Approach & practice
Materials, form,
and construction.
Perdue Woodworking and Home Renovations connects the development of ideas with the work of construction. Material, form, and the way a building is put together are considered as one undertaking.
Buildings that can
be kept.
Longevity is a practical basis for sustainability. Retaining sound work, making repair possible, and choosing materials that can be restored or reused can matter as much as the initial construction.
The work combines traditional craft with modern methods. A hand-cut joint, a site-made tool, a digital model, or a contemporary sealant each has a place when it serves the building and the detail.
Materials with
a useful future.
The material preference is for solid wood, mineral materials, and metals that lend themselves to maintenance, repair, and reuse: timber, stone, mortar, plaster, concrete, and carefully selected metalwork.
Pine, oak, walnut, and sapele; steel, iron, aluminum, copper, and bronze; cellulose, burlap, and mineral wool each offer different possibilities. Selection follows the demands of the assembly, its exposure, and the intended use.
The aim is to reduce petroleum-derived products wherever feasible, reserving them for conditions where their functional performance makes them the appropriate choice. This is a working principle, applied project by project.
Resilience
through detailing.
A building should be able to weather use, change, and the occasional failure of a component. The design objective is to favor materials and assemblies that tolerate incidental moisture, allow problems to be noticed, and remain accessible to corrective work.
Drainage, drying potential, inspection, and repair are considered alongside control of drafts and unwanted moisture movement. The appropriate balance depends on the building, climate, and assembly; durability is developed through those details.
Work with
the building.
Daylight, natural ventilation, and passive design opportunities are considered where the site and scope allow. The intent is to make use of the building’s existing resources and reduce unnecessary dependence on added systems.
Existing construction is a source of information. Its proportions, materials, irregularities, and history inform new work, whether the result continues a traditional language or introduces a different architectural expression.
Design developed
through making.
Design is part of the construction process: developing forms, proportions, junctions, and details, then working through how they can be built. Concepts develop in-house through close work with the client and careful reading of the existing building.
Field studies, drawings, models, and mockups give those ideas definition. Fabrication and installation test them against real materials and existing conditions. Project architects, engineers, and other specialists are engaged or coordinated with where the scope requires.
The practice
From the room
to the bench.
Custom furniture, architectural carpentry, restoration, and renovation share the same working ground: the room as it exists, the material at hand, and the detail that brings them together.
Existing surfaces are rarely straight or uniform. Drawings establish a direction; templates, mockups, and fitting resolve it in the building. Sound older work is retained where possible, and new pieces are made with room for maintenance and repair.
Selected work ↗