Meet Nate Lamb | Furniture Maker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nate Lamb and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nate, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
Starting Woolly Furniture wasn’t about chasing a business dream or making big money (I don’t think any maker or artist is in it for that). In the beginning, it was about answering that voice inside every maker that says, “I wonder if I could make that” — which soon turns into, “Wow, this is really satisfying.”

That evolved, as my full-time job in the tech industry was clearly not a good fit for me. What would it look like to build things that matter — with integrity and at a human pace? I wanted to make work that reflected my values: simplicity, slow craft, and the belief that objects can help humanity come together — and that making them by hand is good for the maker’s soul.

The decision to go full-time into Woolly Furniture came when I realized that to create that kind of work, I needed to carve out my own space — not just a physical workshop, but a way of working that honored process over production, mission over profit. I didn’t want to compromise on quality or philosophy just to fit into existing molds. Starting Woolly allowed me to shape both the furniture and the context it lived in. The business became a vehicle to live out what I care about: craftsmanship, slow, thoughtful work, and — eventually — teaching others for their personal growth. And maybe most importantly, it gives me the flexibility and presence to be with my kids — to model that it’s okay to follow a path that’s slower, more hands-on, and deeply meaningful, even if it’s not the “cool” career. That doing good work — honest, thoughtful work — is something to be proud of.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I believe furniture should do more than just fill a room — it should invite presence, tell a story, and bring warmth and thoughtfulness into daily life. I’m drawn to a place where craft, simplicity, and philosophy meet. I’m always learning, always refining — doing my best to make work I can genuinely be proud of, even if that sometimes means taking the slower, less profitable route. I focus on clean lines, honest materials, and quiet details, hoping the result feels timeless, useful, and good to live with.

I design and build all of my pieces, which means I’m involved from the first sketch to the final finish. I’m not a traditional woodworker in the usual sense — for me, the design process is just as meaningful as the making. I love shaping ideas on paper and then bringing them to life with my hands. That full arc — from idea to object — is what keeps me grounded and inspired.

Woolly came together slowly — through trial and error, and a lot of reworking, I really only had construction experiences before diving into this world. I failed a lot! The hardest part, honestly, has been learning to slow down and be okay with it. I came from a fast-paced tech world where what you made yesterday might be gone today, and everything needed to be finished 3 months ago. That pace created habits I’ve had to unlearn. Now, I try to stay patient, stay honest, and let the work grow at its own rhythm.

What I care most about is making pieces that reflect a way of being — simple, intentional, and built with care. If Woolly stands for anything, I hope it’s this: a quiet resistance to throwaway culture, a reminder that beauty and utility, joined with thoughtfulness, can last — and that making with our hands still matters.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my best friend came to visit for a week, I’d want to keep it simple and real — show them the places I actually go, the ones that make this area feel like home.

We’d definitely start with food. I’m a big fan of Indian and Thai, so we’d hit Star of India for their lunch buffet and Cafe de Bangkok another — both solid, no-frills places that always tastes amazing. For drinks, we’d check out Wobble, this new HiFi bar that’s got great sound and a laid-back feel. Then probably hang out at Stodgy Brewing or Hello Brew — both are good spots to sit outside and talk for a while.

At some point, we’d get out of town and go for a hike — Grey Rock is kind of a staple, up in the Poudre Canyon.

During the week, we’d probably take it slow — wander around Old Town, grab coffee at The Neighbor, maybe stop some of the smaller local shops in Old Town like Little Horse Vintage. I am pretty chill so would invite them to work in my garden or even try to build something together in the shop.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My shoutout goes to my old neighbor, Dan. He was the unexpected catalyst that got me into woodworking. When he was preparing to move, he gave me a small RYOBI router, a little bandsaw, and a few other tools — nothing fancy, but to me, it felt huge. More than the tools themselves, it was the fact that he saw something in me. That quiet vote of confidence and small act of generosity nudged me down a path I didn’t even know I was standing near. Looking back, I don’t think he had any idea how much that moment would shape my life — but it did. I owe a lot to that gesture.

While I’m technically “self-taught” — if there is such a thing — I’ve learned from a long list of generous makers who shared their knowledge through books, videos, and teaching. Early on, Marc Spagnuolo helped me understand power tooling and setup. Paul Sellers, Phillip Morley, Bern Chandley, Shea Alexander, Jeff Lefkowitz, Caleb James, Adrian Ferrazzutti — they all shaped my understanding of the craft. Understanding Wood by R. Bruce Hoadley changed how I saw the material itself. And design-wise, I’ve drawn inspiration from Danish masters like Arne Jacobsen, Arne Vodder, Victor Wilkins, Adrian Pearsall, and of course, Hans Wegner.

Website: https://woollyfurniture.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/woollyfurniture/

Image Credits
Bekah Lamb – Field & Fray Photo
Amber Canny