Sommers Studio

Custom designed furniture leveraging 

wood, metal, light and smart features 

to help make spaces your own



Hello, and welcome to Sommers Studio! I am Dave, a woodworker, designer, and forever curious problem solver based in the Edgewater neighborhood of Chicago. 

My professional background as a project manager has afforded me a unique understanding of problems and their solutions along with the chance to work with folks from all over. The projects I lead spanned across many industries, and saw me guiding my clients through projects that included everything from rolling out a new food and beverage program in a corporate setting, to opening new restaurants and cafes, to designing new products to bring to market, and most recently to implementing software solutions that helped make their marketing and communication with their clients easier. Every project I have taken on has taught me something new and better prepared me for what lies ahead. 

When it came time for a change in my career, my passion for building things and my curiosity for the reason "why" behind different designs took hold and led me to where I am today. These passions have been at the forefront of my mind for as far back as I can remember and are what helps keep life interesting. My analytical approach to the projects I take on ensures that as many potential obstacles  are identified and taken into consideration during the design process as possible. 

Whether I am building a large piece of custom furniture, mounting vintage memorabilia on custom plaques, framing a treasured piece of art or running with you on a design that at the beginning seems large than life, I am confident we can make your dreams a reality. (Unless its REALLY out there, and not physically possible, in which case the project manager in me will help you to redefine the project to achieve your desired goals while being something I can stand behind long term). 

I am available for custom work on an ongoing basis, and coming soon I will have a variety of wood based products ready to ship including lighting, organization systems and more! 


Interested in Working Together?


See something you like? Have a project that you are excited to get started on?
Please reach out via the form below. If you have images or other reference materials to share, you will be able to attach them after I reply!
Name

Understanding My Process for Custom Orders

This is when we get to know each other and the desired outcome of your project. We will sit down, have a cup of coffee (or tea or water!) and work together to plot out your hopes and dreams for the project along side any budgetary constraints. I work well visually and help transform your vision and inspirational items . From this conversation, we will determine the feasibility of your design as well as anticipated time lines for completion. If all is mutually agreed upon, we move on to Design.

I get to work making your dream a reality. Depending on the level of detail anticipated for the project, either a hand sketch or a 3D model is produced of the structure to give you an idea the overall shape, features and dimensions. For more intricate 3D models, a deposit for design time may need to be collected This model will be the guideline for the end product and will highlight potential options for the joinery used in the assembly. When completed, I will send the design to you for you to review and provide feedback on.

This is where we hash out the specific details.

After the deposit is made, all materials needed for the project are procured. In many cases, I will already have lumber on hand that I purchase from local sawyers when local trees 

This is where we hash out the specific details.

This is where we hash out the specific details.

This is where we hash out the specific details.

Examples of my work

As I dive deeper into the world of woodworking, I aim to learn something new in every project that I do. With the shelving unit pictured, I learned about wood strength, wood movement, intentional design and traditional joinery. With the selection of plaques, I learned that the simplest things can present some of the biggest challenges, and with the serving board, I learned the importance of proper material prep for finishing.