S H O U S U G I B A N
June | 2014
Over the past two years Jeff Chikami has finally found his niche and a direction in his life. After working at a skate shop for six years and riding the unemployment train, he is now building showrooms, window displays, personalized furniture, and more. While these are some strong words, he is confident to say that he loves what he does. After deciding that building furniture is what he wanted to do, he has dedicated himself to just that, while making the most of what little resources he has. With no experience, hardly any tools, and constantly in-between houses, he has been able to build a clientele slowly but surely. He continues to find work with companies within the fashion and action sports industries and also maintain a steady work flow of building customized furniture. While he is working to not only support himself and his passions, he is also trying to create a name for himself, as well as, bring something new to the furniture world.
Over the past two years Jeff Chikami has finally found his niche and a direction in his life. After working at a skate shop for six years and riding the unemployment train, he is now building showrooms, window displays, personalized furniture, and more. While these are some strong words, he is confident to say that he loves what he does. After deciding that building furniture is what he wanted to do, he has dedicated himself to just that, while making the most of what little resources he has. With no experience, hardly any tools, and constantly in-between houses, he has been able to build a clientele slowly but surely. He continues to find work with companies within the fashion and action sports industries and also maintain a steady work flow of building customized furniture. While he is working to not only support himself and his passions, he is also trying to create a name for himself, as well as, bring something new to the furniture world.
Q & A
How did you get into building furniture?
I was working at a skate shop for six years and living on unemployment. I was aimless. I was just skating, drinking...didn't think about anything and was enjoying it. I was doing a lot of nothing. When I was unemployed I built a guitar rack for the condo I was living in at the time. It was built super barbaric. Since I didn't really know what I was doing… I thought it was awesome and shitty at the same time, but I think that sparked it. During this time, I sat down with myself and thought about what I wanted to do in my life. It always lead back to me doing something physical, building things, having creative freedom and a tangible object at the end.
After that I started going to lumberyards and talked to a few friends who had an interest in wood work as well. Everybody I talked to recommended Cerritos City College, said it was the best program to learn the basics. I enrolled in a class 2 years ago and am still there today…not so much taking classes, but labs so I can use their equipment.
Why take this route?
After building that guitar rack I went to the Pasadena Huntington Library and there was a Sam Maloof exhibit. I knew nothing about wood working at the time or who he was for that matter. I really enjoyed his work and style, soon to find out he was one of the most infamous American wood workers as far as chair building goes. I looked into his lifestyle and read up on him. I knew that was the life I wanted to have. I wanted to constantly be building stuff and working on something new…having beautiful furniture at the end of it and people having it to enjoy.
What's your work process like?
I'm in between houses constantly, couch surfing between my friend Austyn's house and my parent's house. I've been using there spaces as my wood shop, but most of my time building is spent at Cerritos College. I get pretty obsessive when I work. I work anywhere from two to twelve hour days depending on my mind set. When I get a new project, first thing I do is sit down, draw everything out and think of a game plan including budget, design, and dimensions. Then I go to the lumberyard, purchase everything, and from then on build. I try and set goals day to day or weekly.
Have you been able to survive off of your work?
Not really, but because how everything has been dealt to me it kind of has. I don't have any rent. My car is paid off… I don't really have a lot of overhead. After teaming up with my friend Jared, who does interior design, I've been able to get a decent amount of work including building personal furniture. Its worked out so far, my friends will ask me to build them something... their friends will see my piece and reach out to me, it's good!
Depending on what job I get, I set aside money to buy wood or new tools to try and make something else, something new. Wood is extremely expensive. Some people don't realize that, myself included.
Where do you get your inspiration?
Sometimes movies. I'll notice a piece of furniture in a scene and replay it over and over. I'll study it. Tim Burton being one of them, a lot of his sets are extremely creepy, which I enjoy. I also go to farmer's markets or old antique shops, inspiration is everywhere.
What's your favorite style to work with?
Sho Shugi Ban is the closest thing I have to a signature. It's usually used for the exterior of housing where traditionally people in Japan would do it to make wood less resistant to catch on fire and repel bugs, but I began using it as a finish for interior furniture. I thought it was a pretty interesting finish technique because there's so many different levels. You could burn it to a crisp, make it crackle and create all this texture, where it almost looks as if its the skin of an alligator. You can burn it mildly and brush off all of the soot and dirt … it looks really nice, but each one is way different. There's so much versatility to it and different kinds of characteristics you can get out to it.
What do you do on your free time?
I enjoy a good cup of coffee, a good, delicious meal from Taco bell, In-n-Out, and La Estrella. I skateboard, play basketball, hangout with my friends. Music, more so listening than playing…I do play the guitar, sometimes bass, and the piano. I also like to cook…I recently cooked a salmon glaze with a citrus salsa, tucked in just nice on a bed of couscous. I got it from Giada. She's a sweetheart.
What's your goal?
At some point I want to have a full furniture line...a few of them. I'd like to have some kind signature pieces of furniture where people recognize it. I want to create a style. I want to bring something new to the furniture world. I know that's tough since so many people are doing it, but I think that's every furniture designers' goal.
How did you get into building furniture?
I was working at a skate shop for six years and living on unemployment. I was aimless. I was just skating, drinking...didn't think about anything and was enjoying it. I was doing a lot of nothing. When I was unemployed I built a guitar rack for the condo I was living in at the time. It was built super barbaric. Since I didn't really know what I was doing… I thought it was awesome and shitty at the same time, but I think that sparked it. During this time, I sat down with myself and thought about what I wanted to do in my life. It always lead back to me doing something physical, building things, having creative freedom and a tangible object at the end.
After that I started going to lumberyards and talked to a few friends who had an interest in wood work as well. Everybody I talked to recommended Cerritos City College, said it was the best program to learn the basics. I enrolled in a class 2 years ago and am still there today…not so much taking classes, but labs so I can use their equipment.
Why take this route?
After building that guitar rack I went to the Pasadena Huntington Library and there was a Sam Maloof exhibit. I knew nothing about wood working at the time or who he was for that matter. I really enjoyed his work and style, soon to find out he was one of the most infamous American wood workers as far as chair building goes. I looked into his lifestyle and read up on him. I knew that was the life I wanted to have. I wanted to constantly be building stuff and working on something new…having beautiful furniture at the end of it and people having it to enjoy.
What's your work process like?
I'm in between houses constantly, couch surfing between my friend Austyn's house and my parent's house. I've been using there spaces as my wood shop, but most of my time building is spent at Cerritos College. I get pretty obsessive when I work. I work anywhere from two to twelve hour days depending on my mind set. When I get a new project, first thing I do is sit down, draw everything out and think of a game plan including budget, design, and dimensions. Then I go to the lumberyard, purchase everything, and from then on build. I try and set goals day to day or weekly.
Have you been able to survive off of your work?
Not really, but because how everything has been dealt to me it kind of has. I don't have any rent. My car is paid off… I don't really have a lot of overhead. After teaming up with my friend Jared, who does interior design, I've been able to get a decent amount of work including building personal furniture. Its worked out so far, my friends will ask me to build them something... their friends will see my piece and reach out to me, it's good!
Depending on what job I get, I set aside money to buy wood or new tools to try and make something else, something new. Wood is extremely expensive. Some people don't realize that, myself included.
Where do you get your inspiration?
Sometimes movies. I'll notice a piece of furniture in a scene and replay it over and over. I'll study it. Tim Burton being one of them, a lot of his sets are extremely creepy, which I enjoy. I also go to farmer's markets or old antique shops, inspiration is everywhere.
What's your favorite style to work with?
Sho Shugi Ban is the closest thing I have to a signature. It's usually used for the exterior of housing where traditionally people in Japan would do it to make wood less resistant to catch on fire and repel bugs, but I began using it as a finish for interior furniture. I thought it was a pretty interesting finish technique because there's so many different levels. You could burn it to a crisp, make it crackle and create all this texture, where it almost looks as if its the skin of an alligator. You can burn it mildly and brush off all of the soot and dirt … it looks really nice, but each one is way different. There's so much versatility to it and different kinds of characteristics you can get out to it.
What do you do on your free time?
I enjoy a good cup of coffee, a good, delicious meal from Taco bell, In-n-Out, and La Estrella. I skateboard, play basketball, hangout with my friends. Music, more so listening than playing…I do play the guitar, sometimes bass, and the piano. I also like to cook…I recently cooked a salmon glaze with a citrus salsa, tucked in just nice on a bed of couscous. I got it from Giada. She's a sweetheart.
What's your goal?
At some point I want to have a full furniture line...a few of them. I'd like to have some kind signature pieces of furniture where people recognize it. I want to create a style. I want to bring something new to the furniture world. I know that's tough since so many people are doing it, but I think that's every furniture designers' goal.