Handcrafted Furniture

Photos by Jason Kaplan
Designers: Alyse Holzhausen Joel Knudsen >> [email protected]

Alyse Holzhausen and Joel Knudsen, owners of Branches Furniture, in Canby, OR, are relatively new to the furniture-making scene, but you wouldn’t know it from their diverse portfolio. From birch wood coffee and side tables, to reupholstered mid-century lounge chairs and floating wood shelves, the couple has amassed a varied collection of original home décor designs.

It began in 2013 when Holzhausen, a former journalist, and Knudsen, a mechanical engineer, put their passion for mid-century industrial composition to work.

 

MID-CENTURY INSPIRED CHAIR:
An original design, this chair made from steel with mahogany arms and trim, is just one example of Holzhausen and Knudsen’s taste for mid-century composition. 28”w x 28”d x 32”h, $650.

Their knack for rummaging through rebuilding center debris and scrap yards gives the duo a chance to reach into their creative spirit.

Self-taught in wood and metal craft, they find that paying close attention to details is what gives each piece character. Holzhausen and Knudsen point out that custom-made craftsmanship is what their clients have come to appreciate, along with an affordable price tag.

CONSOLE/SIDE TABLE:
A custom steel and wood base with salvaged drawers make this table unique and multi-functional.
34”w x 38”h x 11.5”d, $485.

 

HOW DO YOU GET YOUR IDEAS AND INSPIRATION?

“We come up with a lot of ideas wandering salvage yards,” says Knudsen. “We’ll find an old scrap
of metal and figure out how to incorporate it into a new piece we’re making. We also do designs based on form, depending on a client’s needs. And we can make a coffee table out of anything.”

CANTILEVERED SIDE TABLE: Made of birch wood and steel. 18” w x 12” d x 25” h, $325

WHERE DOES IT ALL COME TOGETHER?

“We basically make everything in our own backyard,” says Knudsen. “So we can do whatever you want, from benches and shelves, to tables and lighting for a pub. Since we have a large space to work in, there are lots of options for our clients.” Holzhausen says, “Some of our clients come to our shop because they’re curious to see where everything gets made. It’s also important that we build quality furniture that’s affordable. We don’t want to charge thousands of dollars for a coffee table, for instance.”

“We’re inspired by mid-century design,” adds Holzhausen. “We repurpose old things, and upcycling is a big part of what we do.”

RECLAIMED BOWLING LANE BENCH/TABLE: Holzhausen and Knudsen used part of a reclaimed bowling lane to make this table top, which sits on colorful steel powder- coated legs. 27” w, 17.5” h, 12” d, $595.

WHAT DO YOU WANT YOUR CLIENTS TO WALK AWAY WITH?

Knudsen says: “We want our customers to feel happy. Creating furniture that’s built to last and can be handed down for generations, that’s something.”