Mark Deneau's Bio Mark Deneau specializes in creating high-end, custom studio furniture. Using wood and other natural materials, Mark creates one-of-a-kind tables, cabinets, armoires, doors, mirrors, frames, beds, and other furniture. Mark’s entire career has been dedicated to mastering creative precision work, and he has been a professional artisan for more than 35 years. In 1980, he opened his own wood shop. Since then, he has focused on exceeding his customers’ expectations. He has a rare talent for being able to implement other peoples’ ideas in such a way that they turn out better than expected. Mark makes it a point to observe the customer’s tastes and preferences; he also considers the space a new piece will occupy, and the way it will fit into its owners’ lives. Harmony is his ultimate goal; every detail of a new piece will be harmonious on its own, but will also be perfectly suited to its environment and the lifestyle of its owner. Mark takes pride in being able to assimilate his customers’ ideas, and distill them down to their purest essence. From there, he adds his own expertise to implement the ideas in the best way possible. He knows a piece is finished when it is as good as he can make it without any additional improvements. Prior to opening his own studio, Mark’s first job was working for artist and sculptor Ray Howlett. The job required a high level of precision; the pieces he created had to be built to optical perfection. During that time, Mark discovered that detailed precision work suited his personality. Mark’s passion for precision is apparent in every aspect of his life, from his vocabulary to his studio, but it is particularly evident in his woodwork. After that experience, Mark progressed to working in the construction industry. It did not take long for him to discover that certain aspects of that business did not interest him. While those experiences have been valuable in helping him understand the process of homebuilding from start to finish, he was delighted to leave the drywall to someone else. He decided he wanted to focus on carpentry. From there, he became a finish carpenter, before finally opening his own shop and creating his own designs. The two hallmarks of Mark’s work are clean lines and harmonious proportions. Sam Maloof and George Nakashima have been important sources of inspiration for him. He also draws inspiration from craftsman furniture, which is known for its simplicity. Mission furniture, art deco furniture, and midcentury modern furniture have also been highly influential in his work. Mark has worked in every conceivable style, and is capable of creating furniture reminiscent of any artistic movement; however, he achieves the greatest satisfaction when creating pieces with clean lines and harmonious proportions. Mark’s work is prized for its simplicity and outstanding attention to detail. His work can be found in the private collections of celebrities and discerning collectors. Client list / references are available upon request Mark’s work is prized for its simplicity and outstanding attention to detail. His work can be found in the private collections of celebrities and discerning collectors. Client list / references are available upon request