Meet Donnell and Marion Johnson | Craftsman & Woodworkers

We had the good fortune of connecting with Donnell and Marion Johnson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Donnell and Marion, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Our thought process was we ultimately wanted to create a business we enjoyed doing while also being profitable. Individually, we both had pursued different avenues in the past but nothing together. But woodworking and DIY projects for our home were something we both loved doing and were good at. Once we made a bed for our son, we realized this was more than a hobby. The overwhelmingly positive reaction we received from family, friends, and social media was the affirmation we needed to make this into a business. From there we started making things for neighbors, participating in local markets, and making things for those close to us. This naturally progressed to the beginnings of DeLowe Designs.

What should our readers know about your business?
We are an Atlanta-based woodworking company specializing in custom furniture, home décor, and creative storage solutions. We have a few things that set us apart from others. We like to change our products regularly. If you see something on our site that you want, you should get it then because there’s no guarantee it will be an available item once you return. With our products often changing, you never know what you will find. Our large items such as tables and desks are only available to local customers. We are selective about which custom orders we accept, so working with us is truly an exchange that everyone doesn’t have the opportunity to do. This was something we incorporated after doing many projects that just weren’t worthwhile. Making custom products has its challenges, clients not being certain what they are looking for or vision changes once we begin working but that’s just an obstacle we work through and expect when we are creating from scratch.

We are very proud of the workshop we’ve created. It’s taken almost two years to have a dedicated space to work from. We started buying used tools from a local store to purchasing tools we had only dreamed of having. We want to one day share our space with others offering “Make and Take” classes where you can build something yourself!

It wasn’t easy getting to where we are today. Starting from scratch, no formal training, no tools, everything acquired one piece at a time. We started with our dining room table, a matching bench. Then we built our son’s bed, which was a major turning point for us. The overwhelmingly positive reaction we received from our friends and family. It gave us the confidence and drive to keep going. This journey hasn’t been easy but it has happened organically.

What we want the world to know about DeLowe Designs is we are a small business ran by husband and wife who truly enjoy building useful things in a way that you don’t see every day. We love to bring imaginations to life. Nothing makes us more excited than our clients’ reaction when they see their idea manifested in front of them. We are still growing and evolving and have only begun to scratch the surface. We are small but we dream big!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Eating is one of my favorite hobbies so we’d have to go on a food tour. If we did breakfast it would be at Thumbs Up or Atlanta Breakfast Club. Brunch would be at Highland Bistro, amazing food and even better service. Lunch at Papi’s Cuban & Caribbean Grill. Grab bubble tea from Honey Bubble and finish with dinner at Baraonda. We would go to the Botanical Gardens and spend the day admiring the city. Going to local markets and fairs are some of my favorite things to do. You can find all sorts of unique products and food and learn about different local businesses.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Honestly, we would like to dedicate our Shoutout to the YouTube creators who selflessly share their knowledge and skills for others to learn, grow and pursue their interests.

Website: delowedesigns.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/delowedesigns/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pg/DeloweDesigns/photos/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBzERWr5pao&t=74s