Keating Woodworks

11/05/2020

As part of a virtual exhibit series the The Riverside Art Museum recently caught up with me and asked me about what I’ve been up to lately and how I’ve been working during the pandemic. To see some of my recent work and see the chat head over to RAM’s website (http://www.riversideartmuseum.org/exhibits/).
(A few years ago I was part of a group show at the to honor the 100th birthday of iconic maker/designer Sam Maloof. They invited a handful of chair makers, who are carrying Maloof’s torch so to speak, to create chairs for the exhibit.) Anyway, lots of other great stuff to check out virtually as well (hopefully we’ll be able to be in their amazing actual space sooner rather than later, but until then virtual is better than nothing!).

11/06/2019

Good things happening in the shop (finishing up a Clara Hutch and Desk and a Wharton Rocker at the moment which are a lot of fun). But here’s a little “coming soon” tease. I’m also finishing up an additional Wharton Rocker that will be available for immediate purchase as well as a Horace Desk (also available for purchase; waiting on new handmade copper hardware for it from the metal smith!). I’ll post pictures of the finished pieces shortly...

13/09/2018

Ed Roberson, the man behind the popular podcast Mountain and Prairie () was kind enough to interview me for his latest pod. He does really cool stuff on conservation, the American West, you name it. Check it out following the link in my bio or head over to and listen to some of the other really great episodes...

Geoffrey Keating is a Colorado-based woodworker whose dedication to exquisite craftsmanship and creative design have made him one of today’s most sought-after furniture makers. But creating furniture is just a small part of his interesting life story—Geoffrey has... Read More

26/06/2018

I've been absent from social media for some time, buried for the past couple years on a restoration project. It was a good project, but a challenging one to say the least. I looked back at my schedule and realized that towards the end of the project I went six months without a day off (the closest I came was Christmas Day, where I put in only a few short hours in the morning). I wouldn't recommend it as it culminated in a stay at the hospital. And I'd still be working on the project now if it weren't for the help of a lot of talented folks who helped me on the project. Chief among them is Andy Tirado (). A professional artist, Andy is far and away one of the most talented creatives I know. The first project I put him on was a complicated domed backdrop for a retablo. I went through this long, convoluted explanation of how I thought we should approach it. He looked at me, laughed, and told me to go work on something else. A couple days later and it was finished. (Here is a process shot with Andy taking a few minutes to talk to fellow artist Floyd Tunson.) Andy took several months out of his demanding schedule to help me with the project and it was a pleasure (at least for me!; in fact he was in my shop so much he started bringing his own work with him as you can see in some of the other photos). All told, as difficult as it was, it confirmed for me that my worst day in the shop is better than my best day doing what I used to do.... Anyway, I'm back to normal Keating Woodworks business and better for it. Some photos of the restoration to follow as well as Keating Woodworks furniture pics, but mainly I wanted to say publicly, "Thanks Andy!"

18/06/2017

Happy Father's Day folks. Much in this Robert Hayden poem reminds me of my own dad, from whom I learned so so much:

"Sundays too my father got up early
and put his clothes on in the blueblack cold,
then with cracked hands that ached
from labor in the weekday weather made
banked fires blaze. No one ever thanked him.

I’d wake and hear the cold splintering, breaking.
When the rooms were warm, he’d call,
and slowly I would rise and dress,
fearing the chronic angers of that house,

Speaking indifferently to him,
who had driven out the cold
and polished my good shoes as well.
What did I know, what did I know
of love’s austere and lonely offices?"

12/06/2017

My friend Matt Cashore, with whom I teamed up on some really fun photo shoots back in the Midwest, is headed my way for a visit. Got me thinking back on some chairs in trees. Happy Monday folks!

28/02/2017

A little chair making action of late. Actually a lot. But that's good. It's such a meditative practice. When I'm building case pieces my head is primarily filled with numbers and measurements. But with chairs, it's shapes and lines and it's so easy to get lost in those shapes as the hours while away...

10/02/2017

Keating Woodworks would like to wish a very happy birthday to Mrs. Keating Woodworks. I get a lot of questions about the difficulty of owning your own business. And at times it is a bit tricky (sorting through creative difficulties in addition to all the business details, health insurance, etc., it can be a lot to balance), but having the best teammate imaginable makes it possible. So I raise my glass, to the straw that stirs the drink, many happy returns Anna Cate!

01/02/2017

The Jan. edition of This Old House Mag. Norm and Mike Rowe came and hung out at Keating Woodworks for the day earlier this fall to talk about making sure we educate and train the next generation of craftsmen and women. The highlight of the day was that, unbeknownst to us, the legendary photographer and one of my wife's favorite artists, Wyatt McSpadden, showed up to take the pictures. A super cool dude and all told, a good day. (Anna Keating walked right past the tv people and up to Wyatt and in her best fangirl mode said, "you're Wyatt McSpadden!")

31/01/2017

Side door on jewelry chest. Leather and brass details. 📷by my girl Abby

28/01/2017

As a small business, designing and building in a work/live situation, the personal and the business elements are almost completely enmeshed. Sometimes that means that business growth has to take a back seat to sick kids, cross country moves, a spouse's own creative projects, etc. But these "interruptions", while at times frustrating, are a blessing, never a curse. 2017 is already shaping up to be a big year for Keating Woodworks. The Maloof show at the just closed as new beginnings commence in the shop. We recently reworked the studio interior and moved in 13,000 lbs of machines and (30lbs of hand tools!). About to start a historical restoration commission that is out of my wheelhouse and comfort zone, (but so excited to dive in), while also starting to work through a new slate of designs. If some of that is slowed down a bit while, for instance, teaching my two year old daughter to saw (she loves the Japanese saws!), all the better.