Who We Are - Grain Designs

Who We Are

Grain Designs is the product of two North Dakota State University Architecture graduates Blain Mikkonen and Grant Koenig. The two paired their passion for design and drive for irregularity to form Grain Designs in 2013. Since inception Grain Designs has grown from Blain’s two stall apartment garage to a 19 acre property near Fargo, North Dakota. This rural North Dakota farmstead is where GD builds custom office furniture, dining tables, and custom signs for your home and business. In addition to the GD production facility the property is also home to Grain Designs wedding venues – Pines Black & Pines White.

OUR MISSION

BUILDING EXPERIENCES THAT LAST A LIFETIME

At Grain Designs it is our goal to provide an exceptional and memorable experience that inspires our team and our clients.

We believe ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL

We believe in quality – not quantity.

We believe in a late afternoon golf outing, an extended lunch hour throwing darts, or a 2pm happy hour.

For us, relationships are paramount. We have built our businesses on relationships, and we build furniture that cultivates relationships.

We believe that our premium quality products are a conversation piece, a gathering place, and have the ability to bring people closer together.

In short, we’re just a group of friends that came together to build the best damn furniture we know how to build.

We appreciate you for supporting OUR DREAM AND MISSION.

MEET THE GD TEAM

BLAIN MIKKONEN

Co-Founder | Co-Owner | Designer

GRANT KOENIG

Where I’m from: I grew up on a farm near Frederick, South Dakota.

Design/Build Experience: 14 Years

What I do: Primarily manage business operations and client relations but I dive into design fairly regularly.

Why I love what I do: We’re incredibly fortunate to wake up every morning excited to work. It’s hard to imagine that our “job” is an outlet to creative thinking and innovative design while curating relationships and a craft. Our day to day operations are what we love to do (most of the time), and I think the Grain Designs team is a pretty great group to share this experience with.

When I’m not working: We’re always looking for an excuse to golf, sometimes it’s while we’re supposed to be working. I enjoy spending my weekends with my beautiful wife, visiting our families, hosting friends, tackling projects around the house, and looking for an excuse to go out to eat or grab a drink.

GRANT KOENIG

Co-Founder | Co-Owner | Designer

GRANT KOENIG

Where I’m from: Fargo, ND

Design/Build Experience: 12 Years

What I do: I primarily handle client relations, design work, and the social media/marketing side of the business. When I get into the shop I spend most of my time welding.

Why I love what I do: Grain Designs started as a shared vision where instead of working to build someone else’s dream, we wanted to build our own. We set out to not only solve a problem but to provide a product that was unlike anything else available. I feel extremely fortunate that through the growth of Grain Designs I am able to spend my time working with my best friends while providing a product that I believe in and care about…That’s why I love what I do.

When I’m not working: I can be found at the lake, golf course or planning my next travel. Photography is another creative outlet that I love developing (no pun intended) and I am always looking for a reason to get out and experience new places. If by chance I can throw some friends, beers and good music into all of these passions, I’m in paradise.

PATRICK BRESNAHAN

Co-Owner | Production Manager

GRANT KOENIG

Where I’m from: I am from Valley City, ND and have lived in Fargo for the past 10 years.

Design/Build Experience: 7 Years

What I do: My primary responsibility at Grain Designs is to build furniture and home decor. Essentially I take what is drawn up on paper and turn it into a reality. I also occasionally will give input on designs and handle customer interactions.

Why I love what I do: I love working at Grain Designs because it demands creativity, hard work, and an attention to detail that creates a product I can truly be proud to have built. I also get to work with some of my very best friends, and taking the journey of growing of business with them is all that anybody could ask for.

When I’m not working: When I am not working, I can usually be found playing some sort of sport. I love competition and spend much of my time in the summers playing softball and golf. In the fall and winter I enjoy hunting, playing basketball and following the Bison football team. Usually, I can be spotted bright and early tailgating at most home games.

JAYDEN MIKKONEN

Designer | Signage Lead

GRANT KOENIG

Where I’m from: Frederick, SD

Design/Build Experience: 5 Years

What I do: My main role at Grain Designs is working with primarily residential clients to help create any sort of table or desk for their homes. I also run the signage portion of GD, from exterior 15′ signs to a 8″ desk award, anything in between will go through me. While I’m not a main factor in the production shop, I’ve been known to jump in and help slow the shop down when I’m free.

Why I love what I do: I love at Grain Designs because I really enjoy the opportunity to be creative and try new things. I love the time spent thinking of a new table design and working with the production crew to help bring it to life for our clients.

When I’m not working: When I am not working at GD I am also a organic grain farmer back at my other home in South Dakota. I spend half of the year working remote for GD and working the fields.

When I’m not working at either job, you can be sure to either find me at a golf course, golf simulator, playing video games, or if the occasion calls for it maybe some black jack. If I’m not playing some sort of game I’m probably joyfully watching whichever current seasons Minnesota sports team disappoint me. I’m a simple man with simple pleasures.

ZACH NELSON

Lead Craftsman

GRANT KOENIG

Where I’m from: Fergus Falls, MN

Design/Build Experience: 8 Years

What I do: I get my hands dirty with nearly all types of projects that come through the door. My primary role is wood production but every day is different.

Why I love what I do: I get to wake up everyday and head out to the shop and do something I’ve always been passionate about. I feel very fortunate to have found a group of guys who feel more like a family than just co-workers. I take great pride in working for a company where I can take something most people may discard or disregard as junk and turn it into a piece of furniture that family and friends can enjoy.

When I’m not working: I enjoy, maybe a little too much, my favorite chair in my living room; most often it’s my go-to place for napping or watching the latest Minnesota Wild game. My wife and I enjoy walking and bike rides when we can as well as taking care of our two dogs Fiona & Blue. When the weather allows I enjoy hiking and fishing; being able to take a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life is a good reset.

CODY FREESTONE

Lead Craftsman

GRANT KOENIG

Where I’m from: Holland, MI

Design/Build Experience: “As long as I have been able to hold a tool”

What I do: Shop craftsman. I build whatever crazy design is sent my way. Lots of wood craft but I also handle a large chunk of the metal fabrication/welding.

Why I love what I do: I enjoy building unique pieces and being challenged to build whatever crazy designs the design team comes up with. I really enjoy the problem solving, building jigs to streamline the operation, exploring new techniques, developing new ideas, and teaching new skills or techniques. I see each project from design concept and then have hand in each step of the build process but the most enjoyable part is deliveries or installs. I really enjoy seeing a project from beginning to end, and seeing the clients reaction upon delivery.

When I’m not working: I often ‘work’ some more by building my own furniture at home or in the GD shop. I spend my free time cooking and playing with my daughter.

HISTORies AND GD TALES:

You Betcha! Fargo Media Company Office Furniture

When Myles, the You Betcha Guy was building their first Fargo headquarters, he came to us in search of office desks, meeting tables, work tables, and a container bar to turn their new YB! workspace into something more. Myles’ creativity isn’t limited to creative scripts and video, he helped design a one-of-a-kind office desk fit for a mob boss. In fact, many of the custom office furniture pieces were designed in collaboration with Myles himself. We outfitted his dark reclaimed wood office desk with a glass block Peeky Blinders -esque leg feature, a fridge drawer, a whiskey cabinet and an integrated phone charger.

Downtown Fargo Historic Case IH Office

Enclave’s second Fargo, ND office, a historic renovation and preservation of downtown’s Case Plaza. This timber frame building was once a manufacturing facility for Case tractors! We built custom reclaimed wood office desks and live edge meeting tables from reclaimed douglas fir to match.

Development Firm Flagship Office

After building-out three locations for Violet Rowe’s sister company, Leela & Lavendar, the Grain Designs team was given the objective of designing and building a space where aesthetics and functionality come together seamlessly. With the requirement of creating furniture and fixtures that offer great retail visibility while simultaneously elevating the brand image, we worked closely with this retailer to bring their vision to life. Together, we built it.

The Pines + Grain Designs History & Property Timeline

PROPERTY TIMELINE + PINES & GRAIN DESIGNS HISTORY 1876 Northern Pacific owned railroad land near the property and the United States owned the surrounding land