My Biz: Making ‘forever’ furniture by hand

MARION — Christian Ohrt and Sydney Franklin have a deep appreciation for custom wood furniture and, thanks to their business, are helping others in Eastern Iowa realize their appreciation for it, too.

The couple, both 27, own Timber Concepts Furniture and Design based in Marion. The custom woodworkers specialize in one-of-a-kind, heirloom-quality furnishings.

This isn’t just your average living room furniture, though.

“We build custom kitchens, built-in cabinetry, mantels, dining tables, desks, bedroom sets, living room sets, sculptural art, conference tables, Montessori furniture, custom bars, charcuterie boards, butcher blocks, and this list goes on even from there,” Ohrt said.

The business was born just before the pandemic hit.

“COVID-19 had just hit the news,” Ohrt recalled. “We were expecting our first child and wanted to make furniture ourselves.”

So the couple took their passion for high quality furnishings and matched it with their desire to learn more about the skilled trade.

“We combine century-tested methods of craftsmanship and modern design to set ourselves apart from the industry standard of custom woodworking,” Ohrt said. “Each piece is systematically executed to guarantee the quality and individuality you can see in everything we produce.”

Quality wood

Ohrt said he knew quality materials was the best starting point.

“We source some of our lumber ourselves by salvaging logs, and everything else is purchased locally,” Ohrt said. “Our goal is curating the highest quality materials on the market for each project we get the opportunity to work on.

“We work closely with two reforestation companies, 1% For The Planet, which gives 1 percent of annual sales to environmental organizations, and the National Forest Foundation, which plants one tree for every product we sell.”

A bonus, Ohrt said, is that when you make custom creations, you get to know your clients well.

“The best part of the job is working closely with our customers to help bring their vision to life,” Ohrt said. “You are building pieces that an individual or family will enjoy and live with for the rest of their lives.

“We really enjoy seeing a client's reaction to the piece they have been envisioning through the process and watching it all come to a head on the final delivery or installation day.”

Forever pieces

But handing over a completed piece also brings the biggest challenge.

“Being as involved in every aspect of each project as we are, the projects become a part of us,” Ohrt said. “Thinking about it day and night, expanding our knowledge as craftsmen, testing out new ideas, I really don't think we can be involved any more than we are.

“So when it comes time for final delivery, nerves hit, and we hope the customer will love the piece as much as we have loved creating it.

“We are so thankful for our customers trusting us to create these pieces that they will be living with forever,” he added. “Their continued support has given us the opportunity to turn a passion for creating into a career, and we couldn't be more excited for what the future holds for our business.

For now, the business is just Ohrt and Franklin, but they are expect their business to grow.

“We handle all parts of the business in-house from designing, building, and delivering every piece we make,” Ohrt said. “We have delivered furniture all across the country and can't wait to see what the future holds for our company.”

Know a business that should be considered for a “My Biz” feature? Let us know by emailing mary.sharp@thegazette.com.

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