A small boat building yard in Snug Harbor Rhode Island brought the 3 founding partners together in 1982. They left the boat yard in 1984 to pursue designing and building handmade furniture in leased space at the Dorset Mill in Exeter, RI. The three toiled making furniture and taking on other cabinet jobs while building a local client base and reputation for fine craftsmanship. While creating furniture was creatively fulfilling, it wasn't lucrative enough to pay the bills or grow the business. So began the development of their specialty trade in stair building. One of the founding partners exited and Robinson Berry became a partner with Bill Bivona one of the original partners. By this time the company employed over 20 people and could boast having completed some of the most challenging monumental stairs in high end residences throughout the region. The partners continued building the business and embraced computer drafting and CNC machining in 2001 to enhance the capabilities of the shop. In 2007 Hardwood Design launched another division called Hardwood Closet Company to compliment the success of their stair shop. Partners Robinson Berry and Bill Bivona continue to work in the shop and in the field after over 25 years.