Under The Oak Designs in Baltimore: Custom Wood Craftsmanship and DIY Classes

Under The Oak Designs is a maker studio and retail shop in Baltimore that combines custom wood furniture and home goods with hands-on craft instruction, serving both clients seeking bespoke pieces and hobbyists who want to learn woodworking fundamentals.

What Under The Oak Designs actually is

The business operates as a hybrid: a working studio where the owner designs and builds custom wood projects on commission, paired with a teaching space where individuals and small groups take structured classes in basic and intermediate woodworking. The studio is small-scale, not a production facility, which means custom orders receive direct attention from the designer rather than a workshop team. The retail component displays finished pieces available for immediate purchase alongside craft supplies and finishing materials.

Custom commissions and class pricing

Custom wood projects start at around $800 for smaller accent pieces (cutting boards, shelving, boxes) and range into the thousands for furniture like dining tables and bedroom sets, depending on wood selection, complexity, and timeline. The owner typically requests 50 percent down at project start and the balance upon completion. Turnaround ranges from four to twelve weeks depending on the queue and project scope.

Classes are priced per session: single drop-in woodworking classes are $65 to $85 for two-hour sessions; multi-week courses (typically four to six sessions) run $250 to $350 total. Class sizes are capped at four students per session to allow hands-on instruction at each station. Specific course titles and the current schedule should be confirmed directly, as offerings shift seasonally.

How it compares to other Baltimore woodworking options

Baltimore has other woodworking instruction venues. The Artisans' Exchange in Hampden operates as a membership-based open-access studio where members pay monthly ($80 to $120) for unlimited studio time and tool access but receive minimal formal instruction. Makersmiths near Canton offers broader maker skills (metalworking, ceramics, electronics alongside wood) in a larger collective setting with group classes, better for exploratory learners but less focused on deep wood technique. Under The Oak Designs suits learners who want structured, hands-on teaching from a practicing craftsperson and those commissioning custom pieces from someone they can consult directly throughout the build.

Who it suits and who it does not suit

This studio appeals to homeowners seeking custom wood pieces tailored to their space or aesthetic, crafters wanting genuine skill-building in a small-group format, and people looking for locally made gift items. It is less suited to buyers needing quick turnaround on stock furniture, clients with large-scale renovation budgets better served by established design-build firms, or absolute beginners nervous about tool use without extensive safety orientation (the teaching model assumes some comfort with hands-on learning).

What the first visit involves

First-time students typically arrive fifteen minutes early to meet the instructor, go over tool safety and station setup, and discuss the day's project. Classes focus on foundational techniques: joinery, finishing, grain direction, wood selection. Students leave with a finished small project (often a cutting board, box, or small shelf) and understanding of how to apply the day's technique to future work. Commission clients usually start with a consultation call or in-studio meeting to discuss dimensions, wood type, design references, and timeline, followed by design sketches and a written estimate.

Hours, parking, and logistics

The studio operates by appointment for custom consultations and confirmed class enrollment; exact hours vary by the week's class schedule, so confirm availability before visiting. Street parking is available on the surrounding blocks; there is no dedicated lot. The studio is accessible by the MTA's #3 bus line, though the walk from the nearest stop is several blocks. Mask policy and any health-screening requirements should be confirmed when booking a class or consultation.

Under The Oak Designs fills a specific Baltimore need: custom wood work from a maker who is also a teacher, available at a smaller scale and lower barrier to entry than high-end design firms, and without the open-access studio overhead that larger makerspaces carry.