Today we’d like to introduce you to Nathan Dinihanian.
Hi Nathan, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’ve always worked with my hands. Over the years I pursued different crafts but always came back to wood. I studied art and throughout my 20’s I worked a variety of jobs- exploring stop motion animation, custom fabrication shops and set dressing in the film industry, while woodworking on the side and occasionally selling a piece to a friend. In 2014, my wife took a job in the Bay Area and we moved. Film jobs were scarce in the Bay, and I took the opportunity of unemployment to try woodworking full time. Turning our apartment kitchen into a wood shop. After four months I had a decent portfolio and I was lucky enough to land an entry level job with Thomas Fetherston, a custom furniture shop, where I was mentored by a couple of master furniture builders. After a few years in the Bay with over a hundred custom pieces of furniture under my belt, we moved back home to Portland to be close to our family and friends when we had our first kid. I had been wanting to start my own business as long as I could remember so I set up a wood shop in our garage, connected with a few designers and started getting commissions. At that point, I had no idea how to send an invoice or price my work. It’s been one foot in front of the other ever since.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
From the beginning I have done what I can with the resources I’ve had, to produce the best possible result. It’s never been easy. At this point, ten years in, I don’t really expect it to ever be. But the challenges change as my business and the world around me changes. In the beginning, I used old tools, couldn’t afford to get sharp blades. Then a little money started coming and I said yes to more ambitious projects, sometimes with no idea how I was going to pull the project off. But, I have learned from my mistakes. And wood working is all about learning the hard way.
Keeping a business built on craft is really difficult. It is a balance of craftsmanship, sourcing quality materials, and covering the overhead to run a shop while pricing your work as well as you can.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Dinihanian Design Build designs and produces custom cabinetry and a line of customizable fine furniture pieces under the name Sparrow Frances. I love working with people and this business is set up to work directly with individuals in need of either a dining table or kitchen cabinets. We assist contractors and designers with complex projects. I love working with all these groups and the range of clientele creates fun experiences and a genuine sense of having helped someone solve a problem and better enjoy their space. I think our built environment has a pretty profound effect on our well being and for me to help you love your home a little more is pretty important to me.
I’m inspired by the power of local community. I have a network of vendors that are local as much as possible. This means sourcing Oregon hardwoods, shopping at small businesses and collaborating with other artisans.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I love interacting with people. I’m an active member of a business group and I speak with high school wood shops and have presented at various maker events. This all surprises me as I was horribly shy as a kid. So much so I could barely use a telephone. I have to give most of the credit to my wife for this. She has a big family and when I met her I knew I was going to have to figure out the whole socializing thing if this was going to work. Thankfully, I did.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.dinihaniandesignbuild.com, www.sparrowfrances.com
- Instagram: @dinihaniandesignbuild, @sparrowfrancesfurniture
