Eben Blaney

"My aim is a subtle yet expressive aesthetic—a unique balance of spare elegance and usefulness."

The son of a boatbuilder, Eben Blaney grew up witnessing the shapes and compositions of boat hulls under construction. He drew what he saw and, over the years, experimented in various media before discovering furniture making's potential for creative expression. This intersection of beauty and utility is where Blaney's passion for design and unique structures finds its voice.

Using both hand tools and machinery, Blaney shapes and joins components, focusing on creating interesting compositions of negative and positive space and harmonious line. He pares away elements that don't complement or serve the dramatic gesture or function of each piece. Elements of joinery—pegs, splines and tenons—provide selective visual interest, as do contrasting woods and color.

After studying at the Portland School of Art, Blaney spent 15 years learning from many talented designers and craftsmen as he worked his way through several high-end custom cabinet and furniture shops in Seattle and Portland, Maine. He began his own business in 2000. He draws from boatbuilding and timber framing experience as well as influential classes at the Haystack Mountain School of Craft.