Carving out a natural home on the North Coast

While she talked over coffee, her trained fingers cleverly ran over the wooden table and inspected every groove and joint.

She immediately understood the wood – where it was from, what it was and the quality of work that went into it.

Liza Petrie is an IT consultant turned wood master who recently opened the ‘natural home’ inspired shop, Greenhaus in the New Salt Rock City with her husband Allen.

“We started making furniture about ten years ago as a hobby, because we could not find what we liked in shops and I did not trust what I was buying as I was not sure of the quality of the joinery and the wood,” said Liza, who is a qualified wood worker and upholsterer.

“I come from a family of makers – my grandfather was a carpenter, however my dad only inherited the love of wood as he was an accountant. Growing up, wood working was not on the radar for girls – we did needlework, so I sewed with my mom.”

Her precision and determination to hand-make quality pieces has made her a master in a traditionally male-dominated field, however she warned that it is not the romantic work people might think it is.

“Look at my hands – it is a tough life and really hard work. This is the most difficult thing, other than childbirth, that I have been through.

“Working in overalls and safety gear in a hardcore environment making furniture while you have sawdust in your eyelashes does not make for a comfortable process, but the satisfaction in seeing the end piece is fantastic.”

When Liza and her husband are not busy working with wood in their shop or giving DIY lessons, they are making custom pieces at their home.

“We are always working and our five-year-old daughter, Jess, has been woodworking with us since she could walk. It is key for me that a child knows what work looks like and what it means, so we like for her to see us working.”

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