Have you ever pined after an old family heirloom? Maybe it’s your grandmother’s wedding ring or your great-grandfather’s pocket watch. For me, it was my grandparents’ dining room table. Once a month, we would eat dinner at that table and talk and laugh for hours. I remember feeling devastated when I found out they sold it. To me, that piece of furniture symbolized all the lovely memories I had at my grandparents’ house, baking cookies, playing board games, and so much more.
I was hoping to have that table passed down to me because it can be difficult to find furniture — or anything for that matter — built at the quality it was during our grandparents’ time. However, a small artisan woodworking company based in St. Paul is trying to change that.
Fern+Fable is bringing back the idea that furniture should be beautifully made and crafted with intention.
“In a world where everything is mass-produced, we kind of wanted to bring back heirloom-quality pieces. We wanted to bring back pieces that were just a little bit more wholesome and custom and not just your average piece,” says Ashley Chapman, co-founder of Fern+Fable.
Ashley, who also owns Moda Salon, and her friend Brandon founded Fern+Fable after realizing there was a need in the Minneapolis area for custom-made, affordable furniture. Brandon had previously made all of Ashley’s salon furniture and decided to turn a hobby into a full-time endeavor.
The custom furniture Ashley and Brandon design and create is crafted to last a lifetime. Part of what makes them unique, outside of the quality craftsmanship, is their use of natural and reclaimed wood. Their wood is sourced mostly from Minnesota and Canada, and they always have a variety of options available.
Using reclaimed wood — salvaged from its original use and repurposed for something else — and natural wood like white oak, black walnut, or beachwood, means no two pieces of furniture are alike.
“When you’re working with reclaimed pieces, it’s important to understand that it’s going to be more organic and lived in because the wood is not perfect, and understanding that the imperfections are part of what makes it beautiful,” Ashley says.
Whether you would be interested in reclaimed wood or other natural wood options, calling Ashley and Brandon is the first step. After booking a custom consultation, the duo will come to your home, measure the space the custom furniture is intended for, and discuss your inspiration and style.
One of Fern+Fable’s stand-out services is creating furniture for oddly-shaped spaces in your home or business. Sometimes, particularly in older homes, there’s an alcove that normal furniture just doesn’t seem to fit. That’s exactly what happened with a client of Ashley and Brandon’s. They visited her home, measured the space, and created a custom piece to fit perfectly in her alcove.
Fern+Fable has also made custom tables, coffee tables, dressers, and more for special events like weddings, for businesses, and of course, as gifts. Some memorable pieces include a custom-made desk ordered by a father whose son had just graduated from law school and a custom dining table a father ordered as a wedding gift for his daughter.
“When you have something that’s handbuilt and crafted from intention and skill and thoughtfulness, I just think those are the types of furniture that almost carry a certain kind of energy. I have a piece that Brandon built in my home, and everybody’s like ‘where did you get that,’ and there’s just an energy that it gives off when something is hand-built that I just don’t think you can achieve with anything else,” Ashley says.
When it comes to choosing furniture for your home, considering how it looks shouldn’t be the only factor in what you choose. How it’s made, how long it may last, and who is making it are all important considerations.
“To see quality pieces in somebody’s home, I just think it’s a super special thing. And whether it’s us or anybody else, just make sure you’re supporting local artisans because I think it’s going to be lost if we don’t start doing that a little bit more,” says Ashley.
We wanted to bring back heirloom-quality pieces.