I’m Ronald Lohse, founder and lead craftsman at New England Table Company. My journey into woodworking didn't begin in a design studio or under the guidance of a master craftsman—it began in the quiet corners of memory and experience. It’s a story that winds through family, travel, technology, and ultimately, a return to the tactile satisfaction of creating something lasting with my hands.
That belief shapes everything I build. I love helping clients bring warmth, beauty, and functionality into their homes through custom tables that reflect their own style. My approach is simple: listen closely, design collaboratively, and build with an unwavering attention to detail. The goal isn’t just to make a table—it’s to craft a piece that fits your life, your space, and your story.
My sense of craftsmanship began long before I picked up my first woodworking tool. My grandfather, Henry Lohse, was a watercolor painter with a gift for seeing the extraordinary in the ordinary. After a long career in education, he began painting later in life, turning photos from his travels with his wife, Lola, into luminous studies of color and light. As a child, I would stand beside his drafting table, mesmerized as an empty sheet of paper slowly transformed into a landscape—built from patience, subtle layers, and the careful blending of tone and texture. Watching him work, I learned that creativity isn’t about talent so much as persistence and perception. (Read more → Watercolor to Woodgrain)
When Henry passed away, his paintings were shared among the family. As the eldest grandchild, I received a few that now hang in my home. They remind me daily that it’s never too late to follow your creative calling—and that excellence is born from deliberate practice. My own artistic journey didn’t begin until after decades in the tech world, where I spent most of my career building elegant digital systems and user experiences. Technology taught me structure and precision. Woodworking gave me something technology never could: the warmth of a living material and the immediate, tangible satisfaction of shaping it with my own hands.
My first shop stood on the shores of a small lake in New Hampshire, built with my own tools and the ones passed down from my father. What started as a side project—a way to clear my head after long days of programming—became something deeper. Each table I built carried a piece of that creative awakening: the smell of freshly cut walnut, the satisfaction of a flawless joint, the quiet rhythm of sanding until the surface glowed. Before long, I realized this was more than a hobby; it was a second career calling me forward.
As I transitioned from software to sawdust, I brought along lessons from my other passion—travel. My years exploring the world taught me as much about design and hospitality as any formal training ever could. I’ve seen how exceptional spaces make people feel cared for, whether it was walking the serene beaches of Okinawa as a child or checking into a luxury suite in Turks and Caicos decades later. True luxury, I discovered, isn’t loud or showy—it’s quiet, intentional, and deeply personal. At Grace Bay Resort, I met a concierge named Franklin who embodied this idea of “unscripted hospitality”—anticipating needs, building connection, and making every moment feel bespoke. I’ve carried that same philosophy into my furniture practice. (Read more → From World Traveler to Table Maker)
When a client invites me to design a custom table, I don’t see it as a transaction—I see it as collaboration. Together, we choose materials, discuss proportions, and imagine how the piece will live in their home. Every grain pattern, every curve, and every finish decision carries intention. My process blends traditional craftsmanship with a modern appreciation for design simplicity. Each table is handcrafted right here in New Hampshire, built to last for generations.
My business has grown from that lakeside workshop into a full-time studio serving homeowners and designers across New England, but the values remain the same: authenticity, precision, and personal connection. Whether I’m creating a dining table that brings a family together each night or a statement conference table for a modern office, my mission is to craft something that feels both grounded and extraordinary.
At its core, New England Table Company is an expression of gratitude—for the beauty of natural wood, for the lessons of family legacy, and for the clients who trust me to build something truly one-of-a-kind. My tables are functional art: honest, tactile, and timeless. They carry echoes of my grandfather’s brushstrokes, my travels abroad, and my belief that design should quietly elevate everyday life.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned—from Henry’s patient paintings, from world travels, and from years at the workbench—it’s that craftsmanship is an act of devotion. Every table begins as a sketch and becomes a centerpiece, but more than that, it becomes part of someone’s story. I’d be honored to help craft a piece of yours.
Contact us today for an in-person consult and creative direction.
