Woodworking in the Adirondack Tradition
Handcrafted fine rustic furniture in the Adirondack tradition
Taking select commissions on hand coped cedar railings and pediments
Taking select commissions on custom interior cabinetry
Russ Gleaves has been creating furniture in the Adirondack Rustic style for over 20 years. He takes pride in designing and building pieces using natural materials from local surroundings that will be passed down for generations. Commissioned work resides in homes around the Adirondacks, as well as farther afield in Wyoming, Wisconsin, New York, and Japan.
Growing up in the Adirondack mountains in an off-grid log cabin built by his family fostered an appreciation of the wilderness around him and working with wood in traditional ways. Discovering the local history of Adirondack rustic style woodwork further drove his interest in the craft.
Russ has exhibited in Saratoga, Lake Placid, Utica, New York City, and Blue Mountain Lake, and won numerous awards including two "People's Choice Awards" and "Best In Show" from the Adirondack Museum Rustic Fair. His work has also been featured in local press, including here in Simply Saratoga and Adirondack Life .
“Russ is a cabinet maker and rustic furniture builder extraordinaire. That, in itself, is unique. Usually, woodworkers are either able to build cabinets or make rustic furniture. Russ does both - exquisitely. Russ builds in the tradition of the old Adirondack wood workers and has been doing so for over 20 years. He is self-taught and has spent countless hours studying the history of the Adirondack Rustic furniture builders. He reads anything that he can get his hands on about the early rustic furniture builders and it shows in his work. His work is indicative of the high level of craftsmanship that was used by the Adirondack furniture builders of the 1890s.”
- excerpt from article by writer George Hanstein for Simply Saratoga & Adirondack Life
