Today we’d like to introduce you to Brandon and Casey Smith.
Hi Brandon and Casey, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
After coming together a few years ago, Brandon and I decided to build upon an idea I had just before dropping out of college. The idea was to pay homage to nature while also designing and building custom pieces of furniture that people couldn’t find but would love to have. The idea was called ‘Path Design.’
Chasing creativity, Brandon and I came together and began building a business from the ground up. We invested all of what we had saved into renting warehouse space and buying the tools we needed to get started. It started off slow, with one order a month, then two, then five, and after about a year, we found ourselves booked for months.
Building custom has provided us with a pretty unique look into the world of design. We’ve met people from all walks of life that live in houses, apartments, condos, and mansions. Each of their experiences has influenced not only their lifestyle, but also their individual style.
Working hand-in-hand with our customers to design and create one-of-a-kind, can’t find in big box store pieces allowed us a peek inside their minds and opened up our own.
Since we started this business together, we’ve built over 100 custom pieces of furniture, from dining sets to sidecar sleepers, for so many families and businesses in the tri-state area. In the process, we’ve expanded our shop, formed lasting relationships and become better builders.
Over the course of the last six months, our lives have changed quite a bit. After our shop being bought out from under us, we were left with a choice – find a new space and keep building or try something new. Being as spontaneous and adventurous as we are, we went with the latter.
That decision marked the beginning of the journey we are currently on. Brandon and I bought an old camper on Facebook Marketplace and spent a few months gutting and renovating the entire thing. Once it was complete, we packed up ourselves and two dogs and hit the road for the third time in four years.
Prior to becoming a woodworker, Brandon’s life and career centered on media – music, video, photo, etc. On this road trip, we have revisited his roots and have focused on creating in a whole new way than we had been used to for the last several years. Brandon is making and putting out music as I document and share where our ‘path’ has led us.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Starting a business from the ground up is never easy. The ups and downs are inevitable. The deciding factor on whether or not you will be successful is how you handle them. We have had our fair share of challenges, but have approached each one as a learning experience, as an opportunity to grow.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Path Design specializes in designing and building custom furniture. We are best known for our rustic, hardwood dining tables. From the start, there have been two very important cornerstones of our build process. First, to create exactly what our client wants, how they want it, from the best sustainable materials available. Second, to create an environment that brings people together.
The holidays are, not so surprisingly, our busiest time of the year. Delivering a table to a family just in time for Thanksgiving is pretty hard to describe. The idea that something that Brandon and I created will act as the gathering place for friends and family alike to share meals, stories and create lasting memories is incredibly fulfilling. It is our way of leaving little bits of us behind. It is our legacy.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Growing up, I was very outgoing. I was a conscientious student and focused a lot on school. I participated in extracurriculars, played sports and engaged with my more creative side as often as I could.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.pathdesign.us
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pathdesignco/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pathdesignco
- SoundCloud: soundcloud.com/pretty-colors
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@prtyclrs
Image Credits
Path Design Co.
Casey + Brandon Smith
