Photography by Christiaan Blok

The Best of the West is Reflected
in Dave Lookingbill’s Handcrafted
Custom Furniture Designs

Carpenters handle wood, while visual artists ignite the senses. Dave Lookingbill has been called a master of both.

Lookingbill designs and builds custom furniture he describes as “New Mexican style, but not copied directly.” His handcrafted tables, chairs, chests and sideboards seem to resonate with home-owners across the country who seek a tangible piece of the West’s rich heritage.

Interior designer Julie Rushing of Prescott, Arizona, puts it this way: “Dave achieves the commendable feat of marrying the ambition of the artist with the exquisite craftsmanship of the carpenter. He transforms humble wood into artifacts that celebrate the chip-carved geometries and joinery techniques indigenous to the Southwest—elevating the utility of furniture to the timelessness of art.”

Chip-carving is one of the signature elements of Dave Lookingbill’s furniture. A pine buffet with hutch standing 8 feet high and 10 feet wide also features mesquite inlays and tile insets by Scottsdale-based artist Joan Baron.

Born and raised in Idaho, Lookingbill moved to Arizona in the 1970s to work as a farrier at the legendary Castle Hot Springs resort near Wickenburg. While there, he was drawn to the strong, simple lines and emphasis on functionalism of the furniture that was prominent in Wickenburg’s guest ranches and resorts.

“The guest ranch business dies out in the summer, so for something to do I started making furniture,” Lookingbill remembers. “I certainly couldn’t afford the furniture I saw at the resorts, so I thought I would just make some for myself.”

At that time, Lookingbill had no woodworking experience. In 1988, he took a summer job with a cabinet shop to learn basic skills. He says he is indebted to Rick Tomczyk, owner of Wickenburg Cabinet, for showing him techniques that would have taken years to learn on his own.