• Author: inthepanhandle.com Admin
• Website: www.inthepanhandle.com

HANDMADE – It doesn’t get any better than that!
If you thought the days of handmade furniture were gone then you are sadly mistaken. Right here in our very own Eastern Panhandle we have a father and son team of true blue cabinetmakers. Furniture and cabinet making is a fine art, a skill some might think was lost long ago. Not so my friends.
This is not IKEA, Home Depot or Lowes. If you are that cookie cutter sort, then Bourgeois Furniture, Cabinets and More is probably not for you. If you are intrigued, however, just by walking through the kitchen and bathroom setups in those stores, you find yourself liking a piece of one and a part of the other, then Bourgeois Furniture, Cabinets and More is exactly what you should consider because these gentlemen can make it for you.
It’s hard to imagine I know. Think of it. Wood worked with you in mind, with you involved in fact and by a Harvard grad no less. Maybe it isn’t a total kitchen makeover you are ready for; maybe you always wanted a hutch of simple Shaker design – functional, graceful and constructed to last your lifetime and then some. Or you need an occasional table for alongside the bed, a new coffee table or entertainment center.
These are but a sample of what the Bourgeois’ make in their Bunker Hill workshop. I stopped by for a visit to find out more about this pair of local craftsman and here’s what I discovered.
The Bourgeois History Joe Sr. has loved woodworking since he began as an apprentice at the age of 12. Born and raised in Massachusetts, Joe Sr. went on to earn a Harvard degree during which time he married and began a family. He has since been a teacher, spent 15 years doing ministry work in Arkansas and was a partner for 10 years in a contracting firm. Though he found success in each of these ventures, none of them held his heart.
He is a great storyteller, with an easygoing way and you cannot help but feel at ease in his presence. He made a wonderful minister and I asked him how he went from Harvard through ministry back to woodworking. Joe Sr. described how important he felt it was to leave something behind, “to pass something on to his son and grandson.” As many of you may know, there comes a time in life when we get to do what we are passionate about. It’s a blessing for sure, it occurs sooner for some than others while unfortunately it doesn’t happen for all. Nevertheless when it does happen it is a marvelous thing.
Joe W. Bourgeois, Sr. was a cabinet maker first and foremost. These roots continued to call him. Thus the idea of Bourgeois Furniture was born. He took this to his son, also named Joe, and the two of them began investing time and money into a shop suitable for crafting the wood of your dreams. During my visit, a stack of handsome walnut sat ready for its future as a television stand. They can restore old buildings, repair porch railings, build mantels and bookshelves or make custom moldings, balusters, and wooden windows.
Joe Sr. tells me his son is the creatively gifted one and Joe Jr.’s skills have extended the product line to include intricately carved items. There are beautiful canes, cookbook stands, and wooden plaques. Each piece is unique and the variety of design is enormous from the bust of a 10 point deer to a sunset or compass rose. These carvings can also be applied to cabinet facings.
What does this cost? Joe Sr. believes the customers’ greatest investment is not financial because remember, the overhead is relatively low. He said, “The real investment is the mental energy that it takes to entertain a spirit of discovery and discipline.”
The Bourgeois team believes in designing, building and finishing a piece that you will enjoy and admire for years to come. This is one of the greatest challenges to making a product from scratch. What’s envisioned by the customer is often difficult to convey. Some designs have come “on a paper napkin.” Joe Sr. says his made to order customers should be willing and able to make a decision on what will be an investment that is sure to maintain or increase in value over time. And he fully realizes how difficult that decision may be.
Joe Jr. will visit with you to work a design that fits your wants. With little overhead, cost is comparable to the high-end prices at the major chains. Give these men a call to arrange a consult. I believe it is worth your time.
Bourgeois Furniture, Cabinets and More Take a look at the listing here on inthepanhandle.com or visit their website www.bourgeoisfurniture.com for all the available products and services. You can even purchase a few of their Signature line pieces direct from their website. They also sell pieces online through www.Etsy.com.
Joe Sr. said they decided not to have their own showroom in an effort to keep overhead costs to a minimum. This is a good thing for you but I say this mainly so you don’t go looking for the store. Call them to discuss your thoughts.
Or visit Tamarack: The Best of West Virginia www.tamarackwv.com located off I-77 and I-64 (exit 45 at Beckley) does carry their work. If you are ever down in the southern part of West Virginia, I highly recommend you stop in to see theirs and other handcrafted items under the distinctive red, peaked roof.

• Contact this author
• Articles by this Author