DIY Network

Ultimate Georgia Woodshop: Howard Cutter From "Special Presentation" episode DMUW-S

Woodworking enthusiast Howard Cutter.

A Woodworker's Return to Southern Roots

Howard Cutter
Alpharetta, Georgia

Before Howard Cutter began designing his new workshop, he toured the New England countryside in search of old barns to photograph. The barns would serve as inspiration when he began planning his new workshop located a thousand miles south of his Connecticut home. After retiring from the computer industry, Howard and his wife were planning to move to the horse country north of Atlanta, Georgia. A native Georgian, Howard was happy to return to his southern roots and leave his old basement workshop behind.

"The Connecticut workshop could be described as utilitarian at best," says Howard. "I was just starting to learn the basics of woodworking and it served as a good training ground."

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Howard Cutter's ultimate woodworking shop doubled as the set for DIY's My Ultimate Workshop special.

Howard took his barn photographs with him when he headed south to plan his workshop. "I wanted something with a lot of windows and a lot of light," explains Howard, "but I also wanted a structure that would complement the existing home and structures." Howard's plans called for breezeway attachment between the new workshop and a combination garage and hayloft already on the property. His plans also called for heating and air conditioning, a darkroom to satisfy his other passion -- photography, and a second floor guest room and bath. Altogether, a rather sophisticated barn.

Howard's completed workshop served as the set for My Ultimate Workshop. As host Bruce Johnson pointed out, "I can't imagine anyone not wanting to working here; it has every imaginable tool, it's well planned, and you can't beat the view." The day DIY was shooting at the workshop, the Cutter's two horses and pony were in plain sight outside his wraparound windows, along with the rolling hills of north Georgia.
Howard's latest interest is wood turning. We asked him if he was abandoning all of his other tools to concentrate on the lathe? "It took all these other tools," explains Howard gesturing around the workshop with a smile, "to get me from that basement workshop in Connecticut to the lathe. No, these all are a part of what I am."

GUESTS :

Howard Cutter
Howard Cutter's Fine Woodworking at Alpharetta
(and Woodturning too!)
www.turnstoo.com