A Small Batch Furniture Design & Production Studio

Based out of Bend, Oregon — curious woodworkers keeping the craft alive.

Meet the Team

Justin

Designer & Woodworker

Justin founded Fernweh Woodworking in 2015 in Bend, OR. With this step into the unknown, he found his deep passion for design through woodworking, eventually specializing in furniture. He developed the Sling Chair and Tripod Table in 2017, and these designs sparked his desire to develop a full line of small-batch hand-crafted furniture. The Oxbend Collection arrived in 2020, rounding out the rest of the collection so that Fernweh Woodworking now offers furniture for every room in a house. A few of Justin’s design inspirations are Sam Maloof (particularly his passion, kindness, and work ethic); Hans Wegner (his practicality and purposeful creativity); and Finn Juhl (his pursuit of perfect curves and natural beauty). Justin studied business at Purdue University. After graduating, he joined the Marine Corps where he deployed on an advisory team working closely with Afghan Police. After moving to Oregon and joining a wildland fire Hotshot crew, he started Fernweh in the off-season from fire.

contact: Justin@FernwehWoodworking.com

Barbara

Sales & Marketing Lead

Barbara was first introduced to the world of design by vintage furniture collector and dealer George Champion, after studying Fine Art at the University of San Francisco. Seeing the world of design through the lens of history gave her the vigor to further understand the craft. Upon moving to Oregon she joined The Good Mod working as sales, buyer, and showroom curator. This is where paths converged and Justin and Barbara first met. Barbara joined Fernweh in 2021 and is (remotely) running the Sales & Marketing side of Fernweh.

contact: Barbara@FernwehWoodworking.com

Aaron

Production Manager & Woodworker

Aaron joined Fernweh in 2022, moving from Minnesota to join the team. We’re all fans of a good Minnesotan accent, and we were a tad disappointed when Aaron opened his mouth for the first time and it didn’t sound like he was stepping off the set of Fargo. But it turns out that movie isn’t really that accurate anyway. Who knew? Aaron spent a lot of time tooling around in his grandpa’s woodshop as a kid. In (and after) high school, he was a framer. He joined the Marine Corps and eventually worked as a manager in an Airframe Mechanic shop on the C-130’s. More recently, he studied under Tim Rousseau at the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship in Maine, especially enjoying the Product Development and Case Work curricula. In his own time, Aaron enjoys making custom flag displays, especially for military funerals.

Sara

Woodworker

Sara joined Fernweh in 2020 and quickly mastered good-natured coworker abuse with her quick wit as dry as our high desert air. She grew up in Alaska and thus won’t let us refer to the “contiguous 48 states” ... it has to be the “lower 48.” She’s been in the industry for awhile, coming most recently from a cabinet shop working on custom doors. Justin and Sara first met in local woodworking circles a few years back, and we are so lucky that she wanted to shift from doors to furniture! She studied Sociology at the University of Oregon.

Justin

Designer & Woodworker

Justin founded Fernweh Woodworking in 2015 in Bend, OR. With this step into the unknown, he found his deep passion for design through woodworking, eventually specializing in furniture. He developed the Sling Chair and Tripod Table in 2017, and these designs sparked his desire to develop a full line of small-batch hand-crafted furniture. The Oxbend Collection arrived in 2020, rounding out the rest of the collection so that Fernweh Woodworking now offers furniture for every room in a house. A few of Justin’s design inspirations are Sam Maloof (particularly his passion, kindness, and work ethic); Hans Wegner (his practicality and purposeful creativity); and Finn Juhl (his pursuit of perfect curves and natural beauty). Justin studied business at Purdue University. After graduating, he joined the Marine Corps where he deployed on an advisory team working closely with Afghan Police. After moving to Oregon and joining a wildland fire Hotshot crew, he started Fernweh in the off-season from fire.

contact: Justin@FernwehWoodworking.com

Barbara

Sales & Marketing Lead

Barbara was first introduced to the world of design by vintage furniture collector and dealer George Champion, after studying Fine Art at the University of San Francisco. Seeing the world of design through the lens of history gave her the vigor to further understand the craft. Upon moving to Oregon she joined The Good Mod working as sales, buyer, and showroom curator. This is where paths converged and Justin and Barbara first met. Barbara joined Fernweh in 2021 and is (remotely) running the Sales & Marketing side of Fernweh.

contact: Barbara@FernwehWoodworking.com

Aaron

Production Manager & Woodworker

Aaron joined Fernweh in 2022, moving from Minnesota to join the team. We’re all fans of a good Minnesotan accent, and we were a tad disappointed when Aaron opened his mouth for the first time and it didn’t sound like he was stepping off the set of Fargo. But it turns out that movie isn’t really that accurate anyway. Who knew? Aaron spent a lot of time tooling around in his grandpa’s woodshop as a kid. In (and after) high school, he was a framer. He joined the Marine Corps and eventually worked as a manager in an Airframe Mechanic shop on the C-130’s. More recently, he studied under Tim Rousseau at the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship in Maine, especially enjoying the Product Development and Case Work curricula. In his own time, Aaron enjoys making custom flag displays, especially for military funerals.

Sara

Woodworker

Sara joined Fernweh in 2020 and quickly mastered good-natured coworker abuse with her quick wit as dry as our high desert air. She grew up in Alaska and thus won’t let us refer to the “contiguous 48 states” ... it has to be the “lower 48.” She’s been in the industry for awhile, coming most recently from a cabinet shop working on custom doors. Justin and Sara first met in local woodworking circles a few years back, and we are so lucky that she wanted to shift from doors to furniture! She studied Sociology at the University of Oregon.

FAQ

Tell me about your sustainability practices

Glad you asked! Click here to learn about our re-use and sustainability practices.

Do you have any furniture in stock and ready to ship?

Yes! Check out our "Ready-To-Ship" collection here.

When can I expect to receive my order?

Since all our furniture is handcrafted to order, please allow 12-14 weeks for production, and an additional week or two for delivery. Contact us if you need expedited production for a fee, which depends on how busy we are and how quickly you need your product.

how does shipping work?

For smaller items (Tripod Table, Oxbend Chair, and Oxbend Stool) we are usually able to parcel ship, via UPS. You’ll be able to track them via your order confirmation, and standard transit time is 3-5 business days. For larger items (everything not listed above) our standard shipping is via private van delivery. We cultivate a network of independant white glove shippers who ensure the best care while transporting our pieces of furniture to your home. If you need additional services, please contact us.

do you work with interior designers?

We love working with interior designers, and we do it all the time! Please fill out our Interior Designer Form for a complimentary [physical] catalog + swatch kit, and send Justin an e-mail if there are any particular tear sheets or 3d models that you need. He would love to talk with you about how we can work with you on your project!.

I need my order faster than 12 weeks. Is it possible to expedite my order?

It is possible! We offer expedited production for a fee, depending on how busy we are. Please send us an e-mail with the details of what you’d like to order, and how soon you need it

who designed your furniture?

All of our furniture is completely original, and designed in-house by the founder of Fernweh Woodworking, Justin Nelson. Fernweh Woodworking launched its first furniture line item in 2017; The Tripod Table. It was the first exploration into the seamless joinery that is now signature in all new furniture items. Next came the award-winning Sling Chair. In early 2020 Justin designed and launched the Oxbend Collection. Fernweh Woodworking is growing into a small-batch furniture studio with the goal of remaining organic and handmade through the whole process.

where is your furniture made?

We make all our furniture from start to finish in-house, at our small production wood shop & leather studio in Bend, OR.

Is it possible to meet Justin and his team? Or come see his studio?

We would love to meet you and show off our space. Send us a message or schedule a visit! By appointment only.

Do you have showrooms where I can see your furniture?

We have several showrooms and are always adding / selling furniture out of them. Please visit our Stockist Page to find out where your nearest showroom is! Do you want to add our items to your showroom? You can contact us and we’d love to speak with you. 

My home is styled with mid-century modern, Scandinavian, or Danish furniture. Will your furniture fit well with this aesthetic? Who are your influences?

Our design aesthetic has been most often described as “Danish” mingled with “Mid-Century Modern” yet my goal is that each piece is original and stands in a category of its own. Over the years, I’ve looked up to and admired the work of many designers. Sam Maloof’s work is what got me passionate about furniture design. At the time, I just had no idea that what he was doing was even possible! I didn’t have any background in art or design or sculpture. I got inspired by him when I read his book, and I just really admire his legacy and work ethic. After that I did a deeper dive into the great Danish designers. My favorite furniture book is Just One Good Chair about Wegner’s designs. He was such an incredibly diverse designer. Everything he did was beautiful, and I admire how he partnered with manufacturers to make his designs accessible without sacrificing quality. Although he didn’t produce the pieces himself, he had a deep understanding of the technical aspects needed for production. With Finn Juhl, I love how you can just see his passion for design come out. He had such playful, lavish curves and details in his furniture while avoiding any sort of overdone gaudiness.

Are you willing to work with custom materials, like a different species of wood or customer leathers? Do you have any vegan alternatives for your leather pieces?

We want our furniture to fit into your space seamlessly, therefore we are more than happy to work with custom wood species or materials. In most cases, customization fees will apply, and we will work with you to ensure that your materials will hold up to our rigorous standards. Due to the request of a vegan client, we began working with felt wool for our sling chair awhile back. Please don’t hesitate to contact us to discuss!

Is there any maintenance required to keep the wood looking fresh? What type of finish do you use on the wood?

We use a natural, VOC-free hardwax oil on all our furniture. It is extremely durable, and user-friendly. There are two products I would recommend for maintenance, although only on an “as-needed” basis. First: soap. We sell concentrated soap specifically designed for use with our finished furniture, and it really is amazing. Just mix it into a squirt bottle with water and clean as needed. If, after a few years, you feel like you would like to refresh your furniture to make it have that new sheen again, I recommend this maintenance oil. Just wipe it on, and gently buff it off. It will dry within a few hours, leaving your furniture looking brand new!

What is your Furniture Warranty and Return Policy?

We offer a Limited Time Warranty. Because our furniture is made-to-order, we do not accept returns. Learn more about the details of our Warranty and Return Policy here .