Located in Palisade Colorado, the woodworking shop of Stephen Wallace is centrally located, to service the design needs of residential, commercial and corporate clients nationwide. While offering a wide variety of different styles from classical to rustic, much of the featured work has a mountain lodge design because of the work being commissioned from local ski resort areas such as Telluride, Vail and Aspen.

A professional in the home décor industry for years, Stephen Wallace has used his artistic gift, innovation and knowledge of different styles and masters to create pieces of taste and refinement. He was the apprentice of master cabinet-maker Tim Lincoln before starting his own business.

Working with many individuals, Stephen enjoys collaborating with designers, architects, builders and private clients world wide.

Offering:

Hand carved architectural and ornamental elements
Wildlife, plant and floral carvings
Fine furniture
Custom cabinets
Built-in furniture
Mantels
Sculpture
Portraits
Design and drawings
Carved entrances
Moldings
Corbels
Décor
Brackets
Columns

Collaboration and commissions:

Working with each client’s specific needs, the artist can produce a custom piece from existing drawings or he can draft shop drawings of prototypes and designs of his own to meet the client’s specifications and tastes. He can produce varied plant designs such as vines and tendrils, flowers, aspen boughs and branches and many types of fruit, as well as wildlife designs of all kinds, such as deer, horses and birds. Any of these can be used in architectural ornamentation, décor, or in applications on cabinets and furniture such as beds, wardrobes, tables, armoires, etc.

Usually the client will provide a general idea of what is desired then a drawing will be drafted for approval. After the approval of the design, the building or carving begins. Upon completion, the piece is then either shipped, or delivered to the client for installation. Sometimes the woodcarving must be finished at another location, where the ornament will be installed.

The featured piece to the right is an example of collaboration with a client from New York. The client wanted a sleigh bed with some unique features and we discussed incorporating animal parts into the bed. As the design progressed, the wings were carved at the ends of the bedrails to give the bed an angelic appearance. Stephen looks forward to serving you in creating a unique piece of quality art, tailored to your tastes and budget, whatever they may afford.

 

Inspiration, art, and design behind the work
What would the world be like without others to inspire us? Whatever the challenge may be, I’ve found that working with others to bring an idea to fruition is one of the most enjoyable parts of life. Relationships are what really count.

Elaborating on one of my first projects, I was commissioned to design and build a valance system for an interior designer in Edwards Colorado. You may know of this area, engulfed by the beautiful mountains and home to Beaver Creek Ski Resort, with Vail just up the road. The client wanted to accentuate the mountain lodge style already existing in the home. Using deer and floral elements helped to achieve a flowing union with the surrounding outdoor environment.

Designing the valance system was challenging and fun, as it had to be hung over wide windows in an octagonal dining room. This was achieved by using different angles and methods of joinery to secure the valances around the room.

As for the art, it is an enjoyable opportunity to demonstrate a gift from the Lord. I enjoy drawing a subject, then carving or painting it. There are endless possibilities when combining this with a piece of furniture or cabinet. Artistic design is one of my favorite occupations and I thoroughly enjoy collaborating with others to create pieces that exhibit taste and refinement.

Integrity is in the details

Each piece of work is meticulously analyzed throughout the creative process by the artist.
Every concept is customized to please the client’s specific desires, from the drawings to meticulous hand carving and from furniture design to completion.

The construction of cabinets and furniture is heirloom quality, from the mortise and tenon joinery right up to the finish. If the budget is restricted, the joinery and design can be changed to a more economical style, while maintaining structural integrity.

Different styles of finishes are available depending on how old the piece should look. For example, the piece can be distressed with different tools to give a worn and used look. Also, a wiping glaze may be applied to accentuate the worn and rubbed look of the piece. The final finish is either lacquer or polyurethane, depending on where and how the piece is to be used and weather it will be near water, alcohol or other chemicals.