#ShopLocal with WorkOf:
Pacific Northwest Edition
As restrictions ease and borders open, many of us are eager to start traveling and exploring new cities again! But let’s not forget the importance of shopping locally, a lesson we learned this past year.
“ I do think a lot of consumers are becoming more thoughtful with how they purchase, and thus understanding that buying a quality piece of furniture that’s hand crafted by local artisans and will last a long time, is worth it, and it has soul and they’re contributing to their local economy by supporting small businesses.”
This week we’re sharing our talented designers and studios based in the Pacific Northwest. Let’s go!
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Fernweh Woodworking - Bend, ORegon | furniture
Fernweh Woodworking was founded by Justin Nelson, who cherishes both the woodworking and design elements of the company. A self-taught woodworker, Justin prides himself as being a curious woodworker and designer, who believes no matter how much is learned, one should always be overwhelmed and excited by the oceans of things yet to be discovered. Every piece of furniture is designed in their studio, handmade to order, and built with meticulous quality over a 12-week process with the goal of remaining organic and handmade.
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2. base modern - portland,oregon | furniture + lighting + accessories
Base Modern is a Portland based design studio that produces meaningful objects for the home. Founded by contemporary furniture designer, and principal Scott Cummings, Base Modern creates warm and minimalist objects that are durable and handcrafted. Their designs perform their intended functions simply and reliably without unnecessary ornamentation. The process of its creation is enjoyed as much as its use. All of Base Modern products are made by hand in Oregon.
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3. Iacoli and McAllister - Seattle, Washington | furniture + lighting + accessories
Iacoli & McAllister is a Seattle based design studio offering a furniture, lighting and object product line that embodies an ethos of beauty, quality and style. Founded in 2008 as a partnership between Jamie Iacoli & Brian McAllister, they create products that are simple, use natural materials, are just the right composition and proportion, are fabricated in the US and assembled in their Seattle studio by a small team.
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4. current collection - portland, oregon | lighting
Current Collection is a contemporary lighting studio inspired by historical design elements. Their collection applies a modern direction, creating lighting that feels both familiar and fresh. Current Collection works closely with skilled craftspeople, employing hand-made and sculptural components in every piece. Each fixture is made to order and assembled by hand in their Portland studio.
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5. Grain - Bainbridge Island, Washington | furniture + lighting + accessories
Grain is a design practice dedicated to social and environmental responsibility - driven by the belief that social values and good business are not mutually exclusive, but are in fact, partners. Founded by James and Chelsea Minola, their work unites current manufacturing technologies and age-old craft techniques. Grain produces goods in small batch runs at their island studio or through special collaborations with expert artisans in the US and abroad. They consider each of their products a small opportunity to contribute to the design of a more sustainable future.
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6. Esque Studio - portland, oregon | lighting + accessories
Esque Studio creates modern, functional, concept-based glassware with a unique vision of modern innovative design. Their glass is hand blown by founders Justin Parker and Andi Kovel in their Portland studio. Their inspiration is rooted in a curiosity and awe of the material properties of glass, and their pieces are provocative, experimental, explorative and intimate, intended for personal interaction. Functionality elevated with the aspiration of adding to the advancement of the movement of trend in the field of glass. Esque is a homage to heritage, tradition and all the masters that have paved the way by mentoring, re-imagining and defining hand blown glass as an individual expression.
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7. fin - Seattle, Washington | furniture + accessories
Fin is an American design brand set on creating original furniture and accessories that contribute to a simpler, pared back lifestyle. Founded by Darin Montgomery in 2016, Fin is the residential brand of urbancase, a contract, hospitality, and custom furniture design and manufacturing company. Their products are manufactured in their workshop located in the SODO neighborhood of Seattle using domestic hardwoods and European beech, finished with biocide and preservative free oil/wax finish.
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8. Matthew Philip Williams - portland, oregon | furniture
Matthew Philip Williams is a designer focusing on spaces and objects, based out of Portland, Oregon. Matthew's practice is a pursuit of balance; exploring designed objects through an art based process. This methodology is influenced by traditional craft, contemporary product and furniture design, as well as through the play and exploration of a sculptural process.
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9. Force/Collide - Seattle, Washington | furniture + accessories
Force/Collide, a certified Women Business Enterprise, creates designs with a mix of dramatic geometry and clean minimalism, always bringing out the best in materials. They were founded in 2013 by Seattle fabricator Chelsea Gaddy as a platform for building high-end furniture and architectural works - always built with the utmost care for quality and integrity. Force/Collide operates with a one-on-one approach, with a belief that attention to detail is necessary in every step. They strive to push the boundary of possibility while meeting every parameter of function and design.
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10. New Age Design Studio - portland, oregon | furniture + accessories
New Age Design Studio is a design studio and art practice that explores the metaphysical nature of objects and their potential to enhance our lives and environments. Founded in 2016 by Sasha Burchuk, the aesthetic of New Age Design Studio focuses on novel materials with peregrine ancient histories, using them to create contemporary 'sacred objects'. The studio's mission is to make the world a more exotic place by creating daring and mood-enhancing functional art objects using materials with interesting histories, like dichroic glass and New Age Design Studio's bespoke gemstone terrazzo.
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11. Revolution Design House - portland, oregon | furniture + lighting
Revolution Design House strives to create timeless and iconic designs with a belief in the simplicity of good design, blending quality with comfort, and crafting meaningful experiences. They believe that form and function should never be mutually exclusive, and that integrity in both process and product should always be top priority. Their products are designed and manufactured in Portland, Oregon using high quality materials, creating furniture that weaves into the story of your life and stand the test of time.
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We’re always looking to expand the WorkOf Community!
Know any local Los Angeles designers that might be a great fit for WorkOf?
