We Shape Our Buildings

At Ciseal, I know that the spaces we inhabit affect our mood, thoughts, and actions. As such, I aim to make products that inspire while looking fantastic.

Ciseal was inspired by the Midcentury Modern architecture and design that’s so prevalent in and around Detroit. The thoughtful, functional blend of nature and the modern, clean lines of these buildings influenced me to create my own designs using the classic Midcentury Modern method of molding bent plywood.

Ciseal began in 2013 with a few layers of wood veneer, a bottle of wood glue, a handmade mold and some clamps. Those ingredients made my very first product - the Ray iPad Stand (and I still use that original mold!). Ciseal has been growing steadily ever since - supporting my design habit one bent plywood product at a time.

Un-molding a Ray iPad Stand

I proudly design and make all of my products to-order and by hand in my Leonard, Michigan studio. I searched high and low for strong yet flexible wood veneer to make my products, and found it in a custom mix of maple, birch, and poplar. My wood layers are sustainably-sourced from responsibly-harvested forests in the upper midwest and northeast. Each Ciseal product is inspired by the world around me and thoughtfully vetted through countless hours of research, design, and crafting. The finished products I offer are the result of many iterations and fine tuning for comfort, usability, and style. The quality of my products is in the details: the intentional curves, the hand-layered, sustainable, beautiful wood veneer, and the ease of use.

Ciseal is an Irish Gaelic word for layer. It's pronounced KISH-ill by the Irish, but I've taken to pronouncing it sis-EEL

Woodlayering is my craft, but as a person, I’m always learning, growing, and evolving. Ciseal is about how we layer the trappings of life in a way that uniquely speaks to our soul. It’s a way of life, a mindset that focuses our attention on finding and embracing all of the layers that matter so that we are free to take our pleasure seriously.

Ciseal's Core Values

We embrace modernism.

We don’t follow the crowd without careful contemplation.

We consider curiosity a responsibility.

We embrace change.

We pursue truth.

We take no pride in being right.

We practice minimalism.

We remove distraction so that we can experience the pleasure of simplicity.

We appreciate when form follows function in a beautiful way.

We are fascinated by a soulful attention to detail.

We discover what matters uniquely to us, and pursue those things with the utmost joy.

We are free from the clutter of endless options because we have found our focus.

We support ethical production.

We believe that the pursuit of more things, bigger things, and cheaper things leaves both the consumer and planet empty things.

We make things the right way - even when it’s the hard way.

We know that slow furniture is always worth the wait.

We believe that fair compensation is a fundamental ingredient in a beloved product.

We think that an obsession with craftsmanship and quality is perfectly healthy.

We understand that beautiful, meaningful, timeless designs require high quality materials and production methods.

We envision that there is a future for American luxury and American quality.

We buy for keeps.

We are each the designers of our own lives.

We know that purposeful creation requires mindful curation.

We believe that our environment reflects who we are and influences what we do.

We create joy instead of waiting for it.

We curate homes that are as unique as we are.

We are inspired by our homes to live life to its absolute fullest.

What does your home inspire?

The Ciseal Team

Nicole Hodsdon

Owner | Designer | Chief Woodlayerer

Nicole began her circuitous route to founding Ciseal by practicing engineering at GM for several years. While at GM, the architecture and design of the Tech Center in Warren, MI inspired her to study Industrial Design and Crafts at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit. She took a class on bent plywood and was instantly hooked. She designs and makes each and every Ciseal product as well as answers every single email you send us. Her favorite movie is Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.

Lets keep in touch!

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