Custom design is a phrase I hear rather often around the Hardwood Artisans office. It makes my week when I read through the new contracts and see fascinating ideas. These are the ideas that inspire us and fuel new designs. As the new director of marketing, I am learning more and more about … custom furniture design and all the possibilities it has. One design actually stopped me in my tracks, this mathematical desk.

What a stunning idea! I immediately pictured myself sitting behind it educating a classroom full of children. I called Cindy,the owner of the desk, to learn more about it. Cindy is a dedicated volunteer at the Museum of Mathematics in New York, which is the only math museum in the United States. The museum needed a reception desk with a mathematical theme. Cindy knew she wanted a semi-circular desk with the focal point as a display area in the front. She talked to furniture designers Katie Grech and Mark Gatterdam to lay out all of the details: hidden wire storage since the desk would be in the middle of the room, a keyboard tray, a file drawer, small drawers and mathematical handles. It began with a few sketches.

Co-owner Mark Gatterdam turned the sketches into Auto-CAD drawings and ourcraftsmen began to build the piece. All that was left to do was finding mathematical handles. Something we see everyday?... I don't think I have seen any before, have you?

Lynn, our delivery manager, found exactly what everyone was looking for; minimathematical sculptures designed and created by artist Bathsheba Grossman. Each sculpture derives its essence from a mathematical base.

We then found a company in Pennsylvania which takes these incredible sculptures and makes them into handles. Fulfilling exactly what we needed! You can see an image with the handles.

I wanted to share this story with you because it inspired me to look at furniture with an open mind. If you have a dream desk or a dream bed, come in and talk to one of our furniture designers. We would love to help you turn your dream into a reality. For more information or any thoughts email me:
Julianne@hardwoodartisans.com.

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