Finding your dream home or deep into a new build or renovation? Then you know all too well that a home is more than walls, electricity, and running water. It’s all about the little — and not so little — touches that make a house a home. Some of Santa Fe’s top designers open up their little black books and share their favorite craftspeople — everyone from iconic ironworkers to master woodworkers — for inspiration for your next project.
The Talented Craftspeople of Santa Fe
The early days of our home renovation — turning an adobe chicken coop and rambling succession of rooms into a home — were slow-going. While we longed for the fun of fabrics and fittings, we were faced with the mundane tasks of demolition, concrete slabs, and plasterboard. Like many reno projects, things looked worse before they got better.
With the structure in place, we turned our eye to the look and feel of our home — everything from doorknobs to custom doors and fire screens. It’s these details that transform your home into a place that reflects your style, whether you’re living in an ultra-modern des res, a traditional Pueblo or Territorial adobe, or something in between.
Luckily, in northern New Mexico, we’re spoiled for choice when it comes to artisans who are keeping alive, and reinterpreting, traditional crafts such as woodworking, dry stone walling, iron and tin work, and custom furniture making.
Ironwork
Caleb Kullman
Caleb Kullman combines traditional blacksmith forging techniques with modern machinery to create everything from entry doors and gates that look like they’ve stood for ages to practical yet stylish fireplace screens and tools. Designer Chandler Prewitt has worked with Kullman on several projects including custom gates and recently a beautiful fireplace tool kit. “Working with Caleb Kullman has been a seamless and inspiring collaboration,” he says. “His exceptional craftsmanship, attention to detail, and unique point of view consistently elevate our designs, bringing our creative visions to life with precision and artistry.”
Steve Dulfer
Steve Dulfer designs custom historical and contemporary ironwork. He ranges from furniture to lighting, gates, railings, and hardware. Designer Melinda Browning has worked with him on several projects for her clients, including a piece inspired by a historic gate she saw on a trip to Charleston. “Two years later, Steve and I were ruminating on a few pieces for a project I was working on, and I pulled out the photo of the gate and said, ‘What about a bed inspired by this gate?’” The result was a king-sized bed frame that spoke to that early inspiration. “Steve’s unique ability to take the seeds of an idea and refine them into something both useful and beautiful is a gift to the homeowners who live with his incredible work,” she says.
Woodworking
Roque Marquez
Jane Smith, interior designer and author of Santa Fe Sense of Place, has an eye for detail and the work of Roque Marquez is a case in point. “I first met him over 30 years ago,” she recounts, “when he was carving exquisite, lifelike birds out of a single piece of wood. He moved on to design his signature cross shutters (seen here in a home designed by Mary Clark) and now creates custom furniture, kitchen cabinets, doors, gates, windows, fences, and more,” Smith says. Call him at 505-501-1114.
Christopher Thayer
Santa Fe-based French & French have collaborated with Christopher Thayer for years to create custom pieces for boutique commercial and residential clients. “Many of our projects with Christopher draw inspiration from historic New Mexican furniture designs, dating back as far as the 1700’s. Christopher’s deep expertise in historical furniture design, combined with his exceptional artistic vision, have resulted in breathtaking, one-of-a-kind creations for organizations and families alike.”
Mike DeEmedio
Another French & French favorite is Mike DeEmedio who relies heavily on hand tools – hand planes, scrapers, hand saws, chisels and such — to create his stunning artisan pieces including chairs, cabinets, and tables. “Our most recent collaboration with Mike was to create 14 custom headboards for the Modern Elder Academy’s campus in Santa Fe,” they say. “Mike employed the Shou Sugi Ban technique — a captivating Japanese tradition that not only strengthens the wood through charring but also imparts a striking elegance to its finish.”
Rodrigo Rodríguez
Thea Mason, Interior Designer and co-owner of Three Roots, works closely with Rodrigo Rodríguez, a woodworker who creates furniture, décor and kitchen pieces for clients across the southwest in his Santa Fe workshop. “As a designer, I have a distinct vision of how I’d like to execute my designs,” says Mason. “Finding an artist to help make that reality happen is like striking gold. That’s why I respect and appreciate working with Master Carpenter Rodrigo Rodríguez. From concept to completion, he’s a great joy to work with.”
Boyd & Allister
When they need bespoke furniture, V&R team John Hare and Kelly Collum often turn to Boyd & Allister for pieces that are not only durable and functional, but also works of art. “What sets them apart is their unwavering commitment to quality, sustainability, and innovative design,” the two say. Boyd and his team are deeply versed in traditional woodworking techniques. “They combine these methods with modern aesthetics to create timeless pieces that resonate with both contemporary and classic interiors.”
Bill Graveen
Emily Henry of Emily Henry Interiors works closely with Bill Graveen of Graveen Design Studio for high end cabinetry and furniture. “We have collaborated on many projects and the results are consistently superb. He operates very under the radar, doesn’t have a website or social media account, but people in the know, know about him,” she says. “He started his career working in NYC and Long Island and moved to Santa Fe about 30 years ago. If you ask him how he ended up in Santa Fe, he will tell you that he was traveling across country checking out places to live out west, and then he kinda ran out of money in Santa Fe,” she laughs. “The same day he got here, he landed a job and a place to live. Clearly Santa Fe wanted him here.” Reach him at bgraveen@comcast.net.
Tinwork in Santa Fe
Justin Gallegos Mayrant
Justin Gallegos Mayrant is a master Santa Fe tinsmith whose work Jane Smith rates highly. “I first contacted Maurice Dixon, author of New Mexican Tinwork, whose chandeliers, sconces, and mirrors I had admired for years but he was no longer doing this, so he kindly recommended Justin Mayrant. I contacted Justin about two custom bath mirrors. He came over with ideas, photos, and tin, then custom designed and created the intricately innovative mirrors I still cherish. His designs are traditional New Mexican while adapting to the present. The Spanish Colonial Arts Society has also purchased pieces for their collections.”
Frames & Mirrors
Goldleaf Framemakers
Two gold leaf frames made their way safely from the east coast to our new home. After unpacking them, we discovered my father was expeditious with gorilla glue for repairs. Goldleaf Framemakers not only repaired an ornate Italian leaf frame and a French ‘bridal’ mirror but fitted each with custom silver-leafed glass, in keeping with their ages. Their work is meticulous – no wonder museums and galleries around the world turn to Goldleaf for both restoration as well as new frames.
Gallerist Aaron Payne of Aaron Payne Fine Art notes that the gilding techniques Goldleaf use are the same ones used during the Italian Renaissance. “We are lucky to have one of the finest framemakers in America here in Santa Fe. I encourage my clients from all over the country to have their work framed here,” Payne says. “The quality of the work is unsurpassed and they have deep knowledge about frames and what type of frame will work best with a particular work. They are a team of artists too, so they love what they are working with, and appreciate it.”
Custom Mural Painting
Jessie Baca
Drive around Santa Fe’s Eastside and you might notice beautiful paintings of birds and flowers that seem to float around exterior windows and doors. This is the work of Jessie Baca. Jane Smith is so smitten with the work that she had Baca create distinctive murals at her own home. “Jessie Baca paints in the Artisan tradition, which is deeply symbolic and often depicts animals and plants. Once she designs for you personally, she paints free hand on glass, plaster, and walls inside or out from small scale to large murals. Her art feels magical and adds joy and life around and in Santa Fe,” Smith says.
Rosas Doors
Rosas Doors, a family-run business, created the interior handcrafted doors for our own home renovation, including a series of arched doors that carry the eye down our hallways and create a sense of timeless elegance. Our inspiration was a series of 16th century Florentine doors that Rosas interpreted in perfect Santa Fe style. Give them a call at 505-795-2396.
Sherpa Stone
For any stone or marble work, Sherpa Stone is a must. They cut and fabricate stone whether it’s for kitchen countertops or a shower walls. They also have an extensive selection of stone on site, like the mottled grey soapstone we fell in love with and chose for our bar and sink.
Doug Oliver
Doug Oliver makes hand-carved doors and mantel pieces, drawing on John Gaw Meem for inspiration for our fireplace. Oliver works in both wood and clay and says he’s inspired by nature, art, people, and history. “What I try to capture most in my sculptures is movement and light,” he says.
Dry Stone Joe
Lastly, to the great outdoors. For another project we worked with dry stone wall guru Joe Dinwiddy, aka Dry Stone Joe. He took a lackluster garden and created a series of low walls and also planters that gave the space depth and dimension. He learned his craft during its revival in central Kentucky in the mid-1990’s. Each stone is cut to fit seamlessly next to its neighbor, like the perfect jigsaw puzzle.
The Recommenders
When we wanted to create a resource guide to Northern New Mexico’s top craftspeople, we knew who to ask. Here are details for the designers and gallerists who kindly opened their little black books to share the artisans with whom they relish working.
- Aaron Payne Fine Art
- Chandler Prewitt Design
- Emily Henry Interiors
- Jane Smith Interiors
- French & French Interiors
- Melinda Browning Interior Design
- Three Roots Design
- V&R Interiors
Story by Julia Platt Leonard
Photos Courtesy of the Craftspeople
Subscribe to TABLE Magazine’s print edition.
