Of all the handmade pieces Don Yacovella displayed at Bryn Mawr’s Clover Market in April, the one that got the most attention was a sleek, black walnut lounge chair and ottoman with dark-gray cushions. “People went crazy over that gray fabric,” says Yacovella.
Yacovella has been much in demand among those looking to commission custom furniture for their homes. Based in Bucks County, he works in two distinct styles: mid-century modern and industrial. “I like clean lines,” says Yacovella. “I make the design styles unique by taking the time to find really interesting wood grains that set the pieces apart.”
Yacovella’s work is inspired by iconic furniture-makers like George Nakashima and Wharton Esherick. His designs are constructed of steel and wood—anything from live-edge cherry to salvaged barn beams. Recently, a Radnor client commissioned Yacovella to make three matching mid-century-modern credenzas for her living room. “She has a contemporary-style house with an odd-shaped living room that has a wall of narrow windows,” he says. “So doing something custom was her best option.”
You can meet Don Yacovella at the Clover Market in Bryn Mawr on June 5.