When it comes to his passion for quality woodworking and aesthetics, Rob Levy has no qualms about following in his father's footsteps.

Levy, a fourth-generation cabinetmaker and founder of Hudson River Woodworks, credits "the incredibly creative environment" he grew up in for helping him to develop "an appreciation for objects that are both aesthetically beautiful and well-made." The impulse to replicate the feel of his family home "just filled with gorgeous antique and hand-built furnishings" remains at the center of Levy's approach to design and production.

Two decades ago, Levy began making entertainment centers, wall units, library rooms, and built-in cabinetry in his father's workshop. Formal training in fine furniture making and design—he studied under nationally recognized woodworkers such as Alfonse Mattia at the University of Massachusetts, North Dartmouth, where Levy earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1991—refined his techniques and landed his one-of-a-kind furniture in prestigious venues such as the Peter Joseph Gallery in New York City.

While Levy displays his pieces in galleries and shows across the country, he spends much of his time at his Garnersville workshop and showroom working with clients "who are looking for a quality piece of furniture to fit their lifestyle." Beginning with wood milled from a rough-sawn state, Levy's painstaking process—typically taking eight to twelve weeks to complete—entails such old-world techniques as dovetails and mortise-and-tenon construction. Yet, Levy notes ironically, "It's modern technologies like those used in HDTV flat-screen TVs" that increasingly prompt clients to opt for the flexibility of custom design and the craftsmanship often lacking in ready-made furnishings.

For Levy, "each project, each client, each home is unique," and convening with clients "where they live" is a crucial first step. "Learning how they plan to use the piece, this year or five years from now, is all part of the design process. For our clients, choosing the type of wood, color, molding, and finishing techniques, even visiting the workshop throughout various stages of the work—it's all part of a collaborative, creative process they can be a part of."