eSSa Studios - Custom Cabinets, Furniture, Upholstery — Local services in San Rafael

In our lives there are many milestones that find a way to lodge themselves into that rolodex we call a memory. Milestones that we experience and subsequently tell ourselves we finally joined the ranks of the adult. Of coarse that is until the next experience proves the exception, and coincidently here I am having such an experience.

First lets roll back that rolodex and revisit some of those lasting recollections, just to give reference.

That day ones driver license first arrives in the mail, the child in the picture staring back at you with those aged and ever wise 16 year old eyes. How carefully you slid it into that Fossil wallet bought specifically for the occasion. The smell of leather erasing any remembrance of the velcro bill fold now discarded like so many other childish things you have no need for.

Thumb through those aged card again and you come across that first beer you bought at the local dive bar. The half second that stretched itself out into eternity as you wait for the bartender to ask for your ID. In a moment of serendipitous while you hand over that laminated card you coveted only 5 years past, all you can think of is how young you look, those once wise eyes taking on a semblance of innocents.

One more spin and you stop at your first bed. Not the one mom and dad bought you as a kid, nor the hand me down mattress you dragged to your first apartment. I’m talking about the day the mattress came off the ground, the day you purchased a bed frame and you slept two feet above the floor like a king, a king upon a queen, no bed skirt needed. Something so insignificant and yet so weirdly impactful.

Which brings me to today, that day I gave my wallet a bed. Not just any bed, a tray handcrafted by Essa Studios. With it's natural walnut finish, the words elegant and rustic are able to intertwine seamlessly in a rare occurrence. Every night as I tuck in my wallet on the corriente cowhide I’m reminded of a time where wallets, keys, and sunglasses lay strewn in a haphazard pile, and I reflect to myself, “I can’t believe I once thought I was...

Stop looking for anyone else to make your furniture. Ehsan simply is the best. I told Ehsan that I wanted to have a coffee table made for my new home. I had seen a steel and wood table at a Design Center showroom but was thinking of something slightly different -- a similar design but with a concrete top instead of wood. Ehsan said: "I have a concrete guy!" Of course he does. He's the best. We sketched the table on a cocktail napkin at Sam's in Tiburon (literally) and he went to work. The concept was a steel base with a concrete top fixed onto the base so that the top of the four steel posts were flush with the top. Given the design, the concrete top had to be made with absolute precision -- otherwise it would not fit perfectly on the steel base. I had a steel guy doing other work on my home and he was commissioned to make the base. Ehsan coordinated with him to establish the dimensions, then confirm that it was made to the spec. Then Ehsan made the concrete top. He delivered the steel base and concrete top, and I held my breath while we gently fixed the top to the base. There was zero margin for error and . . . it fit perfectly. Of course it did, he's Ehsan. It looks better than I ever imagined. In addition to making beautiful and flawless furniture, Ehsan is just a lovely person, and a dream to work with. In my experience, it's very unusual to encounter his combination of vision and passion on the one had, coupled with his precision and boundless dedication to craftsmanship. "Artistry" is not often harmonized with such professionalism -- Ehsan is responsive, on time, on budget and does it all with his ever...

Our sofa and chair hadn't been reupholstered in over 30 years. Being nervous about the expense and the prospect of making long-lasting decisions, we took about 5 months to pick fabrics and search for an upholsterer we could trust. Luckily we found eSSa Studios. From the first meeting to the final delivery we've been so happy with the experience. Great communication, quick responses, advice when needed (and we needed plenty of advice) and lots of patience and empathy. (Special thanks to Gaia!) And the result? Perfect. The craftsmanship and the attention to detail Ehsan and his team put into the project makes it worth every penny. If we have another project we'll probably take a while to choose fabric but at least we won't have to go hunting for someone to do the work. Thanks to you all at...