Thomas Pedemonte Fine Woodworking

The clients asked me to design built-in cabinets around their new fireplace.  I selected matched solid cherry panels which I dyed to bring out the color. They were finished with sprayed shellac, then waxed.

Received BAHA Award, 2004

The clients wanted a Greene and Greene look.  The embossed look was modelled after the posts and gate panels on the Greene and Greene Thorsen house in Berkeley.  

Each section was shop built with mortise and tenon joinery with a hand planed finish. There are no fasteners or nails in the entire fence.  

The posts are hollow, lock-mitred boxes over oak sub-posts connected to steel brackets.  The tenons have a ten degree shoulder sitting on the sloped bottom rail for water run off.  All of the joints still remain tight after ten years.

"Tom is a masterful artisan. He has consummate taste and builds absolutely stunning stuff, whether of his design or of a collaborating architect.  Most important, he is an upstanding human being. Always honest, committed, and passionate toward delivering a great outcome no matter what comes up."

— Steve McCann  

Much of the work was completed in the shop, where units were glued together and pre-finished.  The posts are lock-mitred clear cedar around steel posts. The stairway posts are also hollow reducing wood movement through the seasons.

"I have worked with Thomas Pedemonte for many years. The quality of his workmanship and his collaborative design philosophy combine to make for successful and elegant projects.  If you want good work done right, give Tom a call."

— Bob Rugo, General Contractor Seneca Builders

A great San Francisco house of the former mayor James “Sunny Jim” Rolph, Jr.  These stairs were part of a complete remodel with the best crew I've ever worked with.  A very high level of work was asked and produced.  The balusters were done with hand planes, gouges, and rasps.  The round handrail pieces were made in my shop then joined on site.

"Mr. Pedemonte worked with us for several months on the creation of an intricate main stair case in an historic LEED silver renovation in the Noe Valley neighborhood in San Francisco.  The staircase was built from reclaimed Douglas Fir and FSC Alder and was profoundly complicated in detail and design."

"Thomas produced a superlative product on a very demanding project.  He also designed and built a "secret" wine rack door on the lower floor of the site that for all intents and purposes is simply that, a wine rack. The rack, however, opens into a storage area beyond."

"All of his work met the highest standards of quality demanded by the architect, contractor and owners of the property, was put in place with an invaluable team spirit and highest regard for all surrounding finishes.  We look forward to our next project with him."

— Dan Dereszynski LEED G.A., Buck O'Neill Builders

Received BAHA Award, 2013

A sinker log from the Albion River in Mendocino county was recovered, milled and dried.  Each section was made in the shop and assembled on site using long clamps.  Mortise and tenon joinery was used throughout.  The tenon shoulders are cut at ten degrees and sit on a sloped bottom rail.  All pieces have a hand-planed finish that remains crisp and clean for many years.  The top rail is mortised into the post with epoxy glue.  The only fasteners are through the steel brackets to the post.

"There are many walkers passing by my yard who stop to enjoy the beauty of this fence and gate, taking pleasure from its many charms.  Made of old growth redwood, with cast iron fittings it seems to grow directly out of the home, defining and embracing the front yard cottage garden.  It is appreciated as much for its execution as it's design.  Pedemonte is both artisan and mensch."

— Shirley Issel 

This gate stands at four feet six inches wide and three inches thick with mortise and tenon joinery throughout.  To fit with the rock wall, I hand adzed the panels to create a complementary texture.  The posts are hollow with steel posts sunk deep into concrete.  Tung oil and wax were used for the finish.

"Pedemonte blends his deep knowledge and respect for his materials with a keen eye for design.  His crew is responsible and respectful.  And Thomas' diligence, integrity and good humor made it a delight to work with him in creating a beautiful, functional gate that truly enhances the character of our home."

— Lauren

The stair was built in the shop and assembled on site.  Housed stringers wedge the treads and risers into place from below.  The space underneath is open with no intermediate support.  

Treads have a tongue into the riser slot for a waterproof joint.  The handrail is laminated white oak with a redwood cap shaped on site with hand planes.  

This design was very much inspired by the scale of the house and the space available.

Received BAHA Award, 2007

The entire stairway was built in the shop and then attached to the house.  The treads tongue into a slot in the riser and the skirt board lock-mitres into the riser, making the stairway waterproof.  

The balusters sit on an angled rail for water run off and the top rail has a drip edge overhanging the bottom rail.  Everything was done to keep the water away from the wood so the stairs are good for a hundred years.  

The gold leaf on the bottom newel post is indicative of the attention to detail.

I felt that the stair should turn back towards the kitchen, Ron and Marianne agreed.  Mahogany treads with matched quarter inch veneers over substrate layer down in sequence.  Solid railing with maple balusters that I turned and finished on my lathe.  Finished with shellac and wax.

The polished handrail has a lovely feel as you go down and swing towards the kitchen.

"Thomas Pedemonte built this set of stairs for our home incorporating newel posts we had found in a salvage yard.  He matched the mahogany of the posts with mahogany treads and handrails and suggested maple balusters to contrast with the mahogany. We enjoy the beauty and comfort of the stairs daily."

— Ron Rioux

I was asked to texture the post and beams around the entrance and provide a door to match. Using an old shipwright's adze I was able to establish a pattern.  The door is a hollow torsion box with a quarter inch red cedar veneer.  I laid the door down and and swung the long handled adze across the grain to create the texture.

Received BAHA Award, 2017

All the woodwork was numbered and removed for refinishing. The exposed framing was seismic and electrical upgraded then sealed with spray foam insulation. We built all new windows to match original sash, sealed with tinted shellac then sprayed with water based lacquer. The floor is twelve foot lengths of quarter sawn maple.

The adzed panel is quarter inch mahogany veneered to marine plywood. The panel was then hand adzed by swinging a very curved adze. The door and panel were then dyed for the color and sprayed with a water based finish. Custom hardware is from a local artisan metalworker.

Genuine mahogany, pattern template routed, sanded and finished in the shop. Railing sections and stairways completed in the shop and installed on site.

Samples of some modern stairways I've done in new houses. The treads are typically three and a half inches thick to keep the open riser. Metal stringers are often used with varying degrees of success, wooden stringers can be used. The stairs are delivered all done in one in piece

We made our own veneers from solid stock.