Hi everyone–it’s a pleasure to meet you!
If you are reading this on our website, and you’ve had a chance to browse around, then you will already have a sense of who we are and what we do. If you landed here from elsewhere, then some introductions are in order.
We are Mike and Julie, and we are Square Peg Designs.
WHAT DO WE DO?
The official, longer answer (which Julie likes because it has more words) has something to do with seeing ‘dormant beauty’ in ‘reclaimed objects’… ‘creating one-of-a-kind…with an industrial chic feel.’ All true but, you know, yada yada yada.
The short answer (Mike’s preference) is that we like to turn cool, old stuff into even cooler (if you can imagine) new stuff. Like these lights which we are really infatuated with!
WHY SQUARE PEG?
Well, now there’s a story. But we’ll spare you the sordid details.
To get the gist, just think of the misfit, the nerd, the loner, the dork, the nonconformist, the oddball, the maverick…that strange species of human that is somehow a square peg in a round hole, an unusual individualist who doesn’t quite ‘fit.’
We are a couple of square pegs. No doubt about that. But the materials we use to make our products are also square pegs in their own right: objects that were once valued but have, over time, been cast aside for something more functional, more useful, or more beautiful. We think that many of these objects–floor boards, industrial bases, Mason jars, shoe lasts–just need a little ‘encouragement’ to become something useful once again and, hopefully, pretty cool to look at as well.
WHERE CAN I FIND SQUARE PEG STUFF?
Check us out on our website, our blog, and on our Facebook page. And, of course, check back here where we will let you know what we are working on.
WHAT WILL THIS BLOG BE ABOUT?
Be prepared for a bit of a motley crew here.
We’ll post pictures of items as we complete them, and also include some shots and details of projects we are in the process of creating or finishing, like this light. 
Sometimes, we’ll let you know about cool resources and events in the area, and sometimes the blog will just be a wonderful cathartic place where the square pegs that we are can muse about things we love (and don’t love) to eat, drink, see, think about, hear, etc.
The common thread is that we’ll give you some insight into our journey as our little venture unfolds, and hope that you will tell us what you like, what you don’t like, and what you’d like to see more of.
Well, that’s all for now folks. Stay tuned for our next post where we’ll show you one of the projects we were working on during our never-ending winter (that, apparently, did end)–yeah!
Cheers, everyone,
from a couple of square pegs
Just found your site and I love what you do. Do you take orders for custom pieces? I’m looking for a family-friendly coffee table with a reclaimed top, maybe old floor boards or something?
Hi there,
Thanks for visiting the site and checking us out. We certainly do take orders for custom pieces and will try and create a piece that will suit your needs. Specific types of wood including floor boards will vary based on what we can find, but I am confident we will be able to design something just right for you. If you would like, please send us a note on the “Contact Us” page with some of your specifics and we can get started. We’re looking forward to working with you!
Hello there…I absolutely love your work! Reclaiming used items and integrating them to recapture their beauty and function, to give them a new purpose (life)…we need more of this attitude in this throw-away society. Kudos to you! I’m especially interested in your lamps. I’m looking for one that is tall and sturdy enough to stand alone on the floor and hang over the back of my couch. Anything in the works like that?
Hello, and welcome to the site! We’re so happy you stopped by… We love finding new life in old things and saving beautiful objects from untimely trips to the landfill. And as luck would have it we are currently working on a few projects that might fit your needs. We came into possession of a few 100 year old plus (approximately), wooden lamp stands that need a little reworking but should be beautiful when they are finished. Plus we are working on a couple of designs that will be topped by old wooden pulleys that can provide the structure to hang lighting, which would float over the back of a couch. If you are interested in learning more, please feel free to send more details on your specifics on the “Contact Us” page of the site. And as our various projects reach completion we will be posting new photos on the product pages, so check back soon. In fact, I think we’ll be taking some new pictures today. Thanks again for your interest… We hope to hear from you again!
Those ideas sound intriguing. I’ll send you more specifics as requested and keep watching your site for new items. Thanks so much for replying so quickly! Good luck with your event this weekend. 🙂