CL Family Spotlight: D & W Elements
It seems another week has come and gone, which means it's time to get to know another one of our Celebrate Local family members. Dan Wisniewski, Owner and Fabricator at D & W Elements, is a true craftsman. From furniture to art prints, his handcrafted, unique pieces reflect the amount of care he puts into each piece. Read on to learn about how he got started!
Q: What's the story behind your business, and how did you get started?
A: D & W Elements started in the middle of a bathroom renovation. Our walls were down to the studs, the floors were ripped out and pipes were sticking out from the floors. At this stage, my wife and I started shopping for a vanity. We looked everywhere for a product we liked and couldn't find anything that fit our vision. Since I'm an engineer working at a product design firm who also learned woodworking from my grandfather, I decided to design and build my own. My wife left for work to a pile of wood laying in the middle of the garage floor and when she came home we had our own simple, clean-lined open shelf vanity. I knew since we struggled there had to be a market for similar vanities that could be customized if needed.
Shortly after, I began experimenting with my other passion: designing unique artwork for print, canvas, and other media. I started with a focus on major Ohio cities because my wife and I were both raised in Ohio and we know the passion and local pride in these areas. The designs are printed locally and customizable. Also, keep a look-out for more U.S. cities coming soon.
Q: What makes your products unique?
A: I think what separates D&W Elements is the fusion of modern clean lines with inspiration and materials from the past. This is illustrated in our vanities that have a modern simple, open feel but still have a rustic rugged element. The same goes for our Ohio skyline prints, which take cues from vintage artwork with an updated modern spin. A new product, Ohio sheet metal signs, is inspired by vintage oil signs from the 50's and 60's. Many of our designs, such as our limited edition side tables and laser-etched coasters, also utilize locally-sourced reclaimed barnwood. I continue to look for new materials, create new products and find new inspiration. I am always open to new ideas, suggestions, and feedback from customers as well.
Q: What do you like about being part of the Celebrate Local family?
A: Celebrate Local is such a great place to be a vendor. The management and staff are always helpful and make each vendor feel appreciated and important to the store's success. The talent seen in the store is awesome and I feel really proud to be a part of such a talented group of local artists and small businesses. Celebrate Local does a great job supporting these businesses and promoting them to the public. I couldn't be happier to be a part of the Celebrate Local family.
Learn more about Dan and D & W Elements or head to our Celebrate Local shop to see what's in stock!