Our Story
In 2018, Woodside Carpentry owners Clare and Mel started the business after renovating their first home — lovingly referred to as the “Woodside House.” Nurses by trade, they worked their ER shifts together by night and on the Woodside house by day — an experiment that proved to be more fun than stressful.
Mel’s natural skill for carpentry quickly evolved, and after sharing their work on social media, soon friends were requesting custom furniture pieces. Mel realized a new passion, and so they decided on another adventure.
Starting with cheap tools under their carport on Woodside Drive, Clare and Mel started with those few custom orders and built from there, keeping the name Woodside Carpentry so they’d always remember where they started.
Now operating from their new home in St. Francisville, Clare and Mel have designed and created a wide variety of woodworking projects, specializing in custom furniture, cabinetry, doors, and wood-burning art. Mel’s expert craftsmanship and careful attention to detail is shown through beautiful pieces constructed with traditional wood joinery and quality hardwoods. Clare, a people person to her core, works directly with clients to draw out their vision and walk them through the infinite possibilities of creating a unique piece that fits both their style and their budget.
A lot has changed since then, but their commitment to quality craftsmanship has only deepened. In a world of fast furniture that holds little value after a few years, Clare and Mel have pursued their passion to create timeless furniture constructed to last not years but generations.