Today we’d like to introduce you to Patch McLaughlin.
Hi Patch, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My journey into furniture making was anything but direct. I started out as a Marine, then worked as a deckhand on tugboats in the Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York harbors. After that, I became a beat reporter and eventually a journalism student at American University. At no point did I imagine woodworking would become my calling—it simply wasn’t on my radar.
Still, carpentry was always in the background. I grew up in a historic Victorian house in Baltimore, where weekend chores meant hammering loose nails back into the floorboards or sanding and repainting the baseboards. My dad built acoustic guitars as a hobbyist luthier, and my uncle restored Victorian homes around the city. I was always handy with tools—just never considered it a career path.
After journalism school, I wasn’t ready for a job in a newsroom, so I ended up on the back of a motorcycle, picking up carpentry jobs as I traveled, and before long carpentry was just what I did for a living.
Furniture making itself came later. While helping my dad renovate his kitchen, my mom requested a custom kitchen island. I figured, “Why not?” and built it. It was simple—maybe even a bit underbuilt—but I was hooked. Something clicked, and I immediately wanted to create more. My next project was an ambitious 14-foot-tall built-in bookcase with a sliding librarian ladder. I had no idea what I was doing, but I figured it out as I went. From there, I just kept moving from one challenge to the next.
By 2018, my curiosity about sourcing lumber led me to take a job as a sawyer at a small Maryland lumber outfit practicing urban logging. I ran the mill, turning trees into boards, while continuing to build furniture for family and friends on the side. When the pandemic hit, I decided it was time to turn that side gig into a real business. McLaughlin Woodworks has been steadily growing ever since.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
My path has been anything but smooth. Woodworking and furniture design come naturally to me—it’s what I love most—but transforming that passion into a sustainable business has been a real challenge. Even after six years, I’m still learning and figuring things out as I go.
The real turning point came several years ago. I’d just started feeling like I wasn’t crazy for thinking that I could actually make this dream work. I was finally moving past the imposter syndrome that every new business owner faces. Then, out of nowhere, I got sick, landed in the hospital, needed surgery, and suddenly found myself sidelined for a month and a half.
Up to that point, I’d been running the business on sheer willpower, figuring things out as I went. But being away from the shop for over a month made it clear I couldn’t keep operating by the seat of my pants. Clients were understanding at first, but as delays mounted and schedules slipped, some started asking for their money back. It felt like everything I’d built was on the verge of unraveling.
That experience forced me to hit pause, reevaluate, and actually build a real business from the ground up. I developed a business plan, created standard operating procedures, worked on building good, daily habits, and put systems in place so I could operate consistently, no matter what life threw my way. Although I started McLaughlin Woodworks in 2020, it didn’t truly gain momentum until three years later—once I’d put real structure underneath it, instead of just relying on determination. It was a tough lesson, but I came out of it with a business that’s stronger and steadier than ever before.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I design and build custom furniture for clients in the Baltimore-Washington area, focusing on real-world needs and the unique character of each space. Every piece is made to what I call the Bespoke Standard: furniture designed specifically for each client’s life, style, and everyday use, and built to last for generations. Nothing from my shop is cookie-cutter—each piece is genuinely one of a kind.
Collaboration is central to my process. I meet with each client, listen to their needs, and exchange ideas and inspiration. Together, we move from hand-drawn sketches to refined iterations, and ultimately to an accurate computer design. I keep refining until the design is exactly what the client envisions.
I’ve created a bed with built-in safety features for a family with a child with special needs—blending function with the elegance of a high-end, heirloom piece. For a concert pianist, I designed a music cabinet small enough to fit under their piano, yet had enough storage to hold all their sheet music. Not every project has to solve a rare challenge; sometimes, it’s simply about making something personal and deeply meaningful. A dining table, for example, can become the centerpiece where a family builds memories and creates a legacy to pass down. There is no special problem required beyond wanting something truly their own.
What I’m most proud of is holding every project to this standard. That’s what sets me apart: I’m not offering catalog variations—I’m designing and building the right piece for the individual in front of me, to a level of care and craftsmanship that includes hand-cut, traditional joinery—a standard most mass-market furniture today doesn’t come close to meeting.
Any big plans?
Right now, McLaughlin Woodworks is a one-man-band. I operate out of a small workshop at my home outside Baltimore, which means floor space—and project volume—are limited. Still, I have a clear vision for growth: a larger shop, a team of talented designers and makers, and even an in-house lumber yard that would bring my passion for urban logging into the business. But I’m not ready to get into specifics on that yet.
For now, I’m focused on designing, building, and spreading the word about purposeful, custom furniture. My goal is to keep building a reputation for solving real problems with thoughtful design. When someone in Baltimore or D.C. needs a piece that truly fits their home and their life, I want McLaughlin Woodworks to be the first name that comes to mind.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mclaughlinwoodworks.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/mclaughlin_woodworks
