Former host of PBS ‘Rough Cut: Woodworking with Tommy Mac’ offers luxury custom furniture to the public for first time in 25+ year career
Tommy MacDonald, former host of Rough Cut: Woodworking with Tommy Mac on PBS from 2010 through 2016, is proud to debut his first signature collection of rockers, armchairs and kitchen stools – the Tommy Mac Collection – using only exotic North American hardwoods – at his shop in Boston’s historic North End neighborhood.
Prior to this debut, MacDonald only created unique items for private collectors and commissioned work. Each item in the new collection is unique and distinct in its own certain way whether it’s the upholstery or wood selection, but there are characteristics and physical attributes amongst the rockers, armchairs and barstools that remain throughout. Each piece is signed and comes with a letter of authenticity.
“In recent years, I’ve seen mainstream interest ramp up for appreciating and wanting USA made, high-end custom furniture, so I felt it was time to make the items I’ve been crafting for private collectors more attainable for a wider audience,” said Tommy MacDonald. “It used to be hard to get connected to me, but now people can find me online, on social media, on my YouTube channel and by coming into my shop in Boston’s North End. I’m excited for people to see the rockers, armchairs and kitchen stools in my first collection, and introduce some of my other works from over the years that will be available soon.”
The luxury arts-and-crafts-inspired rocker was designed for beauty and comfort, named after Tommy’s mom, Millie, honoring her love of rocking chairs. The tight back rocker offers the most polished look with its attached back cushion and sleek piping, while sequentially matched boards give each rocker its own unique look and feel. The rocker is constructed with time tested traditional joinery and techniques, including through-mortise-and-tenon and bent laminated rockers and each cushion is crafted with a nine-spring eight-tie seat foundation and a plush down cushions. Both are upholstered in the finest fabrics and leathers. After perfecting the methods to create his signature rocker in the Tommy Mac Collection, Tommy donated the first prototype to Christopher’s Haven, a Boston-based non-profit organization that provides housing for kids undergoing cancer treatment (and their family members) at nearby hospitals. The footprint is 36 inches by 36 inches and the length of the back is 33 inches.
“Within days of hearing about our work at Christopher’s Haven, and our constant desire to make our nine apartments and common area as comfortable and welcoming as possible for our kids, Tommy was gracious enough to give us his very first signature rocking chair,” said Family Service Manager Glennys Costa. “We have a lot of very comfortable furniture here, but Tommy’s rocker is hands down the favorite, and we often see our kids and parents sitting in it for very long periods of time. It’s great to have friends of Christopher’s Haven like Tommy MacDonald.”
The kitchen barstool is a timeless design, created to be comfortable for all ages that blends seamlessly into the chosen bar, kitchen island or other seating location. It accentuates a single board seat with a subtle curve and splayed legs. They are made exclusively from responsibly grown and harvested hardwood, and each stool is handcrafted and joined together with time-tested superior through mortise-wedged tenons. The footprint is 16.25 inches by 23.25 inches, the height is 26.5 inches and the seat is 10 inches by 18 inches, but they can be ordered in almost any height.
The armchair is the ultimate chair for comfort, function and form. Its arms are wide enough to hold items from beverages to laptops, the back has three reclining settings, and it can fold forward for easy moving and storage. The down-filled cushion is supported with a nine-spring eight-way handtied foundation, and the back cushion is made with a foam core, double-battened down outer layer wrapped in fine leather or fabric. The footprint is 36 inches by 36 inches, the length of the back is 33 inches and the overall height is dependent on back height position.
For more information, please visit www.tommymac.us, follow on Instagram at www.instagram.com/tommy_mac_ or watch him on YouTube at www.youtube.com/user/TommyMacDonald207.
About Tommy Mac Custom Furniture:
Established in spring of 2020 and located in Boston’s historic North End neighborhood, Tommy Mac Custom Furniture builds custom fine furniture pieces for both private collectors and the general public. The shop is also home to owner Thomas MacDonald’s video content series Wicked Smaht Woodworking, and passion projects like Murder Matters and Projects with Purpose. Prior to opening the shop, Thomas MacDonald (Tommy Mac) was the host, co-executive producer and co-creator of Rough Cut: Woodworking with Tommy Mac on PBS which aired almost 100 episodes from 2010 through 2016.
