Since opening his shop in Santa Cruz 19 years ago, Gabe Statsky’s fine furnishings and ability to coax wood into seemingly impossible forms have earned him a cadre of admirers in the Bay Area design world and beyond. “There’s really nothing quite like seeing the reaction from the client when I deliver a piece,” Statsky explains. “It hits a lot of levels in terms of gratification and satisfaction.”
Among his latest projects? A massive dining table made of a thick slab of wood from a centuries-old Goliath that fell in Big Sur. Here, we get to know the custom furniture maker on a more personal level.
Name a dream trip you’re dying to take.
My wife, Carlie, and I really want to take the kids to northern Italy, where her family is originally from. She’s never been there. I haven’t been to Europe in a long time, so that’s the next goal.
Name a favorite local spot to take an out-of-town guest.
I love bringing people to a beautiful open area next to the shop called the Pogonip.
What book are you currently reading?
I just finished “The Drifters” by James A. Michener. I love historical fiction, and Michener is one of my favorite authors.
What’s an item on your bucket list?
I would love to figure out a way to spend a year or so abroad with the family in Australia, where my wife lived for half of her life.
Divulge your dream collaboration.
I feel like I am living my dream collaboration in working with Jen Macdonald (JRI Interiors). She is incredibly talented, she sells me to clients, and she knows and trusts my aesthetic.