I’m so excited to introduce this  weeks guest blogger, David Johnson of Sidecar Furniture!  An accomplished craftsman, David is also a member of LA Box Collective, a select group of professional Los Angeles based furniture makers, committed to environmentally conscious design and production.

David: Being an independent furniture designer/maker is no easy job. Comparing artisan or locally made furniture to IKEA or the Pottery Barn is like comparing apples and oranges. I often encounter people who question and often frown upon my time consuming methods and prices. We are so used to seeing and buying furniture made by big manufacturers that it becomes hard for one to appreciate quality, hand crafted, heirloom furniture. Rather than reading a blog entry about me defending myself and my craft, I decided to have my wife write a blog about her love of artisan furniture from the perspective of an outsider who is now a big fan of artisan made furniture.

Helen: Before I met David, I had a rudimentary understanding and appreciation for furniture. To me, furniture was something you get at IKEA (if I wanted something new) or from the local thrift store (where I scavenged for 50’s style vintage furniture). Even after I met David, I still couldn’t wrap my mind around the time spent on making a piece of custom furniture or the price. I would tell him that the price he charged for a beautiful, handmade chair could be used to furnish a one bedroom apartment with furniture from the local thrift store or IKEA.

After being with him for 9 years, I’ve managed to learn a great deal of information about wood and furniture. More information than I ever thought I would come to know. I now have a great appreciation for artisan made furniture and want to share with you a few reasons why I think artisan furniture is so worth it.

1. Furniture designers/makers are artists. It takes time, vision and great efforts to design and create a custom piece of furniture. I have come to admire the hard work these artisan furniture designers/makers put into the furniture they create. The subtle details, signature design elements and customization of a piece of artisan furniture is what makes them so special. These are the mark of the artist. Artisan made furniture is unique and different from mass produced furniture. Owning a piece of artisan made furniture is like owning a piece of fine art.

1. Artisan made furniture can be sustainable and locally made. Many furniture designers/makers are now creating furniture that supports the local economy and environment through sustainable practices. Artisan made furniture is also built to last.  Furniture makers expect their pieces to survive for multiple generations and to be passed down like the antiques we have today. Furniture that supports the local economy and has a low impact on the environment is ideal in today’s eco conscious world.

1. As an owner of a piece of artisan made furniture, you can actually say you know the person who made it. From the beginning of the design process to the very end of having the piece of furniture delivered to you, you have established a relationship with the furniture designer/maker. You actually know where the piece of furniture came from. It was actually hand made by someone and not a machine. Each piece is different and often has a story behind its creation. This is the beauty of custom made artisan furniture.