When the average 18th century American needed a new dresser or table, he would head to the local carpenter to place an order.
The process could be costly and time-consuming, and if the woodworker wasn’t familiar with the latest styles from Europe – tough.
That all changed with the rise of the Industrial Revolution. Middle-class Americans could afford to buy stylish, less expensive furniture mass-produced in factories.
Today most Americans can hardly imagine buying furniture any other way.
In the process they may settle for furniture that looks like their neighbors’ and may be built with pressboard and staples.
There is another way.
A local woodworker can produce custom pieces that are more beautiful and functional than what’s found at the average showroom.
The best woodworkers produce what’s known as studio furniture, fine pieces that blend art and function.
Studio furniture is one-of-a-kind pieces built by hand with solid wood and traditional construction techniques. This furniture is sturdy enough to pass on to the grandchildren and beautiful enough to be the focal point of a room.
“People are confused by the very thought of studio furniture,” said Gigi Gelfan, a director at the Northwest Fine Woodworking, a artists’ cooperative in downtown Seattle that sells studio furniture.
Customers will ask Gelfan where the warehouse is. Of course, there is none.
“I’ll say it is Curtis’ shop and Bob’s backyard,” she said.
Each artist conceives and builds the furniture in his or her studio, and in some cases, that might be a woodworker’s garage. Twenty-nine crafters build custom studio furniture for the co-op in a wide range of styles.
“(Customers) see furniture as functional so it must be made in a factory,” Gelfan said. “It seems beyond the realm of an individual woodworker.”
Mass-produced furniture often is heavily varnished to hide imperfections in the wood. With studio furniture, the artist hand-selects a piece of wood for its grain, color and pattern and will construct a piece of furniture in a way that maximizes the wood’s best features.
The result is so supple, many people can’t help touching studio furniture the first time they see it.
“Most people walk around petting the furniture,” said Sharon Ricci, sales manager for the co-op.
The showroom, one of the largest in the nation, functions as gallery, storefront and community hub for woodworkers.
The co-op began nearly 25 years ago and business continues to grow, Ricci said. Part of the appeal is the customization.
If a customer wants a side table like the one in the showroom but 6 inches wider and 2 inches taller and in walnut instead of cherry wood, they can have it.
“When you get exactly what you need and exactly what you want – that’s priceless,” she said.
That doesn’t mean it’s cheap. Prices are comparable to what’s found at moderate to high-end furniture showrooms. A custom dining room table might cost anywhere from $3,000 to $15,000, Ricci said.
The woodworker sets the price based on the complexity of the project and the materials. Artists with more experience and name recognition can command higher prices for their work.
At the co-op, customers identify an artist whose work they like and put down a $250 design deposit. The artist produces detailed sketches, and when both parties agree on the work, the customer puts down 50 percent payment. The customer pays the rest when the piece is delivered.
Reporter Debra Smith: 425-339-3197 or dsmith@heraldnet.com.
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