Grady Bresnahan is my cousin. He’s a high school senior that plays basketball for Central Cass. He’s good. He’s really, really good. So good, in fact, that he recently netted his 1,000th point. A thousand points? I don’t know if I’ve done one thousand of anything, to be honest. And I certainly haven’t done anything one thousand times with five people trying to stop me. By any measure, one thousand points is impressive.
But if you ask my Grandma Jeanne, Grady is the next first overall pick in the NBA draft. He dunks on Lebron James, hits threes from half court, walks on water. Grady is, by any objective measure, her favorite grandchild. My other cousin Pat Bresnahan (also a Grain Designs employee) and I are both athletes by choice and competitive by nature so this is a crown we both wished to abscond with.
Not long ago Jeanne asked us to build her and our grandpa Ellery an end table. This was our shot, our chance to outshine Grady and win grandma’s favor once and for all.
And so we worked. We chopped, nailed, glued, sanded, and stained until our fingers bled. The table was immaculate. Pine wood, with a hint of grain detail and legs to match. Don’t get me wrong, you won’t see highlights of this thing on ESPN, but if there was an end table equivalent in athletic achievement, this thing was a Jordan-esque free-throw line dunk. Tongue out and all. Take that, Grady.
Smitten as kittens, we sauntered out to Casselton to deliver the product. Heads high and hearts full, we believed we finally jockeyed our way to the top of the totem pole.
We unwrapped the table. I was as nervous as a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. But when Grandma saw the finished product, she lit up. The size? Exact. The color? Perfect. The finish? Pristine. We did it. I could almost hear “We are the Champions” playing in the background.
We sat down to revel in our newfound glory. As we chatted with grandma and grandpa, we learned that Grady scored his one thousandth point just the night before. Grandma Jeanne was there. Grady gave her the game ball. Now I remember why I didn’t play basketball: That free throw line dunk turned into a baseline face plant. Grady, once again, was victorious.
Hey Pat, any chance grandma needs an entertainment center?
Grain Designs builds custom wood wedding tables that bring warmth and character to your event. From rustic farmhouse tables with folding legs to industrial wood tops and solid wood reception tables, each piece is designed to be functional, durable, and linen-free. Our tables have been crafted for The Pines wedding venue and other event spaces across North Dakota and the surrounding region, offering a timeless alternative to standard rental tables.
In collaboration with Rhet Architecture and Epic Built, Grain Designs helped bring Pines White—an upscale barn-inspired wedding and event venue outside Fargo, ND—to life. Featuring rustic wood farmhouse tables, custom sliding barn doors, a handcrafted bar, and outdoor ceremony furnishings, the venue blends agricultural heritage with modern elegance to create a timeless space for weddings and events.
Opened in 2022, Pines Black is the second barn-like wedding venue at The Pines Weddings & Events near Fargo, ND. Grain Designs contributed custom furniture and architectural details throughout, including 45 solid wood folding event tables, 16 modern sliding barn doors, and extensive ash wood finishes for walls, countertops, and bars. Blending agricultural heritage with modern elegance, Pines Black offers an upscale setting for weddings and events
Grain Designs builds custom live edge tables that showcase the natural beauty of hardwood slabs and reclaimed wood. From dining tables and conference tables to console tables and coffee tables, each piece is handcrafted to highlight organic character while delivering durability and style. Serving Fargo, ND, the Midwest, and clients nationwide, our live edge furniture transforms any space into a statement of craftsmanship.
