including the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright and Shaker, Craftsman, Mid-Century and Scandinavian furniture design traditions, Dan aims to make pieces that are unique and yet familiar. “I see a lot of overlap in these various design schools. Each presents a very functional aesthetic, free of unnecessary ornamentation, with fine details that complement the overall shape and proportion instead of distracting from them. Shape, proportion and stance are the elements that provide the overall character of my designs,” he says. Another prominent trademark of Dan’s furniture is allowing the materials to shine in a natural way. “I don’t want my pieces to look rustic in any way, but at the same time I want them to feel organic and…real. I like when I can include and even highlight features that some woodworkers would consider flaws, so long as it doesn’t compromise the integrity of the piece, and I like finishes that promote the natural beauty of the piece of lumber I’m working with. The most exciting phase of a project is when I add finish and the piece just springs to life.” Sustainability is the final pillar of Dan’s philosophy. That includes only using responsibly forested hardwoods, but there is also consideration for the lifecycle of the finished piece. “A key part of sustainability is that the furniture piece will last for generations. This means utilizing joinery techniques that will stand up over decades, but also that the design possesses a timeless quality, so those future generations are happy to inherit a piece they can be proud of.”
The Shop
Richmar Drive is located in the garage of the home where Dan grew up. Working in only about 200 square feet can sometimes be challenging, but it also is an opportunity for Dan to show off his preternatural Tetris-like packing skills inherited from his Dad. “I buy rough lumber and mill it myself to make sure I get truly flat boards to work with. That makes it a lot easier to get square finished pieces. Packing a big jointer and planer into this space wasn’t easy, but it’s worth it. I’ve learned how to arrange the space so that those two, and the table saw, never have to move. These three tools are the foundation of my process, and once I finally got the bright idea to arrange everything around permanent homes for them the true potential of the space was unlocked. It’s amazing what can be done in such a small workshop,” Dan says.
The Materials
Richmar Drive uses only responsibly forested hardwoods, which are primarily sourced from Ohio and the surrounding states. Preferring woods that look their best without any stain and with a natural oil and wax finish, most designs utilize Black Walnut, American Cherry or quartersawn White Oak.