To say Bob Hart loves his work is an understatement. This self-taught furniture maker has put his “all” into his creations for most of his life.
Over the years, he has hand-built furniture for some of the best-known companies in Texas – Kroehler, Titches and Weir’s, just to name a few.
In fact, Hart framed the first check Dan Weir gave him.
Hart began in his teens, often working with his two older brothers at this craft.
“One job my brother and I took, we thought it would make us famous – it was for President Richard Nixon,” Hart says.
“We were asked to re-upholster his boat in Florida. When we got there, there was only one problem – we weren’t allowed to take any pictures because of security. It was a great experience, but we are the only ones who can prove we did the work.”
It was while working at Kroehler that a mill foreman taught Hart how to make a child’s rocker. In 1972, Hart began modifying the design and came up with his Lil’ Haeleigh Rocker, named after his granddaughter. Orders for this upholstered version of a platform rocker (the cost starts at about $170) keep Hart busy all the time now.
“It is handmade out of poplar, mahogany or ash hardwoods, depending on the fabric color. The quality rocker is made for ages two years and up and has a 25-year warranty. We know a hundred ways that we could have made the rocker less expensive, but we don’t know of anything we can do to make it better,” Hart says.
The Harts now have a shop in Winnsboro, where he can work on the rockers and refinish furniture.
“I prefer working with antiques,” Hart says. “They were made so much better, with real wood. You really have something to work with. I don’t dip them to strip off the old paint, I hand strip them.”
Both Hart and his wife, Sharon, were raised in our neighborhood. They met through her best friend, who lived across the street from Hart on Tremont. After Sharon graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School, they married. The Harts have been married 39 years, and they have four daughters and four grandchildren.
While working in North Dallas in the ’80s, Hart also learned how to fabric walls. He worked with many builders in creating masterpieces for upscale homes. His work also adorns his home, in the den, bedrooms, and bathrooms.
“Really, the ones who have benefited most from his work are our daughters,” Sharon says. “He slways does whatever they ask him to do.”
After the Hart’s twins were born, the family moved from a one-bedroom duplex to the 1960s version of the suburbs, Lake Highlands, where they raised their four daughters.
“All four went through Lake Highlands elementary, junior high, and high schools. We have really enjoyed living here,” Sharon says, adding that all four daughters still live in the Dallas area.
The Harts say they plan a permanent move to Winnsboro someday, but not just yet. They enjoy traveling to local craft fairs selling the Lil’ Haeleigh Rocker, and they relish the many weekends that they get away to their East Texas shop.
But their daughters don’t really want to see them leave “their home,” and Hart has a lot of clients who would miss him and his work.
“I hesitate to tell people just how long I have been making furniture…43 years sounds old,” Hart says. “They might think that I am too old to work.”
To contact Bob Hart, call 214-341-2430.
