5 Furniture Makers Creating Modern Heirlooms That Rival Burrow

Remember when "family-friendly" furniture meant sacrificing style? The team at Vancouver's Sundays Company clearly didn't get that memo. Their Get Together Modular Sectional reflects a refreshing philosophy: sophisticated pieces shouldn't require protective plastic covers.

At the core of their approach lies a seriously impressive LiveLife performance fabric. We're intrigued by how this material manages to repel stains while maintaining a luxurious feel – no small feat in the world of upholstery. Their commitment to FSC and Rainforest Alliance Certified wood speaks to a broader vision of sustainability, while their blend of traditional and modern manufacturing techniques suggests these pieces will stick around long after today's fast furniture has fallen apart.

In an unexpected twist, an Indiana furniture maker is challenging our notions of American craftsmanship. Hedge House Furniture's Douglas Tall Bookcase exemplifies how siblings Philip and Katlyn Mast have married stripped-down aesthetics with rock-solid construction techniques.

The story here goes deeper than design. When Philip first presented his minimalist concepts to local Amish craftsmen, they found the simplicity almost shocking – a cultural collision that's evolved into a unique collaborative relationship. Their network of small, family-run Midwest workshops preserves traditional expertise while creating thoroughly modern pieces. We're particularly drawn to their old-school delivery approach: each piece arrives blanket-wrapped, eschewing excessive packaging while ensuring white-glove treatment.

Cleveland's furniture scene has a secret weapon in Domenic Fiorello Studio. Their Henrik Floating Nightstand showcases an fascinating marriage: traditional woodworking methods enhanced by computer numerical control (CNC) technology. The result? Pieces that feel both warmly organic and precisely engineered.

This RIT-trained designer's approach to domestic hardwoods – think walnut, white oak, and cherry – demonstrates deep material understanding. We're fascinated by how the studio employs laser-cutting technology to achieve details that would be impossible by hand, while maintaining the soul of handcrafted furniture. Each piece emerges as a careful balance of innovation and tradition.

The Temi Chair from Sun at Six tells a remarkable story of cultural preservation through contemporary design. Siblings Antares and Capella Yee have taken traditional Chinese joinery techniques and applied them to pieces that feel perfectly at home in modern interiors.

The studio's connection to these methods runs deep – their mother studied under a Beijing joinery master three decades ago. Today, they collaborate with craftspeople who practice sun mao, an intricate joinery method that eliminates the need for nails or screws. We're impressed by how this ancient technique creates furniture that naturally adapts to environmental changes, preventing common issues like warping and cracking.

Chicago's South Side is witnessing a manufacturing renaissance, and 57st. Design stands at its forefront. Their Ada Side Table represents a bold vision: creating enduring furniture while building community through meaningful employment opportunities.

Their Design Circulation program particularly catches our eye – it's a fresh take on furniture longevity that enables pieces to move between homes rather than ending up in landfills. By partnering with nonprofits to provide manufacturing jobs to individuals facing employment barriers, they're demonstrating how urban furniture production can serve both aesthetic and social purposes.