Business Details
29 Years
experience
Custom Handcrafted Furniture & Restoration Services in New Bedford, MA
Floating Stone Woodworks, founded by artist and craftsman Michael Pietragalla, has been creating handcrafted custom furniture in New Bedford, Massachusetts since 1997. Our expertise lies in precision joinery, hand-fitted construction, and traditional finishing techniques using oil, varnish, and French-polished shellac. We specialize in tables, bookcases, consoles, and case pieces crafted from FSC-certified hardwoods like quarter-sawn white oak, cherry, maple, and walnut. Our commitment to quality extends to restoration services, where we employ historical research and traditional methods to preserve antique furniture.With over 25 years of professional experience, we combine Asian design influences with functional artistry, offering fully customizable pieces that reflect each client's unique vision. Our work has been featured in regional exhibitions and media outlets, including WCVB Boston's Chronicle program. We maintain membership in The Furniture Society to advance appreciation for the art of furniture-making. Every creation undergoes rigorous quality control, with final pieces signed and dated to mark their craftsmanship legacy.
Services
Custom Furniture
Furniture Restoration
Wood Utensils
Keepsake Boxes
Custom Wood Projects
Table Design
Case Pieces
Console Tables
Bookcases
Live Edge Furniture
Details
- Year established: 1997
Highlights and features
- 25+ years of professional woodworking experience with FSC-certified materials
- Precision hand-fitted joinery and traditional finishing techniques
- Customizable designs without use of plywood or veneers
- Specialized furniture restoration with historical research integration
- Member of The Furniture Society for industry advancement
Associations and certifications
- Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
What people say
Beautiful piece
Excellent craftsmanship
Magnificent design
Superb workmanship
Exceptional furniture
Services
Custom Furniture
We create handcrafted custom furniture pieces including tables, bookcases, consoles, and case pieces. Each item is individually built using precision joinery and hand-fitted construction techniques. Our artisans employ traditional finishing methods with oil, varnish, or French-polished shellac to enhance natural wood characteristics. Clients can select from FSC-certified hardwoods like quarter-sawn white oak, cherry, maple, and walnut for unique creations that combine functionality with artistic design.
Furniture Restoration
Our restoration services specialize in repairing damaged or neglected furniture while preserving historical integrity. We employ traditional techniques and consult historical records to maintain original construction methods. Using dye-type stains and avoiding modern finishes like lacquers, we restore pieces to their original beauty while maintaining structural integrity. Each project receives personalized attention with transparent communication throughout the restoration process.
Wood Utensils
We craft hand-made utensils designed to highlight unique wood grain patterns. Our collection includes cheese boards, knives, spoons, and serving sets that combine functionality with artistic appeal. Each piece undergoes meticulous shaping and finishing to create tactile, durable kitchen tools. These items serve as both practical cooking instruments and decorative objects, perfect for gifting or personal use.
Keepsake Boxes
Our one-of-a-kind keepsake boxes are crafted from recycled and repurposed woods. Each box features distinctive design elements like decorative hinges and feet, with interior trays for organizing valuables. We create both standard and custom-designed boxes, including specialized ring presentation cases. The unique wood combinations and craftsmanship make these boxes functional art pieces for storing cherished items.
Custom Wood Projects
We accept custom project commissions ranging from garden gates to bar tops. Our process begins with design consultation and material selection, followed by traditional woodworking techniques. Recent projects include Japanese-inspired garden gates using mortise-and-tenon joinery and live-edge pine bar tops. Each custom creation maintains our commitment to quality craftsmanship and personalized design solutions for unique client requirements.
People
Michael Pietragalla
Owner & Craftsman
Michael Pietragalla, a Swain School of Design graduate, has over 25 years of professional woodworking experience. His career spans theater set design, teaching, and fine arts before establishing Floating Stone Woodworks in 1997. Influenced by Asian design principles, he creates furniture that combines artistic vision with functional utility. His work appears in private collections nationwide and has been featured in regional exhibitions and media outlets.
Questions
What types of custom furniture do you create?
We specialize in tables, bookcases, consoles, case pieces, and benches using traditional woodworking techniques with FSC-certified hardwoods.
How does the custom ordering process work?
Contact us through our website to discuss your requirements. We'll provide a contract with project details, pricing, and timeline after agreement.
Do you use sustainable materials?
Yes, we source all hardwoods from FSC-certified dealers who supply wood from managed, renewable forests.
Can you ship furniture internationally?
We use Unishippers for shipping and can provide cost estimates based on destination. All pieces are carefully crated for safe delivery.
Do you offer furniture restoration services?
Yes, we provide restoration and refinishing services using traditional techniques while preserving historical integrity of antique pieces.
What payment options are available?
We require 30-50% deposits for projects with balance due upon completion. COD arrangements can be made for final payments.
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