About Us
Deaton Design Co is an Artisan owned and operated company offering full service design and construction. Authentic handmade craftsmanship has been our culture for generations.
Family owned & operated
High quality, locally sourced materials
Authentic handmade craftsmanship
Our Story
Deaton Design Co.is owned and operated by Benjamin Deaton, an Artisan from the Twin Cities area. Benjamin descends from a long line of makers, farmers, woodworkers, luthiers, educators, and craftsmen. Fully immersed in blue-collar culture, his first memories of the woodshop came very early. His mother managed the woodshop for a special education program at a local trade school (DCTC).
“I still remember my first project, a small wooden bear. I remember the bright lights of the shop, the huge machines, the smells of fresh cut lumber. I learned a few things very early…My mother was always inspiring, I knew I wanted to be around tools, and I saw that anyone was capable…that inspiring art can come from anywhere and anyone.”
As Benjamin grew up he also spent much of his summertime with his grandparents and relatives in rural Wisconsin, where modern society coexists with traditional Amish communities.
“I was immediately intrigued by the Amish woodshops. The intimidating machinery and immersive culture imprinted on me more than I expected. The family culture is about farming and sustainability, everything was for purpose, but art and craft is at the core. I loved growing up around Eau Claire County. Aunts and grandmothers sat in large rooms and stitched the most beautiful handmade quilts. I saw men raise barns with literal horse power…. most of everything that was needed was made. When woodwork needed refinishing, a new floor put in, it was done as a family. I saw that craft at its purest isn’t just a job, but a side effect of culture.”
Into the mid 90’s Benjamin gained interest in furniture making and woodwork. He began spending the summers working on projects with his grandparents, learning to build and restore various types of furniture for county fairs.
“I was blessed to spend so much time with my great grandparents. Laurice was a talented craftsman and Hazel was a school teacher. They taught me so much at an early age, we grew close, I still feel their presence everyday in my shop.”
After graduating school, Benjamin immediately joined the blue-collar workforce at a local concrete construction company, where he learned to form, pour, and finish concrete.
“The first couple years were developmental, I learned how a tradesman needs to function in the workforce and mastered the fundamentals. I had the best teacher and mentor there, Jeremy O’Neil, he forever has my respect.”
At 24, Benjamin accepted a foreman position with a decorative division in St. Paul, MN. There he earned Artisanship through apprenticeships and trade programs.
“The cities were bounding with variations and challenges. I remember hotels and restaurants, historic homes, new techniques, classes and overnight training, as well as running a crew. I had to learn a lot and do it quickly. There was a lot of sweat, a lot of opportunity. A few years later I found myself back at my original employer, leading a larger, higher profile decorative team.”
After resigning in 2018, Benjamin again drew his towards woodwork and furniture while working freelance for other construction companies.
“I started selling small items locally with reclaimed materials at a fair price. I didn’t have much at first, just a few hand tools and a garden shed to work out of. I’d practice in that shed under a lamp at night after work. I studied and practiced different design styles almost constantly. I’d try and make something nice and hustle it to any shop in town that would display it. After a while I was approached with larger and larger projects, eventually deciding to take the leap and start our own company.
“I wanted Deaton Design Co. to be as authentic as possible, to maintain quality over quantity, operate sustainably, and work with responsibly sourced materials. Today we work directly with the Amish communities of Wisconsin to harvest, mill, and dry all of out hardwood materials. I am very thankful to the cultures that have helped shape our company, and the clients that trust us with their vision.
The most satisfying part of finishing a project is knowing the memories and connections it may serve for years to come.”
—Benjamin Deaton
Our Work
Deaton Design Co. offers a wide variety of services, from interior & exterior design and construction to custom furniture and blacksmithing. For our full list of services, check out our Services page.
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