When I begin designing a piece of furniture, I usually start with two simple questions:
Where will it live, and how will it be used?
Those questions guide almost every project we create at J.L. Schroeder Woodworking. Furniture has a purpose, and understanding the space and the person it is made for is what allows a piece to feel truly at home.
But every once in a while, a piece comes along that asks a different question.
Not what room does it belong in?
But rather:
What story does it have to tell?
Octopus Tale was born from that idea.
From the very beginning, this piece was never meant to be just another cabinet. It was imagined as something that could stand on its own as a work of art—something that could capture attention, spark curiosity, and invite people to look closer.
It could become an elegant cabinet for a collector’s favorite spirits, a display piece for treasured objects, a centerpiece in a gallery or entryway, or even a magical place for books and keepsakes in a child’s room.
The possibilities are endless because the purpose of this piece is not only function.
It is imagination.
“This is furniture designed not simply for utility, but for imagination.”
The idea for Octopus Tale began after a trip through France that left a lasting impression on me. Walking through historic buildings, museums, and old European interiors, I was surrounded by incredible examples of craftsmanship—places where furniture was not simply built, but thoughtfully created as an expression of art.
I wanted to create a piece that captured that same sense of wonder.
Something that pushed beyond traditional furniture making and challenged what a cabinet could become.
The design draws inspiration from 18th and 19th century French Rococo furniture and Venetian Grotto traditions. I have always been fascinated by these styles because they blur the line between architecture, sculpture, and furniture.
Every sculptural piece begins with a small moment of inspiration.
For Octopus Tale, it started with one flowing line.
That single gesture established the movement of the entire cabinet—from the crest at the top all the way down to the base. Once that line felt right, it became the foundation for everything that followed.
A full-size template was created, and the cabinet slowly began to take shape.
The construction process was unlike building a typical cabinet. Instead of starting with finished surfaces and details, the piece was built in massive sculptural sections.
Large glue-ups created the corner pillars, giving us enough material to carve the deep relief details that would eventually bring the cabinet to life.
The process was slow and deliberate:
Large sections were assembled.
Forms were roughed out.
Carving began.
Pieces were refined.
And then, after assembly, hundreds of additional hours were spent bringing together all of the details by hand.
At every stage, the goal was to preserve the movement and flow of the original design.
One of the most rewarding parts of this project was the opportunity to combine different carving traditions into one piece.
The elegance and ornamentation of French decorative carving came together with the realism of natural forms found in the ocean.
“More than a cabinet, it is an invitation into imagination, craftsmanship, and fantasy.”
To help bring this vision to life, I had the privilege of collaborating with master carver Alfredo Saenz. His more than 50 years of experience and incredible understanding of carving added a level of refinement that elevated the piece beyond what I could have imagined.
Together, we worked through countless details—the movement of the tentacles, the texture of the shells, the small organic transitions that make the piece feel alive.
Every curve and surface had a purpose.
The goal was to make it feel as though the cabinet had not simply been decorated with ocean imagery, but that it had emerged from the sea itself.
“I believe furniture has the ability to become part of our lives in a deeper way. The pieces we surround ourselves with can hold memories, reflect our personalities, and inspire us every day.”
Jacques L. Schroeder
Some of the most difficult problems were also some of the most rewarding.
The curved doors were one of the biggest technical challenges of the project. They needed to fit perfectly within curved openings while still operating smoothly and naturally.
There was no simple solution.
It required experimentation, careful fitting, and many hours of adjustments.
Ultimately, we achieved the movement we were looking for through carefully fitted knife hinges and detailed hand adjustment.
These are the moments in furniture making that are often invisible when looking at the finished piece, but they are what make a piece feel special.
The beauty is in the details you see.
The craftsmanship is often in the details you don’t.
The finish was designed to support the carving, not compete with it.
I wanted the wood and craftsmanship to remain the focus, so the colors were applied with a light touch. Layered washes of warm oak tones, soft greys, and subtle whites created depth and movement across the surface.
The sea creatures received just enough color to feel alive:
Soft reds gave warmth to the octopus.
Orange tones brought attention to the fish.
Muted greys added character to shells and barnacles.
The colors were applied almost like watercolor—small hints of life that allowed the natural beauty of the wood and carving to remain visible.
I was honored that Octopus Tale received Second Place in the Art Furniture category at the 2026 Design in Wood Exhibition at the San Diego County Fair.
While awards are meaningful, the greatest reward is seeing a piece like this completed after months of design, problem solving, carving, and collaboration.
A project like this represents the reason I love woodworking.
It allows an idea that begins as a simple sketch to slowly become something real.
Octopus Tale is a cabinet, but it is also something more.
It is a sculpture.
A story.
A connection between traditional craftsmanship and imagination.
I believe furniture has the ability to become part of our lives in a deeper way. The pieces we surround ourselves with can hold memories, reflect our personalities, and inspire us every day.
More than anything, Octopus Tale represents a belief that furniture does not have to simply fill a space.
It can transform one.
About J.L. Schroeder Woodworking
J.L. Schroeder Woodworking creates custom furniture, architectural millwork, and sculptural works for homeowners, designers, architects, and collectors who appreciate thoughtful design and exceptional craftsmanship.
Every piece is individually designed and handcrafted, combining traditional woodworking techniques with artistic expression and meticulous attention to detail.
From custom interiors to one-of-a-kind sculptural furniture, each project is created with the belief that the best furniture is not only built to last—it is built to tell a story.