EASTVOLD

Custom Projects update

2011-09-02T19:32:00.000-07:00

I have gotten some great photos from customers who have had us customize pieces or do a custom piece that they designed. It continues to be one of the great things about not being huge and having our own shop with lots of tools. Building pieces that customers have designed is a lot of fun and it must be a ton of fun for them to see an idea come to fruition. I would also like to remind you that many times this doesn't cost any more than getting one of our standard pieces. So get your pencils out and put us to work!

Have a great Labor Day Weekend!

Matt

Dressers!

2011-05-23T13:44:00.000-07:00

The Jackson Dresser has been in the Eastvold line up for a few years now, but dressers are a group that has needed to be added to for a while now. Here are new photos of the Jackson Dresser, Elko Dresser, Classic Dresser and a custom bamboo dresser that was shipped to Virginia. Fill 'em up!

Photo Shoot

2011-04-22T05:00:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, Ben worked his magic behind the camera to help shoot the Elko line and Classic line. The goal was to get a much more concise group of photos that will show customers the different species and base options offered in both lines. It also marks the Elko Coffee Table getting its feet wet, we finally took it outside the shop and it performed very well. I am so excited about the new addition and can not wait to get it out to the public.

Have a good weekend!
Matt

More Storage Options

2011-04-10T14:25:00.000-07:00

A customer in Montana sent photos of cabinets we built for him to use with the Rakks system. This company is one of many that supplies wall brackets or free standing brackets that can accept cabinet boxes or shelves. There are a wide range of prices between the companies and many reviews comparing them online. They are especially a good option for piecing together a whole wall of book storage/media storage/desk space or whatever your needs may be.

This is a link to one of my favorite companies doing this, they are one of the more expensive options. I really like that they use cold rolled steel instead of aluminum, mainly for appearance reasons.

Yet another product out there to get your living spaces more efficient.

Have a great week!
Matt

San Fran Update

2011-03-19T22:35:00.000-07:00

I recently had a few photos sent to me of the house we did cabinets for in San Francisco. They are getting close to moving in and I have to say that it warms my heart having been a part of this project. It is a beautiful home.

Accessories

2011-03-19T22:25:00.000-07:00

There are so many ways that the Classic and Elko lines can be modified. Adding drawers has been popular and effective. They can be added to any of the Classic or Elko pieces (including the coffee tables) so just ask how this can be done if you are interested. Here are a couple photos of a piece that went to VA.

Customizing

2010-12-27T07:06:00.000-08:00

A large part of the business here at Eastvold Furniture is customizing our pieces. It is easy to keep these changes economical because we are a small operation. I am going to make an attempt at documenting these pieces better for the custom page. Here are two examples of customizations. One was a major change to the Classic Credenza that went to Manhattan and he has fondly named it the Wide Boy. The other was simply a size change to a Classic Dining Table that went to Houston, TX.

So if you have been thinking a change is needed for you to order a piece from Eastvold, it might not be as hard as you think.

Enjoy this mellow week between the holidays!

Matt

New Website and additions in the New Year!

2010-11-27T12:31:00.000-08:00

A quick review of the new and upcoming here at Eastvold.

-In case a few of you have not visited the website, it has been fully redone and is working well. I am working hard to get a much more extensive collection of pictures to better represent the designs and pieces for sale.

-Keep your eyes open for the release of the Elko Coffee Table (sneak peak above) and the Classic Side Table. Exciting and affordable new pieces!

-Bamboo is going to be a new featured material in the Classic and Elko lines.

-Also, new for 2011, Eastvold Furniture will be breaking into the venue of actual stores, these will be announced as the pieces are in place and ready for viewing, but for now here are some hints.......(look out SoHo, Miami and SF!)

Keep your eyes open as we head into 2011 and enjoy the holidays that are upon us all.

Reclaimed/Refined

2010-09-23T04:06:00.000-07:00

This is a project that I just finished up for a family that lives in a modern home above the Kasota Prairie. The boxes are made from reclaimed Douglas Fir panels that were supplied by Duluth Timber Co. Would love to do more projects like this! (hint, hint)

Have a good day!
Matt

West Coast Install

2010-09-12T06:24:00.000-07:00

A couple weeks ago, Kai and I went to San Francisco to install a project that has been in the picture for almost two years. The project was a success and we were able to enjoy a little free time to explore. Here are a few photos of the install process. There will be more to come as I get them organized.

Have a good week.
Matt

New Looks

2010-08-06T05:28:00.000-07:00

My goal for this fall is for Eastvold Furniture to offer the Classic and Elko Lines in two new wood species, other than walnut. Right now they are offered in Maple and White Oak but I am not convinced that those are the best additions. I am pretty much sold on bamboo but am still tossing around the third one. Maybe mahogany, but I still really lean towards white oak. Give me your opinions. I have some pictures of the Classic Dining Table in maple.

Have a good weekend!
Matt

Down the Road

2010-06-17T21:09:00.000-07:00

Our shop is in a little town called Dennison. It is outside the somewhat larger town of Northfield, which is a ways out of the much larger town of Minneapolis/St. Paul.

Dennison is not at all different from the town of Hartland, MN, where I grew up. To get you familiar with the origin of Eastvold Furniture pieces, I am going to do random posts with random pictures of the area. I am posting these pictures not out of novelty, but out of nostalgia.

The first post is of a group of Hereford cattle that is about 1/4 mile down the gravel road. They seem like a content bunch.

Goodro Credenza

2010-05-21T08:30:00.001-07:00

The Goodro Credenza with the Elko base has been crated up and is finally making its way to eastern Washinton where it will live with Tyler and his family. I have really enjoyed being a part of Plastolux and hope it has been mildly entertaining.

Elko

2010-05-21T08:07:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures of the new Elko line. These are the first two to be rolled out but watch for the Elko Coffee Table soon. I am also working to put together a selection of powder coat color choices for the base.

Elko Credenza

Elko Media Center

Have a good weekend!

Pigpen

2010-05-14T14:57:00.000-07:00

After these times in the shop I feel like I am cleaning up Pigpen from The Peanuts.

Have a good weekend.

Dennison, can't live with you, can't live without you.

2010-03-18T19:25:00.000-07:00

I have been taking a bunch of pictures at the shop lately because of a blog I am involved with called Plastolux. I won't tell you about the project I am doing over there, you can check it out yourself.

Having the camera at the shop has allowed me to take random shots too. Down the road a few decades it will be fun to have some documentation of my time at the shop in Dennison (unless I am still there, then it won't be so fun;) Anyway, here are some random photos. Have a good weekend!

If you are not paying attention, expect to have something bad happen.

The personal touch at Industrial Lumber.

Ahh, the good old days.

Ben has been known to reprimand someone for throwing away a piece of Fir 1/1000 the size of this piece.

Crates, can they be cool?

2010-03-11T14:49:00.000-08:00

I have been working through finding a crating process that is inexpensive, efficient, and extremely durable. My goal was also to make them look good for the short time that they might be seen by someone who cares about daily design.

Here is what I have come up with. So far they meet all of the above criteria, in my opinion. What do you think?

This one went from the pastures of Dennison to the heat of Miami, FL without incident.

5th Street West

2010-02-09T14:19:00.000-08:00

Joram and I used to say that there would come a day when we would joke about our cramped old shop in downtown Northfield and tell stories about it as if it were only legend. As we are feeling cramped in our nice, spacious shop, it is hard to imagine how we managed to push project after project out the door and many of them are to this day, are biggest and best projects. Here is one photo that I could find, of a project waiting to go out for install.

We miss you and your easy walk to great coffee shops and lunches!

ASID Showcase Home

2009-05-13T05:09:00.000-07:00

OK, I am going to be posting regularly again and hope that we are still on people's reader list.

Many exciting things have been happening over the last two months (yes, two months......sorry). The big thing that has been dominating our schedule is this year's ASID Showcase Home. It is opening this weekend and will be open for tours through June 14th. We had the opportunity to do all of the cabinetry and paneling throughout the house. They also asked us to build two custom furniture pieces and are displaying our Walnut Entry Bench. It has been a big project with many unique features. The many designers involved were great to work with and the home owners were exceptional.

Since we are just finishing up the house, there are no pictures yet, but will post many as we get it photographed.

Cozying up to IKEA.

2009-03-29T19:08:00.000-07:00

We have done a few projects now where our cabinets have complimented IKEA cabinets. There are times when this works, and others when it doesn't.

This one definitely works. We did the two solid white oak tops for this stunning IKEA kitchen in a Hive Modular project. Notice the joinery on the corners, nice job Anthony!

See more pics on our Flickr site.

Urban Bean

2009-03-22T23:06:00.000-07:00

Really great coffee shop, great owner (Greg), great location.

Epic install that just about killed everyone involved.

Stop by 33rd and Bryant Ave S. Minneapolis MN

2009-02-18T16:34:00.000-08:00

I ran across this blog post by Martha McQuade at Uniform Studio. She was asked to do an online home tour of her own home.

Martha is a very talented architect and has a very special place at Eastvold Custom. Most of the work that we did for the first two thirds of our business life was designed by Martha, while she was at Redlurered. Her talent runs deep, as a designer and person.

Her house was one of the first projects that I did when I started the business. In her interview she says that the work was done on her house four years ago, it was actually five years ago. I thought I had died and gone to heaven when I was given the opportunity to do a project like hers. Little did I know, that we would be working together on many great projects, for years to come.

In fact, I did all of the work in her dining room. Not only the cabinets, but the demo, framed in the new windows, new sheet rock and patched in the exterior. Those were the days!

Matt

Ahhh.... Alaska

2009-02-12T21:22:00.000-08:00

Andy is an unbelievable cook and is probably

thinking of great things.

Andy and Damara drilling it without the generator.

I ran across these pictures from a trip we took into the bush of Alaska. The point of the trip was to visit two very good friends of ours. They had bought a piece of property that sat on the edge of a valley and was surrounded by mountains that only Alaska can produce. They were and still are, living the dream.

While we were there, they were in the middle of building a timber framed house. Not only are they cool people but they are also purists in many of the things that they do. When we got there they had a frame up and roof on. The trees were cut from their land and made into square framing timbers with a saw that they had.

We were there for 10 days and figured that we should put ourselves to work. Being cabinet-makers, it made sense to build them a kitchen. The construction methods were different but the result was great. All of the materials are from wood that was harvested and milled from their 8 acres.

Posted by Matt

The Big Show

2009-02-06T09:31:00.001-08:00

I really like these photos that Ben Roosa took at the grand opening of Eastvold Furniture this past summer. It was a weekend event that made the modern furniture official. See the furniture at eastvoldcustom.com

Posted by Matt

DIY Done Right

2009-01-31T04:04:00.000-08:00

This client was essentially a do it yourselfer. We built the dark stained cabinets and installed them. The other painted cabinets are original to the house and refurbished by the home owner. The addition of the tile and thick Corian counter tops makes for a fantastic kitchen. The attention to detail, both in the design and execution of the design, makes this a really good project.

To The Dogs

2009-01-10T08:13:00.000-08:00

Some people are dog people. I am one of them. Just to clarify, I've never been involved in a dog show and I don't dress my dogs up. Unless it is funny and only lasts 15 seconds.

As a kid I always wanted to have great dogs and a job that I loved. I am lucky enough to have both, and have combined the two. I have worked for Eastvold Custom for three and a half years. I get to be surrounded by great people and great design. On top of that, I get to build the ideas that float around in my head. Hence the Eastvold Modern Dog Dish line, the Willie and the Jesse. Dog feeding stations with built in food storage. Named after my dogs, Willie Nelson and Uncle Jesse (not John Stamos). The funny thing about that is that I'm not really into country music. And why shouldn't a dog get to eat out of a sleek food bowl. It probably makes them feel cool.

Eastvold Custom has been a part of several projects where the clients have a had a whole dog room built. There are built in washing stations, cabinetry and room for dogs to sleep. I used to think that this was excessive, a waste of space and an unnecessary. But I can tell you this, when you are washing your dog in the bath tub or you wake up at 2 a.m. and the silence is broken by your dog licking God knows what, a dog room sounds pretty good. I plan to have one as soon as possible.

I believe that both dogs and good design have souls, and are mans best friend.

Ben

Bryn Mawr Modern

2008-12-27T11:35:00.000-08:00

I recently received these photos from Fuse 57 Architecture of a new construction project that we were a part of in the Bryn Mawr neighborhood. I was very impressed with the overall design of the house and loved the use of clear cedar throughout the project. It was a multi-step install coordinating the cabinets, countertop and cedar shelves with the cedar wall that was installed by the builder, Michlitsch Builders, who built the whole house and did a fantastic job as always.

I am hoping that Fuse 57 will post more photos of the entire project on their website because this is a great project that was thorough in the design and execution of details.

Happy New Year

-Matt-

2008-12-06T13:26:00.001-08:00

I still get excited that we were able to do this project for two very talented Minneapolis architects. Their house is a fantastic old two and a half story duplex in Uptown. Each of the applied pieces of wood was drawn and dimensioned ahead of time for us which made this a much simpler endeavor.

Not shown is a fully integrated Sub-Zero refrigerator surrounded by a pullout pantry and upper cabinets, all hidden with the same fronts.

-Matt-

furniture with a face on it

2008-11-15T13:25:00.000-08:00

When we started this company 6 years ago, we had no idea where it would take us. It was long before we "settled down" and long before Avery. He has certainly changed the way we think about almost everything.

We think more about how what we do affects him and the world around us. Because, let's face it, the world we live in is rapidly changing.

People are craving connection. Real connection. People want to know the people behind the products and services they buy. This longing for connection is why we chose to live and work in a small, rural community where Matt could follow his passion for building beautiful furniture, and I could follow my passion for growing our own food. Working for a local CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) has allowed us the opportunity to live more connected to the land. The CSA movement started in Japan, and literally means "food with a farmer's face on it." I love this saying. And try to think about how I can incorporate it more into my daily life.

And it is with this philosophy in mind that I would like to introduce to you the "face" of eastvold furniture. I hope you find something here that you like. When you purchase a hand-crafted piece of eastvold furniture you know you are supporting a small business, a community, and a family. And you can rest easy knowing that your piece will be around for years to come and will be passed down to the next generation....with the stories that go along with it.

We'd love to hear from you. Amanda & Matt & Avery.

Short walk home from the bar.

2008-11-05T19:24:00.000-08:00

When we finished this project, the homeowner said, "I won't have to go to Vegas anymore!"

Yeah, we think this home bar is pretty amazing too.

Blue Ribbon Kitchen

2008-10-10T03:39:00.000-07:00

This weekend we have a kitchen on the Twin Cities Remodeler's Showcase Tour. It was designed by Laurel Ulland of Laurel Ulland Architecture. It was an exciting project for us because it was very custom and fulfilled a long list of needs presented to us by the customer.

This list revolved around her long-time hobby, cake decorating. Some of the specifications included custom-height work space for icing the elaborate cakes. Custom drawer inserts for baking supplies. And the highlight in the project for us was the ladder to reach upper cabinetry which hold all the various "cake-making" equipment. The rail was fabricated by a local shop and the ladder itself was made from solid teak in our shop. Along with all of the other features, this project turned out to look and function as nice as we had all hoped, and just as the customer had hoped.

In fact, if you got the chance to visit the Minnesota State Fair this year you would have seen one of her cakes, made and decorated in this fabulous kitchen. Of course it won a blue ribbon.

There are additional photos of the project on our website: www.eastvoldcustom.com

Eastvold Conveyance

2008-08-29T13:28:00.000-07:00

Much of the work that we do reflects progressive designs that are generally found in the urban environment. Many of our cabinet and furniture projects are in houses that might not be labeled "country" and wouldn't blend aesthetically with a 19th century farmstead. However, our shop is located in an area that would definitely be labeled "country". On my way there, I get to drive past pastures, crop fields, withering barns, and the occasional tractor that moves about as fast as 7:30am traffic up 35W.

A few of the crew were out and about in this area the other day taking some shots for our upcoming ads. They did a fantastic job with them. Here is a sneak peak at some of the material you may see in your mailbox or favorite magazine.

Introductions

2008-08-12T04:55:00.000-07:00

It is fun to finally be doing a blog for various reasons. I have always wanted to give people a glimpse into our day to day life because of the many exciting things that happen here. The process of doing cabinets and furniture is often times very eventful and exciting to see. We get the opportunity to work with a lot of good people who have very good ideas, these people are customers, employees and designers. With most of our projects being custom and unique, it always seems like the learning curve doesn't flatten out. This part of the process has been made exciting for me because of the great crew we have doing the projects. Eastvold Custom has been graced with some talented and fun people who have made it possible to be at this stage in the game.

I am also hooked on reading design blogs which I will link over time. There are so many ideas that continue to blow my mind. Eastvold Custom is a young company and I feel that we have already gotten to be a part of some amazing projects with great designers that will stand the test of time.

It will be fun to talk about these projects and process them as they go through our shop and into living spaces, along with our many random thoughts on design and the world that we call construction.