Hi! I'm Aaron.
This is A² Woodworking
Artist Statement
A-squared is a nickname that came from a friend. I have never had a nickname besides A-A Ron (you know the reference) until A-squared was mentioned. I took to it immediately. It was catchy and I liked that I could use it for myself and include my wife Alex in woodworking shenanigans! It now holds a place as a business name, but the story is far more important than the actual name. I create unique, one-off pieces of heirloom-quality furniture with the aim of telling a story in the process.
Here you will find a beautiful mix of skills that come from traditional woodworking techniques, modern design and machining, and a dab of “outside the box” thinking. Below you can see some of my values and standards.
- All of my furniture is built with the expectation of sterling quality. There are no corners to be cut.
- I use locally sourced hardwoods and enjoy allowing the wood to speak for itself (i.e. very little staining/composites).
- I want to get to know you! Furniture is a joy of mine but I want to learn where you find joy!
- I want to work with you to nail the look/idea you bring to the table while integrating pleasing design standards.
- Every piece is unique. I enjoy a challenge and seek to push the boundaries of my skill with every commission.
I hope to create pieces that beautify your home and give you stories to tell. If this sounds like an idea you can get on board with, consider reaching out and starting a conversation! Let’s create a more lovely place to live through wood and good conversation.
What is the story of A² Woodworking?
Exponential Relationships through stunning furniture.
Hi, I’m Aaron Mitchell! I am based in Durham, NC and was born and raised in the lovely state of North Carolina. In 2013, I found my love for woodworking through a high school woodshop class in humble Hillsborough, NC. I transferred to this school because I decided that I wanted to take woodshop. I took woodshop for 3 years in high school. I would not be the man or the craftsman I am today, without the teaching of Keith Yow at Cedar Ridge High. (Y’all, trade school is so important!) In that space, I dove into fine furniture-making headfirst. I got to school early and stayed over lunch almost daily just to gain a little more time in the shop. I loved every minute of technique and skill honing, and I still have a love for learning my craft to this day.
After my college years I continued my formation in the mountains of NC building custom built-ins and barnwood furniture, which can be found on the portfolio page! My time in the Blue Ridge Mountains gave me perspective and a new notch in my tool belt. I learned from old and weathered materials that the path to beauty in furniture does not always start with a detailed set of drawings chased by “perfect” precision. Beauty in wood furniture is unique, it is rarely replicated and cannot be made in a factory.
The material, wood, was a once-living organism that is placed in the hands of an artist to be crafted, but not overpowered. Wood tends to speak for its Creator; The One who had extraordinary vision. I simply have the privilege of continuing creation in the work I do now. My vision is to create quality pieces that will be cherished for generations. I also want to build friendships with clients, not just furniture. Furniture can be stunning, but at the end of the day it is an inanimate object; what gives it heirloom value are the stories behind it. I want to create those stories from the very start, giving people a memorable story that is magnified by relationships and the joy of creating.
Friends and Family
Meet others who help build with Me!
As stated above, I believe strongly in relationships. This business of mine has less to do with profit or prestige, and more to do with the business of building relationships that last! The people here are not directly involved in this business, but they are an integral part of who I am as a craftsman.
I honor them here.
