An interview with furniture maker Kate Duncan

Working among a sea of wood chips in a Toronto studio, Kate Duncan has caused something of a stir on Canada’s furniture scene. From credenzas to coffee tables, the Port Alberni, BC native has handcrafted 200 bespoke pieces and three—soon to be four—successful collections since starting her business nearly ten years ago.

Kate’s story begins in a junior high school woodshop class where she first realized her passion for furniture making. “I was hooked from the beginning. I remember my shop teacher would sing to the ‘Wood Gods’ and it made my 12-year-old self so unequivocally happy,” she says. While her classmates were playing basketball and hockey, Kate was competing in woodworking competitions across the country. After graduating from university, she taught woodshop classes until a motorcycle accident acted as the catalyst needed to kick-start her own brand.

She describes her designs as “authentic, sculptural and sometimes dainty,” and is meticulously involved in every step of the process, from paper to the finished product. She begins with rough pencil sketches, before manufacturing a prototype, photographing it and then turning it into a technical drawing, which is translated into a set of instructions for her growing team. It can take anywhere from one to three weeks to finish building a piece depending on its complexity. “There’s something special about being a designer-maker,” she says excitedly. “My skill set informs the design, and the design informs my skill set. I often learn a new technique just so that I can achieve a certain look.”

Kate also draws inspiration from Japanese techniques and joinery, seeking out hardware stores in the “Japantown” districts of major cities to source imported hand planes, saws and chisels. “I’m influenced by Japanese aesthetics because the woodworking that is taught there is very refined,” says Kate. Even the materials used involve somewhat of a ritual, as Kate carefully selects sustainably harvested North American hardwoods from local suppliers every two weeks. “Each plank has its own unique form,” she says. “I examine every single one and ask myself how can I serve this material in the best way?” Boards cost anywhere from $80 to $250, so it’s important that nothing is wasted in the studio.