Willie Willette Works With the Grain
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For nearly 20 years, Willie Willette’s life has revolved around wood. He puts wood front and center when he designs beautiful pieces of furniture. He and his fellow woodworkers at Willie Willette Works in Minneapolis turn walnut, cherry and oak into one-of-a-kind conversation starters.
And yet, oddly enough, Willette’s life work is not about the wood. He says the joy comes not from the wood, but from the making of wonderful things.
“I like the term that people are using, ‘He’s a maker.’ I like it when that’s how people describe me,” Willette said. “They say, ‘Oh, you’re a carpenter.’ I’m like, ‘No, I make stuff.’”
The Skinny
- Fun Fact: Willie makes a mean brunch.
- Willie Willette Works
3338 SE University Ave
Minneapolis, MN 55414 - williewilletteworks.com
- 612.333.3022
Willette and his team of woodworkers ply their craft in a studio above a cupcake shop. Walking into Willie Willette Works, you immediately notice something unexpected -- rows of books lining the walls. Willette is an avid book collector. He makes a point of finding a hardcover version of every book he’s ever read.
Willette is something of an open book himself. His candidness and sense of humor charm just about everyone. He doesn’t take himself too seriously. Example: He’s not above helping the owner of Cupcake Café (his downstairs neighbor) build a giant wooden float in the shape of a cupcake for an upcoming parade.
It’s Willette’s eye for good design that keeps clients coming back for more. Willette creates each piece to meet a client’s specific needs – simple, clean lines if the project calls for it, or an item with more flourishes if need be. He loves working with natural materials, such as walnut, ash and elm. Many of his pieces are carefully crafted and finished to show off the wood's natural beauty.
“The people who are drawn to the quality we provide are the people whose dad is a woodworker, or they loved woodworking in high school, or they are really creative,” Willette said.
Willette founded in his business in 1996 after working in the exhibitions departments of the Walker Art Center and the Children’s Museum of Minnesota. He said he knew he was a maker and wanted to put his craft to good use.
“I was always making something. Not necessarily woodworking, but I was always making something,” Willette said. “I knew I could build things, so I got a studio to build things. I thought I’d be working with artists a little bit more, but everything pretty quickly trended towards furniture.”
Image by Noelle Bakken Photography
Willette’s shop consists of three spaces totaling 5,700 square feet, where Willette and his staff of master woodworkers work their magic. This studio, filled with sample boards, power tools and scaled furniture drawings, attest to his love of design, craft, and just simply, making things.
View samples of the pieces that Willie Willette and his staff at Willie Willette Works make at www.williewilletteworks.com and the company's Facebook page.
Image by Noelle Bakken Photography
Top photos by Noelle Bakken Photography.
