Kagu Studio

Jun 25

Kagu Studio

Portland, OR

I am a designer and maker with more than 20 years of experience exploring and shaping materials to serve the needs of commercial and residential clients who love natural materials and well crafted, beautiful furniture. I love generating ideas for clients who are looking for unique solutions especially for reception and conference furniture. I am an excellent designer and engineer and pride myself in being resourceful, partnering with local fabricators, upholsterers, finishers and installers to complete a project from beginning to end. I am hands on when it comes to shaping the making process, selecting materials, and understanding site conditions. I enjoy working closely with clients, I.T. staff, and local vendors too and ensuring function and once in a while delight with my design work. My goal is to generate interesting work using local materials and resources, eventually growing a full line of furniture for the contract market. I also hope to become a solid local employer.

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Project Types

Commercial
Residential

Impact Areas

Locally Sourced Materials
Locally Manufactured
Locally Fabricated or Assembled
Locally Owned + Operated
Minority/Women Owned Business

“I fell in love with design and woodworking while working in publishing after getting a degree in English literature in college. I decided to make a career change and made my way to a master’s program at the Rhode Island School of Design, where I was exposed to a large world of materials and processes. I learned to machine, weld, forge, cast, and upholster. With that beginning and throughout the next 20+ years I grew my skills and applied myself to learning everything I could about the furniture world. It was a logical step to start my own business to continue my exploration”

— Liz Lee Holoubek

Featured Projects

Minam River Lodge

One of our most challenging projects was to design and fabricate custom furniture for Minam River Lodge, a remote wilderness lodge in Eastern Oregon. Because most of the furniture had to be airlifted in by helicopter, we employed a rigorous approach to efficiency. We designed for flat pack shipping and assembly for many pieces, ensuring the structure was solid after they arrived on site and were assembled by the staff. We hand selected reclaimed fir for each piece with the goal of capturing the beauty of aged wood in clean, modern pieces that pay tribute to the experience of the wilderness, a simple way of being.