HANNIBAL, MO - CHAD Taylor of Hannibal has turned furniture making into an art form.

Taylor 32 is a woodworker with a flair for design. More than anything else, he likes to make one-of-a-kind furniture pieces that showcase his creative talent with wood.

" That really is my true love," he said. "My goal is to be known as a furniture designer."

One of Taylor's recent projects was selected as a finalist in the Missouri State Fair, which opens Aug. 12.

On Aug. 11 Judges will select winners in the contest, which features work in a varity of artist media.

Taylor's entry is an armoire - a large ornate wardrobe he designed and built for the crook family of St. Louis The 7-foot - high, 4-foot-wide cabinet is made of red oak with golden stain. It has two wardrobe doors and four sliding drawers. The family's name is carved across the armoire top.

The piece was one of Taylor's largest and most elaborate projects. He has been a full- time woodworker ever since he graduated in 1998 from Northeast Missouri State Univer- city in Kirksville, where he studied industrial technology with an emphasis on furniture manufacturing.

Taylor operates his own business, Ameri- Can Woodworking Inc. of Hannibal. Where he does a varity of custom woodworking pro- jects that pay the bills. But his heart is in designing furniture pieces that he calls "functional art."

Taylor likes to create unique designs in a contemporary style.

"That's what I prefer to design in, but most people around here prefer traditional." he said.

One of his most impressive projects involved building a glass top wooden table and matching chairs for his senior project in college. The table had hallowed- out legs with three legs on each corner.

Taylor's design subsequently was featured in Woodwork Magazine a top trade publication.

Taylor, a Hannibal native, began working with wood when he was a kindergartner playing with hand tools in his grandfather's workshop. His grandfather built him a work- bench when he was 5. His first projectscon- sisted of making toy cars.

When he was in eight grade, Taylor took hi first shop class. That's where he was introduced to the wonders of power tools. His interest in woodworking just took off from there." He said.

I worked at it real hard and tried to learn as much as I could ." he said "Every free moment I got I would be in wood shop.

It just drew me in there." Taylor also excelled in art while in school by the time he was in high school, he was finding ways to combine his interest in woodworking with his desire to create beauty

"I started using wood as my medium versus paint and paper." He said

As Taylor started tackling more wood- working projects he became convinced that this was what he wanted to do for a living.

He earned a scholarship to NMSU now Truman State University and spent the next four years mastering the woodworking trade. He started his own business the year he graduated.

Taylor now has four full-time craftsmen helping him build custom woodworking projects, which run the gamut from bookshelves and entertainment centers to cabinets and office reception desks.

But designing one-of-a-kind furniture is what gives Taylor the most satisfaction. He wants his work to be eye-catching "conver- sation piece" that reflect his distinctive style

"I want it to be the focus of a room." He said.

Taylor often puts decorative holes in certain pieces. "It's kind of like my signature." he said pointing to at least 15 pieces of furniture that incorporate this design element.

Taylor says inspiration for his projects comes at all hours of the day. He starts with a preliminary sketch and sometimes he'll wake up in the middle of the night with an idea for a change that would make the piece betters.

He takes pride in his furniture designs. his goal is to make long lasting pieces that will be appreciated for years to come.

"They're antiques of tomorrow," he said