Every since Stephen Staples was a young boy, he admired and treasured antiques of all kinds. He was intrigued by the history of antique wood and artifacts and how the early settlers felled the virgin timbers of New England to build their homesteads and handmade their tools, furniture and whatever else they needed to work on the farm.
In reference to the unique furniture art that Stephen creates, Wabi Sabi means "the reverence for the imperfect" as he presents the time worn surface of the materials he works with. Wabi Sabi comes from the ancient Japanese culture and is not easy to describe as there are many meanings. "Wabi" connotes rustic simplicity, freshness or quietness and can be applied to natural and human-made objects, or understated elegance. "Sabi" is beauty or serenity that comes with age, when the life of the object and its impermanence are evidenced in its patina and wear, or in any visible repairs.
Ever since Christine and Stephen opened their business in 1973, they built their business around restoring antique furniture, repurposing and reclaiming historical materials to create functional furniture and home accessories to give them a new life for any style home. Their works of art are modern day heirlooms that will be passed down to future generations and become tomorrow's antiques.
All these years, Christine and Stephen have been true to the ancient Japanese "Wabi Sabi" philosophy. Not until recent years did they learn about "Wabi Sabi" and realize that their lifelong work had a name.