Woodworkers Jim and Jack Ipekjian

Jack Ipekjian moves a loaded cart at Pasadena Woodworks.  (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

Jack Ipekjian shaves a piece of wood at Pasadena Woodworks. Ipekjian has recently started his own firm doing limited production furniture.  (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

A variety of old chisels hang on the wall.  (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

Jack Ipekjian uses a band saw that predates 1925.  (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

Jim Ipekjian works on building a mahogany chair at Pasadena Woodworks.  (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

Jim Ipekjian inlays oak, rosewood, ebony, copper and abalone shell in a mahogany chair.  (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

Detail of the inlaid work on a mahogany chair made by Jim Ipekjian. The chair is for the master bedroom dressing table in the Greene & Greene Blacker house.  (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

A mahogany chair made by Jim Ipekjian for the master bedroom dressing table in the Greene & Greene Blacker house.  (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

The Ipekjians make all their own varnishes. Jack Ipekjian holds a dakar resin, at right is an animal hide glue and, at left, shellac.  (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

Jim Ipekjian holds a rare log of ebony at Pasadena Woodworks.  (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

Jack Ipekjian made the front door to a guesthouse out of Port Orford cedar for a client in Pasadena.  (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

A mailbox that is an exact replica of its home, made by Jim Ipekjian.  (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

A walnut sideboard made by Jim Ipekjian.  (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

A koi pond scene carved into a redwood kitchen cabinet by Jim Ipekjian.  (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

A bedroom closet and doors made with Port Orford cedar by Jack Ipekjian in a client’s guesthouse.  (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

A library table was made out of English oak by Jim Ipekjian for a client in Pasadena. Ipekjian made the Charles Rohlfs design after seeing a photo of the table in a book.  (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)