John Francis Designs

03/30/2026

10/17/2025

A special project for my sister’s family - a matching dining and coffee table made from tap hole maple we picked out together.

My 1.5-year-old niece even “helped” measure boards at (swipe to see her in action 🥹). I don’t usually make tables, but I love a unique project, not to mention a chance to make something my niece will literally grow up around.

Tap hole maple is full of character, it was once destined for firewood or pulp, now appreciated for its beautiful imperfections. I book-matched the edges for a mirrored grain pattern and added a subtle relief between the top and metal base to allow for seasonal movement.

The bases are painted hunt club green, which compliments the cherry cabinets in their kitchen, and plays off their pale green walls as well.

09/21/2025

Final testing on something new rolling out this week...

09/08/2025

This weekend, I got to attend the live recording of 500th episode and meet makers from all over the country. It is so inspiring to see everyone’s passion for creating, and a good reminder to be a little less precious with the things I’m working on. Here are a few recent pieces from the shop. Some might end up for sale, and others are just studies that may spark future ideas. So grateful to the community and looking forward to sharing more in the future!

07/22/2025

Got home from a weekend away with zero desire to hit the grocery store, thankfully I had some ravioli stashed in the freezer. Meryl ( )’s latest SubStack recipe for Pasta con Tomate came to the rescue. Dinner was ready in about as much time as it took to boil water.

These are my Mini Bottoni, filled with ricotta, fresh mozzarella, Parmigiano Reggiano, and a little lemon zest. If you’re not already subscribed to her Substack, you should be! Highly recommend!