“I often seek the company of growing trees for spiritual nurture, balance of the soul and the emotional calm that has become increasingly necessary in our world.
Who I Am
My name is David Sentesy. Born and raised in Dundas Ontario, my Grandfather introduced me to wood, teaching me about care for the living tree. My father introduced me to the precision and planning of an engineer. These skills powerfully shape my life and my life’s work.
I attended Carleton University from 1967 to 1971 and graduated with an arts degree in History and English. Following this I moved to Toronto to continue my studies. Before I finished school there, however, I realized that what I loved was working with wood in the science workshops at Carleton – building a harpsichord.
I followed my passion. I began accepting woodwork commissions and worked largely with hand tools. Learning how to shape wood by hand has fostered an incredible respect for power tools, but much more respect for the tree. In 1972 I married and moved to Ottawa where I worked with an Italian cabinetmaker. Several years later, when due to demand he began to build with particle board veneer and plastic laminates, I left him and moved to a homestead in the Ottawa valley. I set up my workshop next to my home.
Trees are a unique flora. They provide our planet with lungs and filters. They moderate climate, build soil, shelter life, and provide food. The way we work with them preserves their beauty and wholeness allowing us to feel their strength and patience.
Our Work
Queen Anne Table and Chairs
This set was built as a chess and gaming table. I used local black walnut for the rich dark colour and strong grain. The top is inlaid with a board made of maple and [...]
Document Boxes
These dovetailed cases and drawers were made of Burma teak salvaged from the deck of the “Empress of Ireland” at the bottom of the St. Lawrence River. They were made to hold the effects [...]
French Canadian Buffet
This piece is a careful reproduction of a French Canadian Buffet. It reflects classic Louis XIII style with carved diamond-point losenges on the front and sides. Panels are worked into the posts and framed [...]
Cherry Chairs
This chair was designed with a family heirloom chair in mind. It uses round mortise, tenons & pre-shrunk spindles for tight joints. The seat is woven of natural leather. The crest rail is from [...]
Bath Server
This case work is designed as a bath server for linens. It is a rustic interpretation of Louis XV design elements carefully proportioned and carved in Butternut. Surfaces are worked with edge tools by hand [...]
Mahogany Dovetail Chest
The design of this chest is from Germanic Canadian tradition. The upper chest sides are from a single 13″ plank. The top is from a 23″ wide plank, hand planed and fitted to allow slight [...]
Hickory Chairs
We chose hickory here for its great strength and elasticity. It can be worked in small sections and in small curves. It is a frame chair, using rectangular mortise and tenons. These make a [...]
Music Stand
This music stand is made of walnut and uses the familiar Shaker form with French dovetail leg joints. A hollow column with an split top ring allows the desk surface to adjust for height. [...]
Mexican Style Credenza
This butternut cabinet in Mexican style was built to hold a powerful stereo system. It has contoured drawers with mountains carved across the fronts, carved moldings, ebonized beading and break front set back. All [...]
Hickory Table
This table is part of a suite for a health centre. Hickory was chosen for its extreme hardness and beautiful colour. The detailing recalls asian roots of its owner with incurved legs but with [...]
Butternut Audio Cabinet
This has a frame and panel front door with a framed back without a panel giving it rigidity, good airflow, and easy wire access. Its pine feet allow good damping and easy levelling. [...]
Fireplace Wall
This fireplace wall reconstruction, in full dimension clear pine, was designed using drawings by Julian Smith and consultation. The door panels have unique bolection mouldings. The gallery is on full round beaded posts. It is [...]
Oval Coffee Table Pair
Here a pair of coffee tables from a single top answer the need for two nesting tables and a child height movable unit. The glass keeps it clean and allows view to the contents [...]
Roundtable Gaming Table
This gaming table has hand carved cabriole legs in the Queen Anne style. It has felted cup slides for each player. The top is made from one plank of Brazilian Mahogany and the legs [...]
Chess Table with Drawer
This is a small chess table for keen players. The playing surface is inlaid maple and rosewood. The drawer is shared through both sides and the inside is felt lined. The primary wood is [...]
Deacon’s Bench
Designed for one of the best local maple syrup producers for hard use in a busy farm kitchen. It has a large storage space for hats, mitts, and scarves. Using a sliding interior tray, [...]
Bradley Kitchen Set
Here is a group of furniture pieces forming a kitchen for the Bradley family. Many of the pieces featured have been made in my shop. [...]
Trestle table
This is my standard trestle table. Its top unbolts and the wedges in the trestle can be driven out to allow easy packing. The finish is oiled with no stain then urethane coated. It can seat [...]
Salares Health Centre Suite
Asian styled butternut furniture for health centre waiting room. Set consists of 5 pieces including: Coffee Table, End Tables, Settee and Work Table.
Dining Table & Corner Cabinet
This is an English refectory table of hickory with massive turned legs and low support bars.White sapwood was planned to show two strong bands on the top. Its sister table is square to form [...]
Tea Table
Black walnut reproduction of a Canadian made candle stand circa 1820. Padded “snake” foot legs are dovetailed into an urn shaped centre turning. It is much polished with tung oil. (approximately $1500) [...]
Ready to Talk?
Do you have a vision for a piece of furniture you’d like to be built?