A popular trend finds folks sitting in cushioned comfort on sofas and chairs that are able to withstand all kinds of weather. Protected by tough all-weather fabrics, these cushions provide much more comfort than wood alone. Norm finds a beautiful example built in traditional teak and complimented by stunning fabric to reproduce for the New Yankee Collection.

When reading the Declaration of Independence, no doubt some of our founding fathers would have chosen to sit in a favorite "lolling" chair. This kind of chair, with an upholstered seat and back, was popular then and has come down to us today as a classic form still much used and much loved. Antiques expert Gary Sullivan helps Norm with his research, and a professional shows him what's involved in the upholstery.

Norm visits historic Portsmouth, New Hampshire to track down a table he wants to build on The New Yankee Workshop. At the famed Antiques Gallery of Ronald Bourgeault, he finds exactly what he's looking for; a table referred to as a "tap" table (short for tap-room). With its turned maple legs and round pine top, this historic specimen might well have served tavern guests in the mid-18th century. This particular "tap" table, with dimensions of 28" round and 26" tall, has splayed legs that connect with a Queen Anne style apron, supporting a well-worn top. Norm hopes to reproduce his version of this useful table right down to the original painted patina.

After a tour of The New Yankee Workshop to preview the collection of furniture he will build in the first season, Norm visits a "retiring room" at the Hancock Shaker Village in western Massachusetts to find a model for a handcrafted medicine cabinet. Drawing inspiration from a looking glass and cabinet, Norm uses durable red oak and oak plywood to construct a medicine chest of his own design featuring box-joint joinery

Norm uses ash, a durable hardwood, to fashion a drop-leaf table featuring turned legs, a top and leaves made from glued up stock. Norm shows how to turn the table legs on a duplicating lathe and reveals a few tricks for making mortise and tenons joints. Using a router and two special bits, he shows how the drop-leaf joint is made.