DULUTH, MN CUSTOM WOODWORKING

  • Close-up of a walnut chair custom built by Dusty Dog Wood Work in Duluth, Minnesota, with an ornate backrest in a cozy indoor setting.
  • Close-up of a handcrafted cherry wood bowl with a textured, hand-carved exterior, made by TJ Kuhn for Dusty Dog Wood Work in Duluth, MN..
  • A custom sculptural chair, spalted maple with metal armrests and a backrest, custom made by TJ Kuhn for Dusty Dog Wood Work in Duluth, MN
  • A wooden bench with a book and a Baby Yoda toy placed on top, with natural light coming through a window in the background.
  • A vintage wooden photo album with a carved shape on the cover, resting on a table with a cloth underneath.
  • A rectangular mirror with a rustic, dark wooden frame featuring curved corner accents, placed on a wooden surface, custom designed and made by TJ Kuhn for Dusty Dog Wood Work in Duluth, MN
  • Close-up of a wooden chest with metal accents, showing a wooden board with a textured surface on top.

Services

Hardwood Furniture

Custom designed heirloom pieces made by hand from locally sourced lumber

Reclaimed Wood Furniture

Sustainably sourced reclaimed lumber brings character and charm to interior or exterior furniture

Signs & Carvings

Hand-carved the old fashioned way, endless possibilities for your home or business

Classes & Events

Years of experience in project-based teaching for kids or adults.

Learn more

Projects

  • Wooden rocking chair with black metal frame near a window and a small wooden stool in the background.

    Spalted maple rocker on recycled metal park bench sides

  • Wooden sign with carved letters reading 'Heisel' on a workbench, surrounded by woodworking tools and materials.

    Hand-carved family name sign, live-edge black walnut

  • Naguri carved cherry dough bowl

    Naguri carved cherry dough bowl

  • A wooden flower press with a Lake Superior-shaped cutout on its textured oak surface, resting on a table with a floral tablecloth.

    Lake Superior flower press, oak

  • Close-up of a small, decorative mirror with a dark wooden, rustic frame mounted on a beige wall. Green fern leaves partially obscure the top left corner of the mirror.

    Carved accent mirror in oxidized oak

  • A beige couch with a colorful striped pillow and a custom-made wooden side table attached at the armrest.

    Armrest cup/bookholder in Ipe

  • A rustic wooden table with a live edge, decorated with plants, books, remote controls, and decorative items, situated in a room with dark hardwood floors and various potted plants in the background.

    Coffee table in sugar maple with mahogany inlays

  • Close-up of a wooden spoon head with a dark background.

    Cooking spoon in baked aspen

  • Wooden radiator cover with a top shelf positioned in front of a window with wooden trim, next to a room with a hardwood floor and a black chair.

    Radiator cover in red oak

  • Small carved wooden turtle figurine with a rounded shell, placed on a wooden surface in front of a black and silver container.

    Hand carved tortoise pendant, avocado pit

  • Wooden storage cabinet with four drawers on the left and open shelves on the right, placed on a carpeted floor in a living room.

    Changing table in poplar and oak

  • Wooden spoons and spatulas resting on a workbench, with a clamp labeled 'IRWIN QUICKGRIP' holding one of the spoons, surrounded by various tools and materials, including a piece of sandpaper and rocks.

    Kitchen utensils in mahogany and maple

  • Wooden outdoor bookshelf on grass in backyard

    Pallet wood bookcase

  • A wooden picnic table with attached benches, set outdoors on grass.

    Pallet wood children's table

  • Wooden sign with painted letters spelling "HILL" on a weathered outdoor wooden surface.

    Hill family sign in poplar

  • Two wooden Adirondack chairs and a small wooden side table on a grassy lawn in a backyard.

    Adirondack set in douglas fir

  • Wooden sign for Waldorf School of Cape Cod with purple heart logo mounted on two vertical wooden posts, placed in a natural setting with trees, shrubs, and a house in the background.

    Front Entry Sign for Waldorf School, hand carved, black walnut

A man sitting on a workbench in a dimly lit workshop, surrounded by tools and equipment, smiling at the camera with a warm light shining on him.

TJ Kuhn

A lifelong artist, I’ve spent my career bouncing between the building trades and the outdoor industry as a guide. I began making furniture seeking self-sufficiency and a creative outlet. I love the timeless, earthy warmth that a piece of wooden furniture can bring to a home. After years of experimenting, I have arrived at a style and a level of workmanship that I am proud to share. I look forward to helping you bring your vision to fruition.

A black and white dog lying down on a bed of curled wooden shavings, resting its head on them with eyes half closed.

The namesake “dusty dog” is my 15-year-old Alaskan husky Mr. Schue, who for many years has stood by my side, or rather, lazed by my feet, as I’ve worked at the bench. He has never minded a gentle sprinkling of sawdust or shavings, in fact he seems to enjoy it! I’m proud to attach his sense of ease and enjoyment of the little things - and his happy face - to the Dusty Dog brand.

The Dusty Dog

A man kneeling on the wooden floor, working with a hammer and a piece of wood, while a young child in pajamas is lying on the floor underneath him, looking up.

Have a project in mind?

I will work with you to make your idea a reality!

Contact me