Black Walnut Serving Tray by Kate Duncan

Finding herself an outsider in the male-dominated furniture-making world, Kate Duncan carved out her own path. She creates modern heirloom-quality furniture not only with an eye for design but with a mind for inclusivity. Her gorgeous, solid wood dining tables, credenzas and bed frames showcase a mastery of traditional woodworking and a keen sense of contemporary trends.

Duncan was born and raised on Vancouver Island. She discovered woodworking in shop class in junior high school, where she fell in love with the craft. Speaking to Natural Habitat magazine, she recalled, "there were pictures of projects cut out from magazines on the walls, so it was a little like shopping for me. I realized that if I could make it, I could have it." She proceeded to take part in woodworking competitions on the weekend.

After earning her degree in education from the University of British Columbia, Duncan spent 10 years as a high school woodshop teacher. She returned to school for a master's degree in gender equitable programming from Royal Roads University, which she completed in 2009. Though intending to continue teaching, Duncan suffered a motorcycle accident shortly after. She opened a woodshop in Vancouver while rehabilitating and decided to shift to full-time woodworking in 2012.

Every piece of furniture created by Duncan is entirely made by hand with traditional methods like dovetail joinery. She uses only sustainably harvested North American hardwoods and draws much of her design inspiration from the brutalist movement of the 1970s and 80s. Her work is clean, bold and simple, but often features playful attributes like hidden drawers.

Shortly after establishing her studio, Duncan set her sights on offering an alternative to the region’s yearly trade show, which she felt lacked inclusivity. In 2014, she founded the Address Design Show to showcase the established and up-and-coming designers often sidelined at more mainstream shows. The Address Design Show has been held every year since.

In 2019, Duncan moved to Toronto, taking the show with her and partnering with the DesignTO Festival. She continues mentoring and hiring women in her workshop.

On 1stDibs, find Kate Duncan tables, case pieces, bedroom furniture and more.