Sisters of Sawdust was born of necessity: An old house, a missing fireplace, a possibility for inspiration.
The backstory: We knew the living room of our ca. 1915 house once had a fireplace — the gas connection was still there, but nothing remained of the structure. Two other rooms had a fireplace, though, and they matched. That’s when we thought: Can we recreate the corbels to replicate the fireplace?
But instead of deconstructing the original fireplace, we used new technology to create the brackets. We photographed the shape, traced the image, and developed a 3D model using the dimensions from the original piece. This sparked an idea: If we can recreate these historic pieces, can we recreate others?
As 3D printing evolves and more materials are available, it opened up the possibility of 3D printing using wood-based filament. This not only gives us design flexibility that comes from digital scans, but a method of creating new features using wood products.
This is how Sisters of Sawdust was born. We recognize the need to restore or recreate historic architectural details that might otherwise be lost to time. Our process honors the past but, by using cutting-edge technology, we’re also prepared for the future. Our goal is to create sustainable, affordable pieces that allow homeowners, contractors, and historic preservationists to bring history and character back to their spaces.
About Kristen
Sisters of Sawdust is where craftsmanship meets clarity. With a background in construction, design, and decades of journalistic storytelling, I bring a builder’s mindset to every project. I see not just what needs to be done, but how the pieces fit together. My work blends precise technical understanding with a clean, thoughtful design sensibility, resulting in spaces and solutions that feel intentional, functional, and beautifully made. Whether I’m restoring a historic detail, imagining a fresh built-in, or helping a homeowner navigate a renovation challenge, my goal is always the same: to create work that’s solid, smart, and crafted with heart.