WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING…

LOW CABINET-ON-STAND | HODKINSON

“We agreed on a design and then let Kenton loose! Lesson: never constrain an artist. He has an intuitive sense of esthetics. The cabinet has impeccable quality and was well worth the wait. The design and workmanship were the embodiment of perfection. We unreservedly recommend him.
P.S. He's also a lot of fun!”
- Nicole and Roger Hodkinson (2021)

TABLE | FORSTER

“Working with Kenton on my dining room table was a wonderful experience. This was my first time commissioning a piece of furniture and he made sure the process was well communicated and tailored it to the degree of involvement that I wanted. I had a lot of general ideas but was lacking a true direction and Kenton was incredibly patient and managed to take all my ramblings and screenshots and turn it into just what I was looking for. The design fits the room beautifully and his workmanship is exceptional.

Kenton is extremely skilled as a woodworker and craftsman and is a genuinely kind person as well. I would highly recommend collaborating with him on a project if you get the chance.”
- Kahlie Forster (2021)

COFFEE TABLE | SUMMERFELT

TABLE | BIRD

”Kenton was fantastic to work with. He kept me involved in the design process, which I wanted. Of course, being custom, it took a while to get, so it was nice to know where he was at in the process. The furniture, a dining table [Bell Chamber Table] and a games table [Bird Table], are incredibly gorgeous! I couldn’t be happier with his work!!”
- Alexandra Bird (2021)

BENCH | ELLINGTON

WRITING DESK | McFARLANE

TALL STOOL

“Kenton made 3 tall and 1 short stool out of cherry and ash. Striking stools with pleasing lines and exquisite joints executed by a master craftsman. No worries about these stools getting wobbly. The true test is how both adults and children love sitting on them. Kenton is very pleasant and accommodating.”
- Eugene & Patrisha Ostapovich (2020)

TABLE & TIER DISPLAYS | KRUGER

“Kenton worked on three pieces of furniture for me. Namely, a plant stand, a dining table and a display shelf. The plant stand and display shelf were companion pieces in that they were matched in their style and color, and the table was sized to my limited space with my preferred look in cherry wood. Kenton is exceptional at customizing fine furniture to the client's needs and interests. I highly recommend Kenton for your custom furniture needs.”
- Cliff Kruger (2019/20)

STEP STOOL | BORDERLINE SERIES

“We are overjoyed with the piece we commissioned from Kenton and have been pleased to find out that the step stool design has now joined his furniture catalogue! The entire process was very organic. According to our experience, Kenton has a knack for understanding exactly what is needed and wanted and was able to match milk paint colours and wood types to our existing decor. A very fine woodworker and a pleasant aesthete!”
- Marie Michelle-Melotte (2019)

CLOUD MIRROR & HALL TABLE | TROMSNESS

Kenton is thorough, efficient and possesses all the necessary components of a professional craftsman. He invited me to participate in the design process for a mirror and hall table, explained the various steps and checked in with me at appropriate junctions during this process. The end product was of superior quality, was delivered in a timely fashion, and exceeded expectations. I would highly recommend Kenton's work.” - Mark Tromsness (2020)

BUFFET & HUTCH | ENRIGHT

“Kenton is artisan, a thoughtful wood worker. He designed and built a cabinet for my house which is a constant source of beauty. He is inviting in his process. I encourage you to seek his work if you are looking for creative and solidly built furniture.”
- Travis Enright (2019)

CUSTOM PIECE

“As a consumer I am always looking for ways to incorporate authentic and carefully thought out pieces into my world. I like to feel that I am a part of the design, and that an initial dialogue leads to a functional finished product with a harmonious aesthetic. Kenton worked with me to design a solid wood piece that, with some of his creative modifications, will endure our harsh, long, and dry Alberta winters for many years to come. I appreciate his work and attention to detail and am happy to endorse his craftsmanship and professionalism.”
- Matthew Creighton, custom commission (2019)

ANTLER DESIGN CONCEPTS

George Heagle, Furniture Maker

"I am really proud of how you have proceeded on this career path. You have not waned from your integrity and the work speaks for itself. This is, in my opinion, the greatest characteristic that separates the wheat from the chaff. Integrity in approach, integrity in the work, integrity in dealing with your clients. You have the correct attitude and definitely the right approach. Your voice is clear and evolving. It makes me so happy that a true craftsman has budded in our city. Carry on young man, I know you are and will become a major contributor to fine craftsmanship of furniture making in our province."
- George Heagle, Furniture Maker (30+ yrs.), Alberta Craft Council Member
Cotswold Studios, Edmonton, Alberta Canada
Albertacraft.ab.ca/heagle/ 

BELL CHAMBER TABLE | STARKO

I just wanted to drop you a note to thank you and express my gratitude for the opportunity to work with you in creating my one-of-a-kind dining room table.

I have come to a point in my life where I more greatly appreciate buying local and supporting Canadians as well as local artists.  I had been looking for a dining room table and although I had seen several higher end, more modern tables, nothing quite seemed to fit me right.

I contacted you after finding a link to your website on the Alberta Craft Council site.  I only had a general idea of what I wanted, simply wanting something made in Canada.  You looked at my idea and graciously said that you could but did not want to copy someone else’s work.  That was the beginning of our dialogue detailing, describing, working together to create my dining room table.  I described to you things that I liked, things that I wanted for the table, how it would function, color, shape, etc.  You actually heard what I was trying to put into words and put that description into a drawing.  We discussed the drawing, you patiently revised, and came back to me with more drawings.  Once we got to a point of agreement on the style, you then educated me in the looks/pros/cons/benefits of different types of wood for the table.  We settled on walnut, something I have grown to love more with each passing day.

You came to my home so that you see the space I had for the dining table, so you could better understand proportion, scale, location, fit, and function.  You had me come to your shop to measure – height wise – what height of table would fit/suit me best.  You also suggested minor details that truly added to the elegant nature of the table, but something I would never have considered.  You consulted with other craftsmen when it came to stability issues you encountered.

The end result is a truly stunning table – one I have named “The Quiver”.  The name for me was relating to the gentle curve of its 3-leg base that, to me, resembles a bow.  As well the word Quiver honors my two children by combining the first three letters of each their names - qui and ver.

I did not realize what a truly positive, respectful, and enriching experience commissioning a custom dining table would be.  Every day that I look at my table, I am happy.  There is nothing that I would change about the table.  It is a great size to fit the smaller scale of my home, while comfortably accommodating 6 adults for dinner, with no one bumping their knees on table legs.  It is almost ethereal the way the table seems to float in the space of my home.

Thank you so very much again for your patience, understanding, artistic eye, and professional nature.  You are an artist and I have been fortunate to have benefitted from your skill and craft.

- Lauren Starko (2018)

HUDSON BENCH

“My favourite thing about furniture is the role that it plays in our daily lives, the stories that it stands witness to and the support it unconsciously provides. Three pieces of yours have become a staple of our daily lives, the Hudson bench, Stocking stool and Dovetail shelf. I wanted to share my experience/memory of the commission the Hudson bench. 

In passing one-day years ago I asked you about creating "a bench that my children will learn to tie their shoes on" and we enjoyed a good laugh about me one-day having children. A while later, my wife pregnant with my son, you commented that you should get to work on that bench. Four years after it arrived the Hudson bench is still at the front door of our little house and both my boys sit on it to put their shoes on. It brings a smile to my face every time I see them crawl up on it, reinforcing our friendship that I have cherished since kindergarten.

Your work, dedication to craft and your approach to woodworking has often left me searching for words, I am beyond thankful that I have had the pleasure of watching you grow as a craftsman (which is why it took 3 years to write this testimonial).” 
- Bryan & Sarah Farevaag (2018)

LINNEA TABLE

"Words cannot express how much we love our dining table made by Kenton. The quality workmanship that went into the table is readily apparent and it's always a pleasure to see people exclaiming over the beautiful textures of the wood when they're enjoying a meal in the restaurant. Kenton managed to take our nebulous ideas regarding the table and bring it to life in a way that exceeded any expectations we had."
- Garner Beggs & Kelsey Johnson (2016)
Café Linnea, Edmonton Canada
Cafelinnea.ca

WRITING DESK | McARA

"A remarkable piece of furniture. Kenton is a true artist and a citizen of his craft. While my wife and I had our own vision for the desk we wanted Kenton to put his own interpretation into it.  The end result was a desk we hope to keep in the McAra family for generations to come.  His dedication to the design, process and crafting of the desk was inspiring. He's passionate about woodworking and his emotional commitment to his work transcends into the piece itself."
- Matthew & Michelle McAra (2016)

CUPBOARD | NG

“The furniture Kenton has made us are some of the most talked about pieces in our home. People gravitate towards the wood and can't help but reach out and feel how soft the surfaces are. The pieces transform the rooms they are in, not only because they are handcrafted and unique, but because we were apart of the process in making them and they reflect who we are. Working with Kenton is a dream. He gets what his clients are imagining when they see that empty space, the furniture is of incredible quality, and he understands that handcrafted furniture is an investment and works within your means.”  
- Chelsie Readner & Eric Ng (2015)

HUTCH & HARVEST TABLE | FEROE

Knowing Kenton Jeske furniture is in my will, it renders next generation fawning. The jealousy of others heightens my indulgent sense of fine furniture good fortune.

I enjoyed the process of working with Kenton and I got a product that exceeded expectations. Kenton is a clear and accommodating communicator. He is an artist who works like a perfectionistic engineer. His creativity is combined with exacting execution. Kenton worked to understand my vision and then walked me through the technological and design considerations. He gave me a scaled picture to help me work towards a final product. He was flexible and provided opportunities for feedback throughout the process.  The process was enjoyable. I was given options on woods and finishes. I am glad I accepted his finishing recommendation and will stick to this type of finishing from now on. It is safer and I am very happy with the care of my pieces. Yes, pieces. One project led another. Beware Kenton Jeske furniture is addictive.

I loath seeing depreciated furniture on the curb. It is not just a selfish desire to have "nothing but the best",  that led me to Kenton; well made furniture is tomorrows heritage.  A "Kenton Jeske" piece will mature and appreciate like most fine art. I fully recommend that you become a collector.  For those who are assuming a Jeske piece is not within reach, you may be surprised. I went out with a girlfriend the other day and saw ready made tables that were more expensive and not nearly as nice as the table I had custom made and delivered. Snap Kenton up before he becomes to busy to meet demand. 
- Raquel Feroe (2015)

DINING TABLE, BENCHES, STOOLS | STENGER

We sat down with Kenton early in 2013 to chat about the idea of having him design and build us a custom walnut wood dining table. We wanted a custom piece for our new home that was functional, had lots character and would last forever. We had no idea about the extent of this project, the thought that would go into it, the hours and hours of handiwork to perfect every detail or how incrediblethe final product would be.

From the very beginning, Kenton included us in the process of creating this piece. We had several calls back and forth to discuss the design, Kenton drew sketch after sketch to help show us ideas and help us narrow down several ideas into the concept that eventually became our table. Seeing the project form from Kenton’s creative design, a few cuts of rough wood, into an exceptional final product was a unique and satisfying experience (and something you could really only experience with custom work.)

Our table is the centerpiece of our house, and what an amazing centerpiece it is. We couldn’t be more pleased with the final product. The quality of the wood, the intricate details of the notches, the rounded edges and my absolute favorite – the stunning grains of the wood that give it all of its character.

Every time we sit down at our table we admire it and are thankful we had the opportunity to work with Kenton and to have our own custom designed, handcrafted table. Thank you Kenton for this unbelievable piece of art that you’ve given us to enjoy for years and years to come.    
- Geoff & Kayley Stenger (2014)