A century after master craftsmen like William Morris and Gustav Stickley changed the history of furniture design and construction, the inspiration of the Arts & Crafts Movement lives on at Riverworks Studio. In New Germany, Nova Scotia furniture maker Allan Rutherford continues the tradition, designing and building Mission style furniture and accessories from carefully selected woods, many selected from sustainable forestry sources.

Throughout this gallery, you’ll find practical pieces for a home where the owners take pride in beautiful design and authentic craftsmanship. We create privacy screens, table lamps, desks, boxes, bookshelves, clocks, plant stands, picture frames, pedestals, cradles, and more -- all in the Mission style.

Mission Style Deacon’s Bench

The foundations of new Arts & Crafts furniture have not changed: showcased wood grain, an eye for proportions, and fine joinery.  Inspired by original designs and adapted to today’s needs and lifestyle, each handcrafted Riverworks design is crafted one at a time for discriminating clients who appreciate that the new addition to their home décor will ultimately become a cherished heirloom and antique.

Mission Style Materials

The signature woods for furniture in the Arts & Crafts style are quarter sawn white oak or plain sawn cherry. As the Arts & Crafts Movement grew and literally swept Britain and America in the early part of the 20^th century, many other woods became incorporated into new designs: ie. mahogany, ebony, etc., but the wood of choice for most construction remains oak and cherry. Quarter-sawn lumber is specially cut from the log to produce boards with straight grain and displaying the medullary rays of the oak which give many Mission pieces such a distinctive look. The resulting lumber is not only beautiful, but very strong and resistant to warping and cracking.

Mission Style Joinery

The Arts & Crafts Masters recognized that one of the strongest possible joinery methods was the mortise and tenon. This joint has become a signature of the style and a fundamental consideration in the design of every piece. Such joints often incorporate concealed miters and the only obvious sign of their presence might be an exposed walnut pin.

Finishing

At Riverworks Studio each piece of furniture is hand finished to suit the clients needs and preferences. The finishing ranges from “natural” or clear coat with hand rubbed polyurethane to medium or dark stains. This can be achieved with penetrating stain or gel stain and a final finish of polyurethane for protection and easy maintenance.

Hardware

Handles, pulls, hinges, knobs etc. are carefully selected to suit the style of the piece and to meet the client’s needs. Today, high quality hardware is readily available from a variety of sources such as Lee Valley and Restoration Hardware.

Careful craftsmanship and attention to detail are applied to every project whether it be a major piece such as an armoire or an accessory piece like a plant stand or an ottoman.