I am very excited about this particular series of posts. I have always wanted to design and build a really nice piece of furniture. Lack of know how, time and proper tools have always kept me from trying. With Mr. Tax return just around the corner the time has come. It is time to say goodbye to my hacked lkea Lack credenza and hello to a custom designed and built credenza oozing with walnut goodness. I know most of you are laughing right now because you think I am going to attempt the build, this is where the professional is introduced.

I have posted about Eastvold Custom several times and with good reason, they do amazing work! The drool fest began with my first post about their custom kitchen work, I still love that first kitchen. For the last couple of months Matt from Eastvold Customs and I have been sharing ideas, inspirations and sketches. Part of our goal was to design a credenza that has a good mixture of several flavors: a little mid century modern, current modern, and natural materials. Below are are some of our inspirations.



We love the look of the leg structure found on this piece by Arne Hovmand Olsen and manufactured by Mogens Kold of Denmark.



I have always liked the combination of a rich wood and a solid color

Click “read more” to see our initial sketches and learn a little more about Eastvold Custom





Our almost finalized sketches are a good mix. Instead of wood for the leg structure we are going to use laser cut steal, powder coated white. The box and inside will be solid walnut with the three main doors being a white laminate. We have yet to decide about the open top section. Leave it open or close it up, what would you do?

A little history about Matt and Eastvold Custom:

I started building furniture in my dad’s welding shop on the farm in Southern Minnesota where I grew up. I really enjoyed the contrast of industrial materials we had readily available on the farm: steel and wood. As a kid, I learned the basics of woodworking and welding, and as I grew up I started to experiment more with materials and furniture making. This was my first experience with modern design. I had always known that I liked modern design but never deliberately studied or talked about it.



Since starting my own company, I have had the opportunity to work with amazing designers, architects and builders in the Minneapolis area and feel gratitude to those who helped hone my skills, my building, my designs, and my vision. I owe a great deal to those people who saw potential in a hard-working farm kid and took a chance on me. It’s been 15 years since I left the farm, and I’ve come a long way in my design process (think puzzle tables) and in my love and appreciation for modern design and furniture making (see images). I hope this shows in Eastvold Furniture and continues to grow.



Make sure to check out the custom work of Eastvold and stay tuned to watch the project through the steps of design, build and the finished project.

So, if you could have any piece of furniture custom built, what would it be?
What materials would you use?

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