A Golden Guide to Interior Design

The Golden Ratio can be simplified to 60:40 or, more commonly called, the 60/30/10 rule. Understanding and using the ratio as a guide for different aspects of interior design can help you create a perfectly curated, cohesive, and comfortable environment.

Finding the Perfect Lounge Chair

A lounge chair is a coveted addition to any home; its allure extends beyond mere functionality; it’s irresistible promise of comfort, enticing you to relax, all while seamlessly blending into your home. Here are a few tips for finding your perfect lounge chair.

Behind the Signature: More than Ink on Wood

Mason Faucher’s journey into the world of furniture making was a serendipitous one. He started at Thos. Moser, in 2015, fresh out of Eastern Maine Community College in Bangor, Maine, armed with a fine woodworking and cabinetry degree. Mason’s transformation to a dynamic and versatile craftsman over eight years at Thos. Moser is a testament to his passion for working with wood. 

The Argonaut

At the beginning of 2020, we all took a step back. We paused, we reassessed and headed into an unforeseeable future. For interior designer Alex Theofanidis, she took this time to step back nearly 50 years to begin redesigning her future.

A Sense of Place

From the moment we first realized we needed a space in which our customers could interact with our furniture, we’ve purposefully chosen the building intended to house our showrooms with the same attention to detail we apply to making furniture. Each of our showrooms has its tale to tell about the building it inhabits, its region’s architecture, and the local community surrounding it.

The Patina of Time

Jason and Brandon’s story is one of passion, artistry, and creating a home that reflects their style and aligns with their values and aspirations. Thos. Moser furniture became a significant part of their journey, enriching their lives and inspiring them to embrace the beauty and craftsmanship of American-made furniture.

East Meets West: George Nakashima’s Influence on Thos. Moser

No craftsman has had a more significant influence on our evolution and design ethos than George Nakashima. His ability to showcase the raw beauty and character of the wood with his clean designs was aspirational. Our Eastward collection pays homage to master furniture maker George Nakashima.

Art of Penobscot Bay

The Art of Penobscot Bay stands as a vital testament to the captivating allure of Maine’s treasured region and its status as a sought-after destination. This book represents the fourth collaboration between the renowned brothers, Carl and David Little, building on their previous works, highlighting the artistic inspirations in Mount Katahdin, Acadia National Park, and Portland, Maine.

A Legacy of Lullabies and Love

In 1988, Stacey and her husband were on their way to a summer stay in Boothbay, Maine. Her husband, notorious for driving from point A to point B, making only necessary stops along the way, succumbed to the allure of Portland’s Old Port for a brief visit. Stacey, pregnant with their first child, welcomed the detour. As they strolled along the storied streets, they came upon the window of our Portland Showroom and stopped dead in their tracks.

A Lifelong Love of Woodworking

“When you’re signing a piece of furniture, you’re thinking lots of things; you’re thinking, if I’m putting my name on this thing, I’ve got an attachment to it, it better be good. But you’re also thinking, who is this going to? And when they receive that piece, they will probably see this signature and wonder, “Who is this Robert Fisher guy?” 

Sustainability

If there’s a common core to all our work, it is our appreciation for the beauty and versatility of North American hardwood. Since the beginning, we have been committed to using the finest materials available. The raw materials we work with are an essential element to our furniture-making success, and as woodworkers, our materials are inseparable from the environment. 

A Modern Victorian Kitchen

Located on a beautiful property outside Boston, the homeowners had done extensive renovations to their Victorian home, saving the kitchen for last. The homeowners wanted a design that was mindful of the home’s origins but felt fresh, modern, and functional for this busy family; that’s when they turned to designer Karen Swanson.

The Woodworker’s Notebook

For Jim Boisvert, life as a craftsman began at age ten. While other children his age tuned into Saturday morning cartoons, Jim watched the Woodwright’s Shop. For the last twenty years, Jim has kept a notebook cataloging every piece of furniture he has made as a Thos. Moser craftsman.

A Match Made In Cherry

In 2014, Doug B. purchased a dark and dated condo in Southwest Harbor, Maine. After a year-long renovation, the new space was clean and contemporary. Being a lifelong fan of modern design, Doug chose to furnish the home with the curved and sleek designs of Thos. Moser. Ready for warmer climes, he listed the condo for sale. His home overlooking the ocean was stunning, but what caught the eye of future owners Elizabeth and Bruce S. was a match made in cherry.

Worth the Wait

What’s something you’ve coveted for years? What about that item caught your eye and stuck with you all this time? For customer Susan B., it was the Thos. Moser Continuous Arm Chair.

Moving the Vestry

In 1974, Tom and Mary Moser purchased an abandoned church vestry that would become their first showroom for the token sum of five dollars. The only caveat was that they needed to move it.

Community of Artists: James Kucheman

Kucheman’s work, now on display at our Freeport, Maine showroom, showcases work inspired by visits to Vinalhaven and Mount Desert Island. Each piece showcases the retired college art instructor’s unique and personal interpretations of the iconic villages and landscapes from the place he’s called home since 1980.

The New Gloucester Rocker

A rocking chair emanates nostalgia, a sense of comfort, relaxation, and a lulling quality made for front porches, tucked-away corners, and quiet nurseries. “Since the chair was designed and built in our New Gloucester workshop, we called it the New Gloucester Rocker, and it became one of our signature pieces,” says Tom Moser.

1972: A Bold New Approach to the Classic Moser Aesthetic

To celebrate 50 years, we have crafted a new, limited-edition design that celebrates our craft and honors our roots. 1972 gleans the nuanced traits of the classic Moser aesthetic developed by Tom with the sculptural influences of David Moser, creating an entirely new form that feels familiar yet is a catalyst for a new era of design

Meet Dr. White

When asked about the origin of the Dr. White’s Chest, Tom Moser recalls, “I remember seeing a stand-alone cupboard with graduated drawers and a sizeable compartment concealed behind two doors on the top at the Shaker Village. I used that as inspiration. The principle was that if a person had a chest of that sort, everything you owned should be able to fit in the chest.”

“Hang On!”

A constant dictation of Tom’s designs is by drawing upon historical antecedents and pushing them a step further. The look of the Bowback Stool is no stranger to this formula. The signature backrest of the stool is a wooden permutation of cousin Walter’s motorcycle panic bar.

Shaker Your Plate

‘Tis a gift to be simple begins the 18th-century Shaker hymn. The trestle-style dining table is perhaps one of the oldest and simplest furniture forms in existence; the Shakers raised this form into a work of art.

Set for Summer

The fine art of boat building and furniture making share a symbiosis that enriches the space and the lives of those who visit the Eagle Loft. For Chris, this kinship of craft has created a childhood dream home where he shares meals with friends around a table and chairs designed by a man he met as a child whilst gazing upon a harbor steeped in a rich history of boatbuilding. 

A Family’s Taproot

We usually visualize a landscape or a city street when people ask where we’re from. Most of us associate home with natural elements or architecture – rolling hills, lakes, a bustling Main Street, or a favorite tree in the park. But for Donna, her childhood “home” and family’s taproot can be found in her dining room.

Crafting Captivating Curves: A Conversation with Bob Cabral

Curved elements are common in the art of furniture-making, from the apron of a table, the frame of a bed, or the crest of a chair. When it comes to creating curved pieces in wood, there are three essential ways it can be achieved— cut, steam-bent, or lamination.

Natural Variations Found in North American Hardwood

As woodworkers, our materials are inseparable from the environment. From changes in color as the wood ages, grain pattern, and mineral deposits, here are a few natural variations found in the North American hardwood used in Thos. Moser furniture.

A Designer’s Dream Kitchen

If you could design your dream kitchen, what would it look like? For Betsy Barmat Stires, owner of DC-based design firm Frog Hill Designs, the opportunity to create a showhouse where she was the client allowed her to transform a blank canvas into an elevated space with refined details.

Three versatile fabrics for every interior

Upholstery makes a piece of solid hardwood furniture cozy, elegant, playful, or sophisticated. Here are three upholstery options that pass the test of durability, feel, and color selection with our furniture specialists time and time again.

Design Spotlight: Marianne Jones

Chosen for her ability to understand every step of the building and decorating process, Marianne Jones’ clients praise her ability to listen to their ideas and transform them into the most beautiful interiors that fit their personality and style.

The Pink House: A look inside our 2021 holiday home

This scenic location of the owner’s new property rekindled the joys of childhood summers spent in Maine. However, this idyllic location lacked one thing: a house.

Located one hundred miles away, they purchased a 200-year-old Victorian home and began the process of moving it, piece by piece, to their dream location.

A Minimalist Space that Celebrates Everyday Living

The kitchen of the Calistri’s Massachusets home was dark and dated, and they wanted to create an inviting space where they could comfortably entertain friends and family. Their vision for the new kitchen and breakfast nook was a bright, contemporary, intentionally inspired space molded around their minimalist aesthetic.

Camels and Outposts: Historical Antecedents of our Pencil Post Bed

It’s hard to imagine our Pencil Post bed folding down the size of a large suitcase. But the solid wood design was inspired by the early modular English Field Bed, built to support a canvas mattress and canopy of mesh netting to keep out mosquitos. However, if we dig even further into antiquity, we find the roots of our four-poster bed go even deeper.

A Christmas Story

Mr. Ferguson had second thoughts about hiding the Blanket Box in the basement. Of course, that wasn’t until he was lugging the solid cherry box up the stairs at three in the morning on Christmas Eve.

Furniture that fits

Shopping for furniture has never been easier. Whether you prefer to shop online or in one of our showrooms, we want to make sure you select a piece of furniture that’s a perfect fit. To help, we’ve compiled a list of important considerations for choosing the right furniture for your space.

A Cozy and Curated Coastal Farmhouse

The Ferguson’s found their four acres of heaven in Yarmouth, Maine. Resplendent with towering pines and verdant landscapes, they worked with local interior design firm Nicola’s Home to create a three-bedroom contemporary coastal farmhouse that offered first-floor living with plenty of room to entertain and spaces that captured both their personalities.   

The Perfect Pairing

To complement the bold and approachable space, the art-driven boutique hotel reached out to Thos. Moser to craft a custom dining chair to create a comfortable refuge for locals and travelers alike that exuded a warm and welcoming space.

Unwrapping Innovation

Dr. Heibert said, “I want a wheel made entirely of native oak, in the old-world style. No plywood, just oak to age in dignity. Of course, it needs to be perfectly balanced to drive a wooden set of gears and power a generator. Can you do it?”

The Anticlastic Curve

In 2014, aboard a ferry from Portland, Maine, Tom and Mary Moser headed 185 nautical miles northeast to Nova Scotia. But it wasn’t the scenery that caught Tom Moser’s eye; it was the simple cafeteria chair he was sitting in.

Design Spotlight: Elizabeth Vallino

Elizabeth Vallino traces her aesthetic formation to ballet class. This introduction to form, language and culture was the beginning of a lifelong fascination with classical and old-world elegance. We sat down with her for a quick Q & A about her approach to incorporating the Continuous Arm Chair’s classic look into her clients’ modern interior.

How to Clean Your Hardwood Furniture

Care and cleaning for your wooden furniture is not a one-size-fits-all solution. To clean up the confusion, we sat down with Marc LaBonte, head of our furniture maintenance and installation department, and asked him the best way to care for and maintain our hardwood furniture.

The Mower that Moved Us

In a field along Cobb’s Hill Road, across from the old vestry that served as Thos. Moser’s first showroom rests a rusted 1800’s sickle bar mower. The purity and austerity of the traditional handwork in these iron seats captivated Tom Moser. In 1978, Tom began carving the first iteration of the High Stool.

Building Big Tables: A Union of Traditional Woodworking and Modern Technology

The most significant projects are born through collaboration and a willingness to push the limits. This is how we have crafted tables that span more than thirty-six feet long. Read how we have blended the art of handcrafted furniture with modern technology to create these one-of-a-kind tables.

Design Spotlight with Jennifer Magdol

Located within San Francisco’s Golden Gate Heights neighborhood, this 1949 single-family home derives its inspiration from coastal forests and the Pacific Ocean.

Crafted for a Life at Sea

For us, every delivery is special, but some are truly memorable— such was the case when we delivered a custom pair of Harpswell Chairs and Wing Ottoman and were invited aboard the charismatic skipper’s yacht. 

Designing an Inspired Bedroom

The prospect of redesigning a space can be overwhelming— a fresh coat of paint, a new layout, furniture, soft goods, and which pieces will be kept and which will be donated? We’ve taken three of our favorite bedrooms and created inspiration boards using a straightforward formula to show you how to begin creating your designer look.

5 Benefits of an Adjustable Height Desk

Sitting at a desk is an unavoidable part of our day for many of us. However, sitting for long periods, day after day, can harm our well-being and productivity. Here are five reasons why we love adjustable height desks.

A Thos. Moser Coloring Book

This coloring book is meant to bring the family together around the table or snuggled in by the fire with a cup of cocoa to share stories and that child-like wonder that makes it the most wonderful time of year.

Building a Family Tradition

There is a piece of furniture within the Moser catalog that immediately stands out for each of us. It invokes a familiar feeling of comfort, childhood memories and feels like it was specifically designed just for us. This is precisely how a member of our customer care team felt when they walked through the lobby doors at Thos. Moser and saw the child’s size Continuous Arm Rocker.

More Than a Signature

It was upon closer inspection customer David M. discovered that his chair had a unique marking.

The Omni Clock

Our latest accessory, the Omni Clock, is a nod to those traditional forms we first set out to create- rooted in functional utility and a celebration of the material. Inspired by Shaker designs, the clock features clean lines sculpted from solid North American cherry or walnut.  

Designing an Open-Concept Space

When a couple wanted to downsize they sold everything except their Moser furniture. We sat down with their designer, Marcye Philbrook, and asked her how she artfully designed and integrated elements of their existing Moser pieces to create a contemporary home.

The Island Stool

The Island Stool is a contemporary nod to the past, drawing inspiration from an old Shaker utility stool found in Tom and Mary Moser’s first home in Maine, a 200-year-old farmhouse in New Gloucester.

A Lifetime Collection

“My first purchase from Thos. Moser was a 1986 catalog. I remember sending my $4.00 and spending a lot of time looking through the pages. The catalog was beautiful, and it reflected the company’s attention to craftsmanship,” Linda said. “I still have every catalog I’ve ever received.”

A Squeak of Reassurance

When customers Karen and Steve were expecting their first child, they treated themselves to a Moser rocker. But when a subtle squeak sounded with each rock, Karen called Moser customer service. She never expected who would come to her door and inspect her squeaky rocker.

The Heart of the Household

The table joined the family in 2008. “It was a time when my husband wasn’t traveling a lot for work. We had dinner there every night as a family, and it was special. We lingered longer, laughed harder, and the experience amplified the table’s meaning. It really was part of the family,” says Vivienne.

The Artist’s Choice

“We didn’t want to purchase something that wouldn’t last – and we didn’t want to compromise on a style we didn’t like.” After pondering their research, the two artists returned to the craftsmen whose work they already knew well and selected two High Stools.

Wood Moves: Crafting Receptive Designs

Building with solid wood takes patience and a deep appreciation of its mercurial nature to create a result that will last a lifetime. Each wood species has its own unique personality, growth pattern, and tendencies to react to the elements in different ways.

The Unity Table

The Unity Table design echoes themes seen in mid-century modern design, where it derives its form through its elegant dedication to purpose. We have embraced these tenets and created a table that demonstrates our admiration for the strength and beauty inherent in furniture hand-crafted from solid wood.

The Thos. Moser Continuous Arm Chair, An Icon of Evolutionary Design

When our founder, Tom Moser, began his journey of becoming a full-time furniture maker, the Windsor style had fallen out of favor. Nevertheless, he set out to design his modern iteration of the Windsor chair, a design that would go on to become synonymous with the Thos. Moser name.

Great-Grandpa Joe’s Bookshelf

There is a reason we call these pieces heirlooms- they’re the keepers of our family’s history. While the design of Joseph Moser’s bookshelf may be simple, it’s a physical symbol that represents the continuity and love of four generations of the Moser family.

An enduring symbol of family and craft

For Tom Moser, the American flag evokes a uniquely personal feeling and sense of connection, and at the end of the day, it holds a more profound, unified meaning of family and craft.

Tom Moser’s American Flag

As humans, creation and the capacity to create are in our DNA. These creations spark joy within oneself and have the ability to unify the human spirit. For Tom Moser, the spark that led him to craft his artistic rendition of the American Flag came from a photograph of a wooden flag and a gentle nudge from a friend.

Inside the Thos. Moser Workshop

The Thos. Moser workshop is a playground to the makers who call it home. Every piece of our furniture starts its journey in this 80,000 square foot facility in Auburn, Maine. Join us for a peek inside.

A Styled Approach to Mixing Wood Species

What’s the best way to incorporate multiple wood species into the same room? We’ve put together a comprehensive list of the best ways to blend various wood species into your space.

A Place to Retire: English Charm meets California Coastal

There is an intertwining of cool blues and warm wooden tones throughout the house, a nod to the ocean and Maine woods. Large windows allow the landscape to filter inward to create a welcoming oasis that allows them to take a deep breath and watch the worries of the world drift away.

4 Expert Tips for Picking the Right Upholstery

Upholstered furniture offers a personalized and unique spin on our hand-crafted wood furniture. With so many options available, we’ve come up with four expert tips to help you choose the right one.

Honoring Legacy at St. Timothy’s School

With an appreciation for craftsmanship, the staff asked Thos. Moser to use boards from the felled 80-foot tree to create community worktables.

The Studio Collection

Our new Studio Collection is nothing short of a study in our design philosophies of clean, simple lines, discreet integration, and utilization of traditional joinery.

The Mark of a Modern-Day Heirloom

Form, shape, and patterns are the intrinsic characteristics of solid wood furniture. With no two pieces of wood exactly alike, every piece of furniture has its own unique identity. These nuances, crafted by nature and finished by hand, create furniture destined to be a one-of-a-kind, modern-day heirloom.

Ash: the right wood in all the right places

With its straight grain and exceptional strength, ash has long been a staple in the legs of chairs, rockers, and benches throughout our collections. Balancing its strength, ash is also remarkably resilient– providing just the right “give” to make a spindle Thos. Moser chairback every bit as comfortable as it is beautiful.

A Celebration of the American Forest

Since the beginning, Thos. Moser has considered the materials we work as the essential element to success in furniture making. As woodworkers, our materials are inseparable from the environment. In this respect, we have released a special live-edge edition of the Eastward Bench to further express the gratitude we feel towards our materials

5 Things to Consider When Buying a Dining Chair

There’s a science to comfortable sitting, and the truth is, there is no one-size-fits-all for dining seating. We’ve put together a list of five things to consider when looking for seating at your dining room table.

Joinery: Beauty and Durability in Equal Parts

Exceptional joinery is a celebration of craftsmanship that we expose whenever possible. Properly formed, it works on every level and leaves nothing to hide.

The Beauty in Board Matching

Board matching is the subtle art of selecting rough-hewn slabs of wood to match wood grain and color, making the difference between a nice piece of furniture and an exquisite piece of furniture.

Passing on the Skills of Woodworking

As a company, Thos. Moser is made up of a family of master craftsmen. It is through our love of crafting with wood that we continuously share our knowledge with others.

Selecting the Right Table for Any Space

Whether you are looking for a table to fit in your kitchen, a formal dining area, or a flexible work environment, finding the right table for your space is key. We’ve put together a list of important considerations and a seating equation to help you find the perfect table to match your style and space.

Choosing a Bed at Thos. Moser

Who are we without a good night’s rest? Our guide for selecting the Thos. Moser bed of your dreams will have you resting easy in no time.

The Moser’s First Maine Christmas

On Christmas morning, Mary passed out large boxes to Tom and their four sons and said, “Get changed.” The same thought simultaneously entered their minds: Where on earth had Mom found these costumes?

Fostering the Next Generation of New England Craftsmen

Our partnership with North Bennet Street School began in 2018 based on long-standing mutual admiration. Seeking new ways to support the school’s activities, we reached out to NBSS to discuss forming a partnership and found common ground in Toys for Tots.

Lieutenant’s Chest

For Kimber and Lorraine, long-time Moser customers, the opportunity to join the craftsman in our Auburn shop for a week and build something seemed like a no-brainer. But what would they build? They decided to build a custom Captain’s Chest adorned with hand-made rope beckets to celebrate their daughter’s accomplishments as a Navy Lieutenant. To reflect her proper rank, they named this adaptation the, “Lieutenant’s Chest.”

CIR: Memories made by the Kuenstner Family

Sharing a week with a group of CIR students is special, no matter what. But when you get a group made up of an entire family, you know there will be some great laughs and a healthy dose of sibling rivalry. The Kuenstener family left us wanting for nothing.

Cherry: Beauty Over Time

When exposed to sunlight and air, cherry furniture changes color over time, shifting from a light salmon to a deep, rich reddish-brown. This transformation begins in as little as six months. Through oxidation and UV exposure, cherry’s molecular makeup changes the way in which light is reflected, giving cherry its recognizably rich hue. Perhaps, more than any other wood, cherry, when finished with rubbed oil and wax, invites people to touch it.

Resimercial Design

Resimercial design blurs the lines of work and home by incorporating flexible spaces that double as a meeting space, a comfortable place for a quiet brainstorm or coffee break with colleagues that evoke a sense of comfort and shape how we view the modern workplace.

Guidelines for Selecting a Stool

Are you remodeling the space to include an island, bar, or high-top dining area? In that case, you might need a few pointers for selecting a suitable stool to seamlessly match your style and design aesthetic while maintaining overall function and practicality.

University of Georgia, Terry College of Business

To make Casey Commons feel anything but common, the interior design team specified award-winning custom furniture pieces from Thos. Moser. The result is a comfortable, familiar and distinctly upscale space where thousands of students can learn, study, eat and engage every day.