Today we’d like to introduce you to Fred Rossi.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I have always enjoyed making, building, creating. From cardboard carpentry as a kid to designing and building theatrical sets at St. John’s Prep and the University of Pennsylvania the act of making existed as an avocation. I built sets for the film industry for my first jobs after college. Not until after earning my MBA from the Wharton School and following the corporate path did I realize that making could become a true vocation.
I left the corporate world in 1999 with the opportunity to build my home in Manchester-by-the-Sea, Mass. Swinging a hammer for a year made me realize I needed to pursue designing and creating. Furniture, not homes, became the focus. I took a deep dive working with wood’s grain structure and color variations. My first pieces focused on attention to detail and beautiful finishes which invited the end user to touch and use the pieces. Later I turned my sites to incorporating curves and arches into the designs. Curves speak to and connect with people far better than sharp-cornered rectilinear forms. Nature appears to us in soft curves not 90 degree angles.
When not designing and building, I mentor teens as a Boy Scout leader. This puts me in the backcountry quite often. Backpacking through New Hampshire’s White Mountains or California’s Sierras keeps me immersed in nature especially trees. Big old trees! For me, very cool stuff. Nature is the greatest designer and builder.
You can find StudioRossi at the intersection of my desire to make things and my love of nature. Every time I plane a shaving off a plank the piece of wood reveals a sight no other person has ever seen. I love living and working at this crossroad.
As you review our portfolio you will find refined detail, accentuated wood figure and lustrous finishes. We look forward to working with interior designers and end users whether it is to send off an item from our collections or to collaborate on a custom piece.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Creating fresh designs while keeping existing pieces in production can be challenging. Interior designers and design boutiques frequently search for the new thing. There is a fine line between new and trendy however and StudioRossi strives for enduring designs not the next fad.
Material sourcing has become more challenging. Finding high quality hardwoods is more difficult than in years past. We have partnered with a local sawyer and tree companies to source local trees that would end up as mulch or firewood. Instead, we are able to turn these local resources into beautiful furniture.
Skilled labor has become scarce. StudioRossi needs people who take ownership in their work, have a keen eye for detail, and strive for perfection. 9-to-5, punch-the-clock help is not needed. Our community must strive to value craft/artisan workers if we want to enjoy quality products in our lives.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with StudioRossi – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
StudioRossi creates furniture which truly fuses beautiful forms with function. Our pieces are not simply show items. They become part of our clients’ family for many years. StudioRossi furniture while contemporary in design draws inspiration from classic forms. We specialize in what we term reductive design which strips unnecessary flourishes or ornamentation from pieces. We focus on the furniture’s line, visual weight and how it relates to the user.
We are particularly proud when a client enjoys the feel and touch of a piece. This physical connection is critical to a successful design and satisfied client. Graceful lines, lustrous finishes and beautiful wood grains distinguish StudioRossi’s design and building of furniture. Attention to detail throughout our furniture attracts interior designers and end users alike to StudioRossi.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
We constantly create new pieces for our existing collections. The current focus is to develop more outdoor furniture designs featuring pops of color on fun forms. Most outdoor pieces today are rather boxy and boring. We believe being outside is exciting and our furniture should reflect this fun.
Interior pieces will continue to be developed with a focus on seating to complement our new Window Arch dining table and our Double Arch chair.
From a retail perspective, we continually meet new interior designers, participate in nationally known furnishing shows and have begun selling wholesale to boutique design stores. We find interior designers and design stores are the key influencers who adopt new work earlier than most people. Ideally, we would like to be represented in design centers throughout the country.
E-Platforms are becoming particularly important for artisanal makers. Their reach internationally gives us access to many new markets. Currently StudioRossi sells through its own site StudioRossi.us and can be found on 1stdibs.com, Houzz and Chairish with more platforms to come.
Contact Info:
- Address: Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts
- Website: www.StudioRossi.us
- Phone: 617-905-6497
- Email: fred@StudioRossi.us
- Instagram: fred_rossi_studiorossi
- Facebook: @StudioRossi.us
Image Credit:
Marshall Dackert
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