Testimonials

Tim & Lori Pfeiler: Living Room & Dining Room

We bought a new house, and we picked our new floor to show off Brian Murphy's furniture! A dark cork floor to show off the light wood. And it really does. You walk into our living room, and we hear, Wow! Your furniture is so beautiful, your chairs, couch, coffee table fit this room and invite you in. We arranged our living room to show off Brian's fine wood working. And it shows. The grain of the wood shows: the style/shape of the furniture fits our room perfectly.

And then, we have a sideboard. Its purpose is to show off our beautiful glass collection. What a presentation. Beautiful wood, great color stain, contrasting with a collection of hand-blown glasses. Brian Murphy is a master wood worker. He is meticulous with his furniture; he falls in love with the grain and makes it shine.

Chuck and Kate Nichols   Mission-Style Cal-King Bed:

We have admired Brian's work for years, having seen beautiful examples at the Arts Partnership in Escondido, the San Diego Fair, and our friends' home. As a woodworker, I don't often get furniture envy, but I certainly did after seeing Brian's quality work! We worked with Brian through the design phase to come up with exactly what we wanted, during the construction phase to make sure the bed met all of our requirements, and through the finishing phase to get the finish we desired. Brian does a wonderful job of blending the lines between furniture and art. Murphy's fine woodworking has a motto: "If we produce an excellent product, render great customer care, and design for our customer's need, there will always be clients that will need our work." We couldn't agree more.

Jan Cushman   Mission-Style Dresser:

I am so pleased with the Mission-style dresser Brian crafted for me. He accomplished exactly what I wanted, even exceeding my expectations by adding details that enhanced it even further. Brian's years of experience are reflected in this exceptional piece he created.

Elisabeth Refn   California West Bow Arm Chair:

I am the lucky owner of an Arts and Crafts’ comfortable chair with a footstool. It was made by Brian Murphy in Escondido. It was handmade based on a Green original. It is of heirloom quality, and I am proud to have it. This is a very comfortable and functional recliner which fits my 1925 home so well. It is a fine-looking chair: all materials are highly selected and lovely: cherrywood, curly maple and Argentine leather. All details are a delight to discover and use; the joints, the pecks for reclining - each is well made. It fits a larger person, so if you are petite consider the smaller size!

Jeffery Shippe   Morris Chair:

I recently added Brian’s Bow Arm Chair to my collection of one of a kind, extraordinary fine furniture. The chair is of curly maple and walnut with a beautifully crafted leather back rest, cushion, and Foot Stool. The master has brought out the natural beauty of the wood grains and the construction of the chair is flawless. This chair was purchased from the Design In Wood Show at the Del Mar Fair…This is truly a work of art, and I love it!

Kevin & Debbie Svetich   Bar Stools:

Brian Henry David Murphy a virtuoso of fine furniture craftsmanship has done it again! We have added three beautifully detailed bar stools to our humble collection of bookcases, dining chairs, dining table, entertainment center and bow arm chair. Sound a little boastful? You can believe it! Mr. Murphy’s creations are one-of-a-kind masterpieces. Functional art at its best. Thank you Brian!

Jeffrey & Susan Epp   Room Divider:

I needed a furniture piece to center between my dining and living room, a visible centerpiece of sorts and yet still functional.  Brian Murphy spent several visits with us designing the perfect unit.  He was a great listener, very patient, and had helpful suggestions about materials, stains, styles, and everything else that went into the design. His construction was methodical and precise, and it was awesome to visit the shop and watch him work.  When it came time for installation, he was a perfectionist.   I knew Brian because of his involvement in the Escondido community, and I’m proud to have his work in our home! 

Mark Kalpakgian   Three-piece Bookcase:

The 3 piece sectional bookcases made by Murphy’s Fine Woodworking was just what we wanted: high-quality, beautiful, sturdy, and hand-crafted with love.  We were extremely pleased with the end product!

Dave & Cheri Chandler:

Overall, such a positive experience and will leave a legacy within our home and our children’s homes. Brian was so helpful with decision making for features we were unfamiliar with, and incredibly accommodating with custom dimensions and ideas. Our purchases include a very large curio cabinet.  It features glass doors and sides (such a good feature), custom shelving, drawers, and hardware. It is such a delight to view our home treasures in such a beautiful piece. There is a matching sideboard which includes glass doors, lighting (making the heirloom silver look so sparkling), several drawers, and hardware. These two pieces have been in our home for the past year and make the room impressive and welcoming. Our other pieces are a matching Murphy chair and couch. We fell in love with the style at the Natural History museum that he did and couldn't wait to make it part of our home. The pieces feature stately leather upholstery, delicate wood inlays, and strong features. I have happily read many books from the chair. Thank you for bringing our home such grace and style Brian!

Cindy & Kevin Clark, Painted TV Buffet:

Kevin and I are very happy with the work done on our TV Buffet. It is a beautiful addition to our new home. The craftsmanship is outstanding. We really appreciate the care and detail Brian put into it. We will cherish this piece for years to come.

Linda Doll, Custom Bow Arm leather chair

I have loved and admired Brian's chairs each and every year at the Arts Partnership auction.  In 2015 I finally was high bidder and purchased my chair, I loved it so much that after it was delivered, I called Brian and ordered a matching piece.  They are now the center pieces of my living room and are definitely works of art.  My favorite place to relax is in one of these chairs.  In 2019 I was redoing my family room and am so in love with my living room chairs that I purchased another chair for the family room.  Thank you, Brian, for producing such beautiful, comfortable works of art.

Kevin & Debbie Svetich Dining Table & Chairs:

Kevin and I have added another beautiful piece of furniture from Brian. He built a beautiful dining room table for us and two additional chairs.  They go perfect in our home with many compliments!

Constance J. Larsen: Walnut Dining Table & African Mahogany Buffet

Brian Murphy has built several pieces of furniture for me.  The most recent pieces are a beautiful nook dining table and a monster buffet/sidebar.  To say I am pleased with the furniture would be an understatement.  What I always find amazing about Brian’s work, is his ability to bring artistry to a piece of furniture without compromising the functionality of the furniture.  I know I will be contacting Brian again when I need the next piece of exquisite furniture.

California Center for the Arts, Wendy Wilson Gibson: 

When I needed a custom sculpture, pedestal made for the Niki de Saint Phalle exhibition at the CCAE museum, I called Murphy's Fine Woodworking. The 12-foot-long pedestal was made in 2 connecting pieces. The pedestal, in the shape of a snake, holds 5 sculptures. Brian knows everything about wood, so he knew how to bend the wood for curves. He is fast too. I love working with Murphy's Fine Woodworking.

Kevin & Debbie Svetich: Bow Arm Morris Chair

We recently added Brian’s Bow Arm Chair to our small collection of one of a kind, extraordinary fine furniture. Our chair is of curly maple and walnut with a beautifully crafted leather back rest, cushion and Foot Stool. The master has brought out the natural beauty of the wood grains and the construction of the chair is flawless.This is truly a work of art, and we love it! Thank you... Brian

Cathy Carey:

My husband and I are the fortunate owners of two beautiful handcrafted pieces of furniture by Brian Murphy! We had our wonderful craftsman chair and ottoman for several years before we commissioned Brian to make a table to fit into a long but narrow space in our kitchen. As an artist myself, I knew I wanted something special and Brian was the only person I considered for this project. We went from a round table seating 4 that took up a wide amount of room no one could get past, to a perfectly sized long table that seats 12 and gives us more room to move around it.

Brian was the consummate professional from the time he came out to measure, suggest materials all the way through to the creation and final delivery. His easy going and knowledgeable manner are the perfect blend of customer service and style. Our Brian Murphy table is the place in our home where our family and friends gather - we always get compliments and are so proud to give out Brian’s name as the creator of our magnificent table!

Kevin & Debbie Svetich: Brian delivered the second piece of furniture he made for us this weekend!  It matches our Southwest Book case he made for us in 2012.  It is perfect!  The detail of the craftsmanship is superior.  The creativity Brian has for his work is fantastic.  The pride he puts into his work definitely shows!!!  We absolutely love this piece of furniture.  It is a wonderful addition to our new home in Valley Center.

Both in leather

Lori & Tim wrote:  I  have long admired Brian's chairs every year at the Arts Partnership auction.  Finally we bought two, they are the center pieces of our living room.  They are our living works of art.  I sit in one chair and just rest, reflecting on the week and the good life I have.  Then I begin staring at the other chair and admire the lines of the wood, and the simple lines of the chair.  Great art can keep your attention for a good while.  After a time, I have to get up and change chairs so I can admire the other chair.  It is different, has different wood, different lines, and tells a different story. 

These chairs offer a beautiful place to come, rest, contemplate, converse, read and just be at peace, because of the mastery of the craftsman in honing a classic piece of art.  Thank you Brian!

Jill and Neil Meyer: We purchased this chair through a live-auction at the Escondido Municipal Gallery in 2011.   It was the first new acquisition for our new home.   The chair seemed to be a perfect fit for our Craftsman style remodel vision.   We love its mix of cherry and quarter sawn white oak.   Our staircase was built based on the same combination.  We recently ordered the same mix from Brian for a table base for our dining room table.  Our chair – we refer to it as a Morris Chair – now sits in its own sitting room surrounded by large windows overlooking San Pasqual Valley. 

Denis and Carolyn Royer: We commissioned a kitchen table for a renovated kitchen.  Brian came to look at the space, the style of kitchen, and the wood surrounding the area, took some measurements and began creating.  We had to wait a bit longer than planned, but the finished product is well worth the wait!  My table was delivered this morning and is exactly, perfectly correct for its place in the kitchen.  As with the other comments, the craftsmanship, attention to detail, and design are "top drawer".  Brian's creativity designed a table I had not even thought about....the end result could not be better!  He is going to build a curio cabinet for me after the first of the year!!

Jeff & Nancy Matloff: After researching several retail and commercial sites for a platform bed that met our functional needs as well as added to our existing décor (early American), we decided that our best option would be to have one custom-made for us.  After discussing this project with several contractors, we contracted with Brian to build our custom platform bed frame with drawers to go with the early American antique furniture in our bedroom.  In this process, he impressed with his commitment to detail and helping us both develop a design as well as adding all the unique features that we have in this beautiful piece of furniture.  We enjoyed working with him throughout and he kept us informed every step of the process.  In addition to being a highly skilled craftsman who creates beautiful works of furniture, we both felt very comfortable with him.   He went the extra mile to ensure that we would be happy with the final product.  We continue to deeply appreciate the beauty and function that this platform bed has added to our master suite.  We would recommend Brian to anyone looking a craftsman who can create and build quality timeless furniture products of unique beauty.

Don & Candy Zech: I have known Brian for 30 years. I have actually done some woodworking myself but when it came to building and customizing some pieces for our home there was no other thought than Brian. He has done at least 7 pieces for us over the years. He has built coffee tables, side tables, a library table and an Entertainment Hutch that looks like a Buffet. But his coup d’etat would have to be working with me to convert a ten-foot-tall built in entertainment center made from solid oak into a shelving wall unit with “Murphy Doors” that open to expose a 300+ bottle refrigerated wine cabinet! Fine craftsmanship, attention to detail, great, beautiful, artistic pieces.  ~ Cheers!

Debbie Tammariello: Beautiful custom wood work is hard to find. But Brian has designed and built a gorgeous mission style leather chair and amazing cradle for our first grandchild and we are so pleased with the finished product. His eye for detail is superb.

Linda Doll wrote: I have loved and admired Brian's chairs each and every year at the Arts Partnership auction.  In 2015 I finally was high bidder and purchased my chair, I loved it so much that after it was delivered I called Brian and ordered a matching piece.  They are now the center pieces of my living room and are definitely works of art.  My favorite place to relax is in one of these chairs.  Thank you Brian

Curtis & Kerrigan Diehl wrote: We are delighted and honored to have your custom pieces of art in our home!  You are a true artist and we absolutely love sharing our family moments in front of your spectacular craftsmanship.  When we dreamed up a custom wine rack buffet with impossible dimensions and space constraints, you came through and nailed it!  When we had an outdated empty media niche and a fireplace project where we needed a custom mantle…again you were there!  Spectacular finished products all 3 and we couldn’t be happier with the experience in working with you from sketches on paper to fully realized showroom quality finished pieces.  It is always our pleasure getting to tell friends and family who admire them about Murphy’s Fine Woodworking.  As long as you are still designing and building custom furniture, Curtis and I will have fun thinking about what our next furniture adventure with Brian Murphy will be! With our highest regard and most complete satisfaction, Thank you.

Michael Field: Take a load off: There are a lot of things about “Coast to Cactus” that make Michael Field a very happy designing man. He is thrilled that the museum’s most-recent remodel uncovered some boarded-up windows and historical skylights. He can’t get enough of the Arts and Crafts style furniture built by Escondido’s Brian Murphy and the tiles based on historical California designs. You will find Brian's work at the whale exhibit.

Karen & Eddie wrote:  We searched for a breakfast nook table with chairs and a bench for months without success.  When we found Brian and Murphy's Fine Furniture, he was able to create a piece that fit the oddly shaped area.  Eddie wanted heavy rough wood with visible grain.  Brian searched available wood and found the perfect pieces.  He even included a history of the wood, as we did not want the traditional varieties with a smooth finish.  The craftsmanship and design are beyond compare.  We will most certainly contact Brian again, when we are looking for more furniture., or art as the case may be.

Taylor & Sarah wrote: We contacted Brian Murphy about building a custom walnut table and eventually chairs for our new home. We had received quotes from numerous people and eventually settled on Brian's because his designs and pricing were superior to the competition. Initially we didn't have a very clear idea of what we wanted for our unique space but Brian was able to draft some incredible designs up for us which we fell in love with. After settling on the best wood for our table because of its durability and look Brian got to work on our new table. It was a pleasure meeting with Brian every so often to check in on the progress. We still remember the moment when Brian first unveiled the finished project to us because we were in pure awe. The end result of our finished table was better than we could have imagined and is such a perfect fit in our new home. After our table was completed we asked Brian to build some custom chairs and a unique bench to accommodate our new table and space. Once again we provided him with our concepts and ideas which Brian took note of and came back with some great sketches and design ideas. He worked his magic once again and we now have two beautiful chairs and an amazing bench for the head of our table which is a truly striking piece that grabs everyone's attention as they enter our dining room. We are so pleased to have worked with Brian Murphy and highly recommend him and his work to anyone seeking some beautiful woodwork. 

In quartered red oak & cherry

Anneke & John wrote: We had Brian make a mirror and one of his signature bow-arm chairs out of cherry and oak. They are both beautifully made, carefully crafted, and a pleasure to look at. We really enjoy sitting in the chair, which is quite comfortable. The mirror and chair have a classic look but with a contemporary twist that makes them eye-catching and instant conversation pieces whenever we have guests visit our home. Brian was a pleasure to work with and we highly recommend him to anyone looking for custom-built well-made furniture.

S. Conner wrote:  Its been three months since you delivered the two matching craftsman bookcases and buffet to my house, and I wanted to finally write you a note to tell you how much we appreciate the quality of what you built. More to the point, I wanted to let you know that we enjoy them every single day in that the quality and beauty of what you created never seems to escape me. As someone who has dabbled in woodworking over the years, I am confident that what we paid vs. the product we got, was irreconcilable. The pieces are simply amazing and I wanted you to know that they aren't a thing of passing in our home. Every time I look at them I feel respect for the time and energy and skill it took to create them. They aren't just furniture, they are art.

In other words, THANKS VERY MUCH and we would do it again in a heartbeat.

C.J. Larsen wrote: Brian made a beautiful conference room table and credenza from black walnut. I have received several compliments from clients. Not only is Brian's workmanship excellent, but his attention to the fine details and design really make these items of furniture one-of-a- kind. Brian spent a significant amount of time researching the best way to affordably add a special design I wanted on the credenza doors, without additional cost to me.

Kevin & Debbie wrote: Brian built a pine bookcase for our home and it fits perfectly! We collect American Indian artwork and with Brian's artistic skills in woodworking, he created a bookcase that fits in with our home decor. Brian is a exceptional craftsman creating quality furniture. Kevin and I would recommend Brian to any of our family or friends! We could not be happier with this piece of furniture that Brian built.

S. Krulle-Beaton wrote: My husband and I recently became the proud owners of a California West Bow Arm Chair created by Brian Murphy.  We are so pleased with this gorgeous chair and footstool.  The chair fills special corner of our home and has provided a wonderful resting and reading place. I highly recommend Brian's creative and masterful woodworking and his outstanding professionalism.  We will indeed treasure our new chair for many years to come, as it a become a beautiful addition to our home.

Wendy wrote: Thousand of people have found Brian Murphy's 'contemplation bench' at the Escondido Municipal Gallery. It is the most coveted place to sit in the Gallery. The mixtures of alder and cherry wood as well as the stately form of the bench invite people to sit and enjoy art. They usually ask "Can I sit here?" because Brian's furniture is a beautiful work of art in and of itself.

C. Carey wrote: My husband and I are the proud owners of one of Brian Murphy's beautiful and comfortable hand crafted Bow Arm Chairs with footstool. It is a source of great pride in our home and we enjoy all the compliments we get from friends! Brian is an exceptional craftsman and committed to creating excellent, quality furniture that will become family heirlooms. He is a friendly and straight forward person to work with, and our experience with him could not have better.