Lisa Brobst, Square One Design, Cedarburg

“I’M NOT TRYING TO DESIGN FURNITURE that’s trendy,” says Lisa Brobst, owner of Square One Design in Cedarburg. “I’m in it for the long haul.”

Brobst views her handcrafted wooden tables, stools and benches as art first; the furniture function plays a secondary role. “Every piece is kind of a sculpture,” she says.

Brobst’s main inspiration is the work of the late American woodworker George Nakashima, who incorporated natural wood edges in many of his designs. But she also finds ideas for her work in unlikely places.

“Inspiration comes from everywhere, even a park bench on the side of the road,” says Brobst. “I’ll go walk the dog and tell my husband I’m working on a design.”

A Steve Lacey industrial-design class at Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design turned Lisa Brobst on to furniture making. Her pieces can be found atSadler Gallery in the Third Ward, or online at squareonedesign.us.