Woven Rugs, Sunglasses, Billiard Tables

Kelly Marshall, Rug weaver (website)

Custom Woven Interiors, Minneapolis, MN

A graduate of the University of Minnesota with a degree in Applied Design specializing in textiles, Kelly Marshall opened her Minneapolis-based company, Custom Woven Interiors, Ltd. in 1992. Having studied weaving and design extensively throughout Scandinavia and in Belgium, Marshall is best known for combining the rich texture and linear structure of Rep Weave, a technique that has its origins in Sweden in the mid-1800s, with the aesthetic influences of the Arts & Crafts movement, contemporary design and traditional Scandinavian weaving.

The results are rich-colored and beautifully-textured, hand-woven custom rugs, table runners, throws, spreads, pillows, curtains and more, in natural cotton and linen fibers that join art with function.

An award-winning designer, Marshall is also the author of the book, “Custom Woven Interiors: Bringing color and design home with Rep weave,” and often pays it forward by teaching workshops and mentoring interns in her studio.

Her work has found homes in several public and corporate collections, and has been featured in “Better Homes and Gardens,” “Spaces,” and “Midwest Home Magazine,” among other publications.

Steven Kilzer, Custom Sunglasses

Capital Eyewear, San Francisco, CA

Unable to find work after the 2008 recession, Steven Kilzer changed his perspective on job hunting. He gave himself a job! Not satisfied with the quality of eyewear made by major brands, he began making sunglasses in a Montana garage, teaching himself the meticulous craft of handmade acetate and wood frames.

Each pair of glasses is unique, elevating them to functioning works of art with an inherent connection between the maker and the person wearing the glasses. The studio produces fine wooden frames created from American hardwoods and premium acetate, using the highest quality Carl Zeiss Vision Lenses, the same company who made the optics for the Hubble Space Telescope.

Chuck Jacobi, Billiard Tables (website)

Best Billiards, Pittstown, NJ

From heirloom antiques to bar-room working tables, classic tables to a unique table that reflects its owner’s quirky personality, Chuck Jacobi has in depth knowledge of the facts and values of good design. He knows how most commercial tables are constructed as opposed to taking the time, dedication and care that goes into one of his custom tables—all for a comparable price. He shops the world to find the best selection of materials, cloths, finishes, pockets, accessories, bumpers, slates, and more, to ensure the highest quality. Serving the eastern seaboard for over 20 years, Jacobi’s New Jersey-based company Best Billiards, uses materials and construction methods that represent the most sound practices in the world, strictly adhering to The Billiard Congress of America’s standards.

Read Chuck’s “Meet the Artisan” Blog