ABOUT

I founded Ripa Woodworks in November of 2018. I specialize in crafting custom furniture and home decor, with a unique focus on incorporating hidden compartments into my designs. Here are a few examples:

1. A night stand with a hidden drawer under the false bottom of a normal drawer. Turn the knob and the hidden drawer releases.

2. A wall cabinet / book shelf, pull on the right book and a secret comparemnt opens out the back.

3. A free standing armoir that houses a hidden gun cabinet, accessible by use of an RFID key card

My fans and followers inspire me to make the next piece bigger and better than the previous. Easier said than done. However, the reactions I receive make every sleepless night and design effort worthwhile. It's both unbelievably rewarding and flattering.

What sets my furniture apart is its distinctiveness, reflecting my individuality as a craftsman. The journey began with a special Mother's Day gift in 2020: a hidden gun cabinet for my mother. While I knew what I wanted it to achieve, I was uncertain about the process. My vision involved a shelf supported by a cleat, with one of the visible screw heads serving as a button. Pushing this button would initiate the compartment's smooth slide-out mechanism.

Despite extensive YouTube searches for guidance, I found no helpful resources.  I took matters into my own hands. I meticulously created the necessary hardware, crafting prototypes from plywood, installing springs, and refining the design until it functioned precisely as I had envisioned.

Although I delivered the cabinet a month late for Mother's Day, documenting its creation and functionality in a video proved to be one of the most gratifying moments in my career. Since then, I've been immersed in the world of hidden compartment designs, and the demand for these unique pieces has been consistently high.