April 17, 2017

Meet David Johnson of Sidecar Furniture in Highland Park

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to David Johnson.

Sidecar Furniture was founded in 2005 by David. His beginnings in woodworking started early climbing walnut trees, building forts and chicken coops with his father in rural Tulare, CA where he was born in 1968. David graduated from The College of the Redwoods Fine Woodworking Program in 1997 studying under James Krenov. The school emphasized careful work, attention to design, and a high regard for materials. In the 1950’s Krenov had studied under one of the founders of Scandinavian design, Carl Malmsten, at his school in Stockholm, Sweden. These links to Scandinavian design and doctrine are evident in David’s work today. Self-taught as a seat weaver from the definitive book on the subject, The Caner’s Handbook, David later worked for the book’s author at The Caning Shop in Berkeley, CA.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Being a one-person business means that time in the studio making pieces or doing restorations is only part of what I do. An equal amount of time is spent with the day-to-day activities of running any small business; meeting clients, getting materials, design work, advertising, and bookkeeping.

Most artisans, myself included, are inclined to hide in their studios so selling myself can be a challenge. It has to be done though.

Please tell us about Sidecar Furniture.
I was trained to make furniture in a very traditional European manner. Handwork, regard for materials, and a form follows function are the groundwork for my design and methods. Yes, this makes for an expensive piece of furniture but the value is that it is built and designed to endure generations of use and contexts. I avoid trends and focus on timeless designs.

Additionally, I’m known as a seat weaver and specialist in the restoration of Danish modern chairs with woven seats, particularly the work of Hans Wegner. That isn’t by design. I just followed my interests which lead to this outcome. I’m flattered that clients trust me with their valued chairs and appreciate my attention to stay true to the provenance of their pieces.

If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I would like to have like to been trained as an interior architect or designer. Then combined with my studio skills I could have been a design/build business producing entire rooms instead of individual pieces. I like how Frank Lloyd Wright designed everything in the house including the furniture within it. It makes for a more cohesive interior.

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