Sawdust And Family Tradition: Creative Forces Behind Cross Cut Vintage Designs

SHERIDAN, IN — It's 2 p.m. on a Tuesday - a time when workers begin shifting their anxious minds towards the last few hours of another day in their office building or business. For the man working inside a 112-year-old barn off of a county road in Sheridan, Indiana, it's just another moment in his seven-day work week. From the outside it looks exactly like what it is - an old, yet preserved, century-old barn. But as soon as Tabb Adams emerges from inside the structure to greet you, you're instantly curious as to what's inside this workshop.

Adams, a fourth generation carpenter and owner of Cross Cut Vintage Designs spends each day creating and building furniture pieces made from reclaimed wood, inspired by industrial and rustic, mid-century modern design periods. He wears what you'd expect a prepared, experienced carpenter to wear; sturdy shoes, casual t-shirt, shorts, tool belt/apron, and in this case, the bonus of an upbeat and strong attitude.

The inside of the Sheridan barn, located at 11315 E. 300 North, is Adams' shop and showroom, a structure he said holds inspiration. It also holds plenty of sawdust.

Adams does not hesitate to show me every (reachable) space and corner of the barn, which he said has been in his wife's family since 1915, 10 years after it was built. The two of them live in the farm house that sits directly west of the barn, and have done so for 20 years. While keeping their home updated, Adams said he sees the importance of preserving the barn and its history.

"Old barns like this are kind of few and far between because they've outgrown their usefulness for agriculture," Adams said. "They're too small for today's farm equipment, and have kind of outlived their usefulness."

But just because the barn isn't as practical for the duties and equipment of agriculture doesn't mean it's out of commission. The barn is a place Adams spends his days building his masterpieces, while marveling in its pin-frame build and century-old style. There couldn't be a more perfect setting for a man who designs, builds and finishes rustic-style furniture.

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Adams said his business is named after the old, rusty Cross Cut saw that's lived in the barn (workshop) since the barn was built, according to his wife's family.

"I would like to think a lot of pieces in the house and barn were built by the saw," Adams said. "If you look around the barn, you'll see it used to be a dairy farm. They used to milk cows in it, store tractors and plow horses. There are horseshoes in the wall and ceiling."

Adams also explained in detail his history with carpentry and his everyday work process. He did this with such composure and confidence, I was left with few words when he told me his father passed away the day before.

"He would have wanted me to do this interview, he was a great motivator," Adams said.

And not just a motivator, but a major reason Adams began his business in April 2015.

While his father never practiced carpentry as a profession, he was very good at it. Adams said there are generations of carpenters from both sides of his family, who are also influences in his life.

"My mom is from Tennessee, she grew up in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park," Adams said. "There are structures still standing in the park that were built by the Noah 'Bud' Ogle Farm Place." Adams said Noah 'Bud' Ogle is a "great, great, great uncle" on his mother's side. There are also structures in Maryland built by Adams fraternal grandfather and great-grandfather.

Before starting Cross Cut Vintage Designs, Adams was a contractor - putting his creativity and time into homes, a bit different from today's creative endeavors. He said he ended up selling his company to create pieces for customers similar to one he's been fortunate to have in his home for years, which is the first piece of furniture his parents bought.

"I want to make pieces you can pass down from generation to generation," Adams said. "I got tired of the rat race, and this (barn) had always been my shop, just never really a shop to build furniture."

Today, it's not just a "shop to build furniture," but a place Adams welcomes everyone in to see his pieces which include but aren't limited to tables of all sorts and sizes, chairs, barn door consoles, benches, entertainment center pieces and more.

"There are a lot of people that can make a barn door console," Adams said. "But I standout when a lot of those folks would just go to Menards or Lowe's and purchase two-by-fours and two-by-eights which aren't considered a furniture grade. There's a furniture-grade lumber and a construction-grade lumber. What i'm building you is a fine piece of furniture; it's constructed well, it's lumber made to build furniture out of."

If that wasn't reassuring enough, Adams gives you his word.

"Anything I build out of furniture-grade lumber I guarantee it for life," Adams said. "If you've got a problem with your piece, i'll fix it or i'll come to you and fix it. If you're going to call and say 'Hey Tabb, something's wrong with my table,' I'm going to be here to make sure it's taken care of."

So how much is one of Adams pieces?

He said they vary in cost. Here's why, according to the maker himself:

• Adams is adamant about supporting local businesses, and uses reclaimed lumber (wood from a tree that's been cut down or recycled from another big piece.) He takes those pieces to local lumber yard businesses (Northwest Lumber and Hollingsworth Lumber), where they're sawed down into boards.
• Adams calculates most prices by the amount of material he uses (by the foot), such as a barn door console.

• The difficulty or time spent on a piece; less expensive if it's an easier piece or if someone simply asks him to "fix up" a piece. The price can also be a bit cheaper if he buys and refurbishes a piece from an antique shop.
• He prices pieces people ask him to refinish based on condition an hourly shop rate.

While he prefers to get his wood and materials from local businesses, Adams said he will use sources from outside state lines or major retailers if needed.

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The carpenter is currently working on at least five separate pieces, using stopping points on each in order to know when to move on to another.

"I work on more than one thing at a time," Adams said. "I have to, there's no way I could keep up. I'm booked out a month and a half."

Adams said although he typically averages about five pieces a month, he sold ten or 11 pieces just in the past month.

As much as he works, Adams said he doesn't mind how busy he is, adding he would never turn anyone down even though he's usually the only hands behind his products.

"Trying to find a quality person that will be able to come in here and do the quality of work that I expect, the craftsmanship I look for in someone that would work for me, it's hard," Adams said. "It's hard for me to trust someone to come in and do it, it has my name on it."

However, Adams does wish more people had the craftsmanship skills he's been fortunate to learn. He voiced his frustration with the lack of push for young men or women to work on and excel in their craftsmanship, compared to the push for a four-year degree.

"There's been no push for kids to go be plumbers, electricians or welders, but there is such a focus on a four-year degree," Adams said. "There are some men in town I could go out and mention that i'm hiring if things got busier. I'm happy where i'm at right now as far as orders and work flow go."

To drive up some business Adams decided to have some showroom hours on the weekends where visitors can come by and look around.

"At the moment i'm working seven days a week, but if I wasn't as busy or working on the weekends, I would dedicate that time solely for showing," Adams said. "Spring is busy because that's when people want to remodel their homes, plus the holidays/Christmastime."

His hard work and lengthy projects pay off, as the two weeks it takes to make a barn door console contributes to seeing anywhere between $6 thousand and $7 thousand a month in sales, adding in cost of materials.

"Rustic furniture, that's kind of a movement right now, and you want to build what's popular," Adams said. "I'm going to build what's going to make money, but some stuff I build is more of what I like. Sometimes it just takes time to find the right person for the right piece."

When it comes to his work philosophy, Adams wants customers and potential customers to know one thing: "Well you might pay a little bit more for the piece, you're buying something that's locally made; something I've tried to put some love into, and into what I do."

For more information and to see Adams' Cross Cut Vintage Design pieces, visit crosscutvintage.com, or @crosscutvintagedesigns Facebook page and Instagram account.

Media: Rebecca Bream