Josh King’s Royal Blue Woodworking is named after his first dog, a blue Great Dane named Bud. King studied at Red Rocks Fine Woodworking College in Colorado for six years and had the opportunity to learn from, in his words, “eight Michael Jordans.” King has been doing Fine Woodworking full time for 12 years, but Bud has sadly passed away.
King says that fine woodworking, in a word, “isn’t an IKEA thing.” Each piece is handcrafted from real wood and joined primarily with wooden joints (not synthetic joints like nails or staples). King has extensive experience building classic American furniture from a variety of species and wood types (including reclaimed barn wood) including bookcases, dressers, coffee and dining tables, and cabinets. Some pieces even feature striking marbled epoxy inlays.
But King doesn’t just make furniture. He also creates a constantly rotating line of new wooden products, including custom keepsake boxes, book stands, Japanese-style shoji screens, and even powwow drums. Marquetry wall art combines natural wood tones with vibrantly stained pieces for dramatic effect, as well as beautiful, free-form fishing nets with wooden inlay handles. King also takes custom orders. “Anything you can put your mind to, you can make out of wood,” he says.
For custom orders, choose a wood type you really love. King will work with you to determine the perfect dimensions for your space. “If you need a larger piece of furniture, like a dining room table, come into the shop,” he says. His shop is located just off the beautiful estate where he lives with his family and, of course, his current Great Dane, Duncan.
