Ali Sandifer

"We plan to give each of our sons a stool when they are older. My wife and I placed a photograph of our fathers and a candle on each stool to honor them during our wedding. These handmade pieces started the unification of our family. Our pieces were limited editions and look like nothing else out there. They are beautiful, refined, and full of character."

- Marty, Detroit
"I wanted a gorgeous piece of furniture that was timeless but design focused. My Edith is all that, plus it's beautifully crafted, sustainably produced and the client service during the creation process was extraordinary. Bonus points for being made in Detroit, my hometown!"

- LeeAundra, Los Angeles
"I have a piece that was designed to meet my needs over 20 years ago. From girlfriend turned wife to two kids, it has stood the test of time. As our family grew, it transitioned from media unit to toy storage to bench. After moving through several homes, it's finally mine again. This longevity and flexibility is not an accident. Ali Sandifer pieces age gracefully."

- Yusef, Toronto
"Sheila was made just blocks from our loft and delivered by the artists! We love the modern design and raw look. This is a piece that we will pass on to our kids. They are learning to "respect the wood" by helping with its annual conditioning. We also make a big deal out of water rings."

- Naomi, Detroit
"Even as my ex-husband and I went separate ways, we battled it out for the Ali Sandifer piece. That is how much we loved it. My favorite part is its profile view with all the angles. It's such a modern take on mid-century. We finally settled on joint custody."

- Doris, Windsor
"Our coffee table has followed us to three homes. The first move was cross-country and we drove for five days, rather than fly for five hours, to make sure our piece was safe. It was a really fun road trip thanks to the table! Over the years, we’ve noticed that children love to sit on it like a bench. Something about the proportions and height make it inviting to little people. Now that our own daughter is older, the kitten has claimed it. The table is a conversation piece and a part of our family. Twenty years later, it's timeless."

- Peter, Vancouver Island
"Ten years, multiple marks, and some permanent marker later, it’s still beautiful. When we were a new couple, we entertained around it. It’s a conversation starter. Then the kids came. The first one claimed it with snacks, toys, and art. The second one used it for stunts. Right now, it's temporarily in hiding until the climbing phase is over. We don’t know when it will reemerge but we do know that it’s staying with us for a long time. It's an heirloom that will be passed down."

- Dottie, Detroit

Design is our passion and craft is our medium. Ali Sandifer is a design studio and workshop with a particular fondness for furniture. Our collection is born from a simple belief that design, material, and craft must work together to achieve intelligence, beauty, and longevity. Our design process is sincere. We approach each challenge in search of a solution. We talk. We research. We question. We sketch. We prototype. We work at full-scale through multiple iterations until we arrive at the final product. We consider Ali Sandifer to be a laboratory for experimentation and refinement. The integrated nature of our operation allows us to move fluidly between studio and workshop, and design and craft.

What it is.

In a world of throw-away everything, Ali Sandifer is committed to making furniture that is meant to be passed down to future generations. More than just an object, each piece is approached as an heirloom with an origin story. Oils and waxes are preferred over stains to celebrate the tree each piece comes from. Sap wood, typically eliminated, is elevated alongside mature wood. The back, underside, and insides of a piece are just as important as the front and top. Marks and scratches over time, from everyday use, are considered part of the patina. At Ali Sandifer, we encourage a ‘no table cloth needed’ approach because we believe that life, in all its greatness and imperfections, is beautiful just as it is.

Why it matters.

1_Sheila in Walnut Axo View (DSC7477).JPG

2_Edith in Walnut Side View (DSC7292).JPG

3_Zaide in Walnut Axo View (DSC7164).JPG

5_Tele in Maple Back Axo View (MGL8488).JPG

8_Edith in Walnut Axo View (DSC7284).JPG

9_Unreleased Three Colors Axo (MGL5561).JPG

11_Sheila in Walnut Front Drawers (MGL8342).JPG

12_Lene Hero in Three Colors (MGL5589).JPG

Website

alisandifer.com

Date

Founded in 2004

Place

Detroit, Michigan

Team

Abir Ali & Andre Sandifer (cofounders)

Photography

Howrani Studios

"It's their intensive, months-long collaborative process that gives Ali Sandifer furniture integrity, soul, and great functionality. The two conceive each piece together, starting with conversations and hand sketches."

- American Craft Council

Ali Sandifer

"I wanted a gorgeous piece of furniture that was timeless but design focused. My Edith is all that, plus it's beautifully crafted, sustainably produced and the client service during the creation process was extraordinary. Bonus points for being made in Detroit, my hometown!"

"Sheila was made just blocks from our loft and delivered by the artists! We love the modern design and raw look. This is a piece that we will pass on to our kids. They are learning to "respect the wood" by helping with its annual conditioning. We also make a big deal out of water rings."

"Even as my ex-husband and I went separate ways, we battled it out for the Ali Sandifer piece. That is how much we loved it. My favorite part is its profile view with all the angles. It's such a modern take on mid-century. We finally settled on joint custody."