Alex Reynaud: Fusing modern techniques in traditional framework

He started taking online classes, and quickly realized that he’d specialize in fine furniture. Initially focusing on commission jobs, he’d come into people’s homes and do one-off custom pieces for specific spaces. As he explained it, people tend to want to over-design things, and he’s had to talk clients off the edge a couple of times.

“I like simplistic pieces. For me, the design has to be practical. My style is very Scandinavian mid-century modern. I like the look of it, and it goes well with the materials I work with.”

Alex blends metal and wood in his pieces, an esthetic he came in contact with while taking classes. The materials work well together, and in his original work, he’s been trying to push the boundaries of that union.

“Metal has a hard, cold rigidity, and wood is warm and soft. I like the option of working with different materials. It gives a lot of failure because nothing is set and I’m experimenting with it, but that’s where art happens. You can take an idea, look at the environment it’s going to be placed in and create something unique.”

Alex is all about family, and he describes himself as a husband and a father. Family has certainly influenced his choice of career, but not just his own. His wife’s grandfather was a professional cabinet builder, and has meant a lot to him:

“We had a great relationship! He loved teaching, but we’d always joke about what a terrible teacher he was! He never explained anything, he’d just tell you to move out of the way and then do it himself. He was always pulling out drawers and looking at how the doors lined up. He had an incredible skill level, and I feel like I missed him by ten years. I didn’t have the knowledge to understand him then… I wish I still had him around.”

Although he’s been gone for some years now, Alex still likes building little things for his wife. Carpentry is more than just a profession for Alex. It’s a communal thing, shared with friends and family. He loves teaching too, and happily gives advice while hosting company in his shop. The shop itself is quite impressive, with not just one, but two workbenches:

“My primary bench takes a lot of beating. I use it mostly for assembly and needed a space to finish up and do the final details. I’ve always loved and supported the traditional framework, so working with Sjöbergs was a natural fit. A lot of people ask me about it since I’ve mounted the Shaper Origin, a handheld CNC-router, on the bench. It’s amazing how you can fuse a workbench that’s basically the same since the 1800’s with a state of the line modern appliance!”