Chagrin Valley Custom Furniture: Craftsmanship Meets Collaboration
What started in a basement woodshop in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, has grown into one of the most respected custom furniture studios in the country. Today, Chagrin Valley Custom Furniture (CVCF) operates from a 6,000-square-foot workshop filled with sawdust, creativity, and a small team of passionate designers and woodworkers who turn their clients’ visions into reality.
Led by owner and lead furniture consultant Zach Schulte, the CVCF team is redefining what “custom” means—building every piece from scratch, never from pre-fab parts. From elegant conference tables and live-edge dining pieces to imaginative epoxy river tables, every project is a collaboration between artisan and client. Their process blends old-world woodworking with cutting-edge technology, a commitment to quality, and a shared love of making something truly one-of-a-kind.
We caught up with Zach to learn how the company has evolved from its basement beginnings, what makes their shop culture so unique, and how TotalBoat epoxies and finishes have become essential tools in their craft.
Interview with Chagrin Valley Custom Furniture
Origins & Evolution
Q: Chagrin Valley Custom Furniture started in Sheldon’s basement and has since grown into a 6,000-square-foot facility with a full design team. From your perspective, what have been some of the key moments or turning points in that journey?
A: The first step, of course, was a huge moment. The day Chagrin Valley Custom Furniture left founder Shel Myeroff’s home woodshop and into a commercial studio. It was that day that we joined the ranks of Cleveland’s small businesses with a fresh sense of drive and vision.
Our second key moment throughout our growth was the day we embraced epoxy resin river tables as a custom product to market online. We were early in the epoxy resin and furniture trend; it was the right place at the right time.
Q: CVCF has built its reputation on true customization—no pre-fab parts, no assembly line builds. Why was that “from-scratch” philosophy so important to preserve as the company scaled?
From day one, we were committed to being a truly custom experience - something that is rare in the furniture industry. We quickly noticed how much customers value their input being integrated into a final design, and they were having a great experience throughout the process.
Team & Craftsmanship
Q: You now lead a talented team of designers and artisans. How would you describe the culture in your shop, and what do you think makes the team’s dynamic so successful?
A: Our company culture is easygoing, lighthearted but passionate, and we pride ourselves on having a work environment that makes you love coming to work every day.
I believe our dynamic is so successful because we seek out team members who contribute to our positive work environment, and mesh well with one another from a personality and work-ethic standpoint.
Q: Every CVCF project is a collaboration between the team and the client. What’s one of the most memorable or unexpected design requests your team has brought to life?
A: A recent one, actually - a custom staircase built for Davey Tree. We’ve built several conference tables for them over the years, but the custom staircase concept came out of left field. Needless to say, it came with all kinds of exciting challenges and learning experiences and turned out absolutely beautiful. A huge thanks to our team for knocking that one out of the park.
Design & Innovation
Q: You were instrumental in pioneering the epoxy “river” tables that helped define CVCF’s style. What first inspired you to experiment with epoxy resin, and what do you love most about working with it?
A: Woodworkers are always watching design trends in the industry. Back then, epoxy resin furniture and river tables were a new trend that everyone was trying themselves and posting on Pinterest, or elsewhere on social media. Eventually, a client called asking for a river table, and we jumped at the idea to jump on the trend ourselves.
Resin is a fantastic material. The versatility is unmatched. New ideas can always be tested, and it’s flexible enough to find uses in nearly any style of project.
Q: How have new tools or technologies expanded what’s possible for your builds?
A: New tools and tech have expanded our capabilities exponentially. Any woodworker knows this: having the right tool for the job is crucial.
Not only has our CNC machine allowed us to take on an array of different designs and kinds of projects, but it also delivers a higher-quality end product than the tools we had used previously. The detail we can deliver on custom logo etchings is something we’re proud of.
Q: Custom furniture can often feel personal and emotional for clients. What does it mean to you to create something that becomes part of someone’s home or workspace story?
A: Seeing the finished product in a client’s home, bringing their vision to life, is one of the most rewarding parts of the job. It makes all of the hard work worthwhile, and I’m always blown away by my team’s professionalism, craftsmanship, and creativity.
Customer Experience
Q: Your website emphasizes that building with CVCF should be a fun and rewarding experience. How do you and your team keep that spirit alive, even with complex or large-scale projects?
A: It’s really important to us that every customer is not only happy with the project itself, but with the process of creating it. Once you agree to make a custom piece with our team, you are invited to be as involved in the process as you want to be. Some prefer to be hands-off and relinquish creative control to our craftsmen and women, where others are keen to discuss the details along the way.
No matter your preference, we want every custom piece to feel like it’s the customer’s project from beginning to end. We’re just the hands that make it.
Q: You invite clients to visit the shop, give input, and even watch their pieces being built. How does that transparency influence the way your team works?
A: Truth be told, our transparency doesn’t influence the way we work at all.
We believe our processes are top of the line, and we use state-of-the-art materials and tools as we progress on a piece. From the point of hiring and training a team member, we strive to maintain our culture of authenticity and doing things right the first time. Curious fans or customers are always welcome to stop in at any time to see how we work and what we have to offer.
TotalBoat Connection
Q: Epoxy is a huge part of what you do—from artistic pours to structural bonding. What TotalBoat products have become staples in your process, and why?
A: Two in particular: TotalBoat ThickSet epoxy and TotalBoat High Performance Epoxy. We use both of these products nearly every day.
The High Performance we use for creating color samples, filling small cracks and voids on projects, and bonding small projects together.
ThickSet epoxy has been our go-to river table epoxy solution for years. Why? We love the quality of product and the result we get with it, and we have become deeply familiar with the nuances of working with the TotalBoat brand.
Q: Can you share a recent project where a TotalBoat product helped achieve a particular finish or solve a tricky challenge?
A: A couple of months ago, we made an exterior storefront sign for a local company and used the TotalBoat Halcyon finish to protect the exterior varnish from the elements. It turned out beautiful.
Q: For anyone inspired to start experimenting with epoxy woodworking, what’s one tip or best practice your team has learned through experience?
A: There’s a lot to learn. You’ll learn new things long after your first project is complete. Start small. And most importantly, educate yourself first on what factors affect the cure rate of the particular epoxy you’re using.
Looking Forward
Q: CVCF has evolved so much in the past decade. What’s next for the company—new materials, design directions, or innovations you’re excited about exploring?
A: Our company is constantly evolving. One product that we’re excited to introduce is hardwood doors with epoxy resin panels, built in collaboration with Bent Nail Millwork. Beyond that, we’re always trying to elevate the quality and uniqueness of our furniture designs, and the creativity of our customers constantly drives us forward.
Inspiration, Tools & Resources to Get You Started
As Chagrin Valley Custom Furniture continues to push the boundaries of design, craftsmanship, and true customization, we’re proud to support their work with the epoxy systems and finishes that help bring each project to life. Whether you’re exploring epoxy woodworking for the first time or looking to elevate your next build, be sure to check out our resources, tutorials, and product guides to get started.
And if their stunning river tables or custom builds have sparked an idea of your own, you can dive deeper into our epoxy solutions, woodworking finishes, and project inspiration to keep the creativity flowing.
Comments
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