Photos courtesy of Erik Wyckoff
With nearly 30 years of experience designing and building custom, hand-carved doors, mantels, and furniture, Minnesota woodcarver Erik Wyckoff brings unparalleled skill that can make a project sing.
Originally inspired by woodcarvings in historic homes like the James J. Hill House on St. Paul’s famed Summit Avenue and European buildings like Italian villas and Black Forest lodges, Wyckoff first honed his skills with an education in the Studio Furniture program at The State University of New York. Subsequent studies of techniques of traditional decorative woodcarving from a European master carver that specialized in church furniture furthered his craft. From there, his storied career and continuous study of the decorative arts have allowed him to design and create everything from country French vanities and personalized wine cellar doors to rustic mantels.
Wyckoff is a one-person artisan shop, designing and building custom pieces for architects, interior designers, and other industry pros that are looking to make a statement in their clients’ projects. His services are one-of-a-kind, providing a product that can’t be sourced from anywhere else.
Routinely collaborating with design teams, Wyckoff applies passion for his craft and clear communication to every project he completes.
How do you collaborate with design professionals when you’re hired for a home project?
Collaborating with design professionals is fun and easy. I make sure to take direction from them because they understand their client’s desires and the big picture for the project much better than I do. The feedback from designers always makes the finished piece much better than something I make on my own—I truly want my designer’s concepts to shine, and I want my clients to really enjoy living with my work. I think about both of them while I’m working. I am very grateful for the opportunities they give me to do fun, rewarding work in my little shop.
What is a project you worked on recently that embodies true collaboration between all parties on a home project?
The restoration of the historic Foley Mansion in St. Cloud. I re-created elaborate newel posts and the porch column capitals that were damaged when the mansion burned. I worked with Carter Averbeck, owner of Omforme Design, on the design of the carvings, and Nor-Son Custom Builders on how my parts would fit with the parts they were sourcing and fabricating. Everyone wants the project to go well, so it’s quite easy to work together.
Photo courtesy of Erik Wyckoff
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What is one example of a project that showcases your skill and craftsmanship?
The one project that allowed me to grow and display my skill was a multiyear collaboration with the owner of a historic rowhouse on Nicollet Island. The owner envisioned a fantasy land where each room was in a different style from around the world. Working with Boyer Building Corp. and James McNeal Architecture and Design (JMAD), I created an Italian grotto wine cellar with three-dimensional carved wood monks holding up arched wine racking that envelopes the room. For the Chinese garden-themed master suite, I carved a Ming Dynasty-style pierced room divider screen with dragons, lotus flowers, and bamboo shoots. The crown jewel was a small powder bath inspired by Marie Antonitte’s dressing room at The Palace of Versailles. All four walls, the door, and the vanity were hand-carved in a scrolling Louis XV style featuring acanthus leaves and flowers.
During the design process, the owner said with a wonderful smile, ‘I want my guests to be so captivated by the beauty of this room that they forget why they went in there.’ The owner wrote me a note years later stating that the joy of the beauty we created never wore off, and she loved it every day.
Even after hundreds of projects, I still marvel at the fact that I get to earn my living creating beautiful things with my own two hands.
Connect with Erik at: erikwyckoff.com
