DeanWorks is an Amsterdam-based practice of Liam and Daan, bringing together a shared appreciation for craftsmanship, a sensitivity to design and a curiosity for materials. Having first met while working together at a previous company, the two eventually reunited to establish their own practice, creating bespoke furniture, cabinetry and interiors that balance thoughtful design with the character of natural materials.
For Róhe’s New York flagship, the duo drew on Dutch architectural heritage while navigating the challenges of a large-scale project fabricated in Amsterdam and installed overseas. We spoke with Liam and Daan about their individual journeys, their approach to making, and how the project has shaped their practice.
How have your individual journeys shaped the way you work today?
For Liam, the foundations of his practice go back to his childhood in New York City. His father was a carpenter whose workshop was located in a beautiful old building on Newtown Creek, in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, surrounded by artists and skilled craftspeople. Liam spent much of his early life in the woodshop or exploring the neighbouring metal workshop, absorbing the atmosphere of a place where making was part of everyday life. Later, working for six years at a decorative plaster studio on high-end residential projects throughout New York taught him the importance of precision and finish.
Now based in Amsterdam, Liam finds a sense of familiarity in his own workshop. For both him and Daan, the practice continues to be shaped by a desire to learn through making, pushing their skills further with every new project.
“We’ve been able to turn our hobby into our profession,” says Daan. “With every new project, we strive to challenge ourselves, which keeps us innovating and engaged.
What draws you to working with wood, and what continues to inspire you about the material?
For DeanWorks, wood is never simply a starting point. Its variations in colour, grain and texture give each piece an individual character, while the way it responds to shaping and finishing continues to offer new possibilities. Both Liam and Daan are closely involved in sourcing the timber they use, carefully selecting pieces for their quality and the qualities they can bring to a project.
“Because it’s an organic material, every piece behaves differently, whether that’s how it takes oil or how it reacts when it’s shaped,” Liam explains. “So I’m continually learning and experimenting, which is something I love about my job.”
Rather than imposing a fixed idea onto the material, they allow its characteristics to inform the process. It is this balance between intention and discovery that keeps their relationship with wood evolving.
“Only the highest level of finish was accepted. That standard of craftsmanship has stayed with me ever since.”
- Liam
When approaching a new project, where do you begin, and how do you balance design with function?
Every project begins with understanding the client’s intentions and considering how materials, finishes and construction can contribute something beyond the initial brief. For DeanWorks, the aim is not simply to execute an idea, but to add another dimension to it while remaining true to its original intent. The choice of wood is an important part of this process. Colour, grain and the way a surface responds to oil can all influence the direction of a piece.
From there, the relationship between aesthetics and function is resolved through the details: how a door closes, how two pieces of wood meet, and how a surface will wear over time. For Daan, this balance presents an interesting tension between his instincts as a designer and the practical demands of the work.
How did the collaboration with our in-house team on the New York flagship unfold?
The collaboration began with a shared understanding of the direction the project should take. From the first meetings with Marieke and Stephanie, Liam felt there was a natural connection between the teams. They brought a clear vision for the flagship while leaving room for DeanWorks to contribute ideas and explore different solutions. Daan similarly appreciated the team's openness and attention to detail, particularly Marieke’s solution-oriented approach. Working through the project step by step allowed both teams to navigate the challenges together and arrive at a considered final result.
As Róhe’s first flagship store, and the first large-scale project DeanWorks had fabricated and shipped, the process presented new challenges in production, coordination and installation.
“With this being Róhe’s first flagship store and the first large-scale project we’ve fabricated and shipped, there were a lot of new challenges to tackle,” Liam says. “I thought everyone involved handled them gracefully.”
How did you translate Dutch heritage into the design of the New York flagship?
The design drew inspiration from the architecture surrounding Róhe’s Amsterdam office, a beautiful double-width canal house dating back to 1670. The building offered a point of reference for translating elements of Dutch architectural heritage into the New York space, allowing its character to inform the design without reproducing it literally.
One example is the high-gloss black lacquered doors, modelled on those in the Amsterdam office. Through details such as these, familiar architectural references were reinterpreted in a contemporary setting, creating a subtle connection between the two cities.
“As a designer, from an aesthetic perspective, I would love to say ‘form over function’. In our field, however, that mindset has to be set aside, as ease of use is almost always the top priority.”
- Daan
Is there a particular piece or detail in the finished space that feels especially meaningful to you?
For Liam, the display cabinet at the back of the store stands out. Developed through an exchange of references and ideas with Marieke, the piece brings together two different wood tones, creating a sense of warmth and depth.
“The two different wood tones complement each other and give it a warmth and character you usually only get with time. Seeing it fully built in New York, it felt like a piece that had always belonged there. I just love how it turned out.” - Liam
Daan is particularly drawn to the fitting rooms, where mirrored cabinetry, lighting and carefully considered sightlines come together to create a striking spatial effect. While the display cabinet speaks to Liam’s appreciation for material and character, the fitting rooms reflect Daan’s interest in how individual details contribute to the experience of an entire space.
Has this project influenced the way you think about your own practice?
The project pushed DeanWorks to reconsider how they approach construction and installation. Usually, the duo builds and installs larger, pre-assembled elements, but transporting everything flat-packed to New York required a different way of thinking. Each component had to be designed with its eventual assembly in mind, demanding greater attention to connections, construction techniques and the installation process from an early stage.
For Daan, this meant approaching the work with a new level of preparation and precision. It also offered an opportunity to explore how a design could be broken down into individual elements without losing its integrity when assembled. Liam sees the experience as an important step in the development of the practice.
Beyond the practical lessons, the project has strengthened their confidence in taking on more ambitious work while remaining committed to the quality and attention to detail that define their approach.
What are you curious to explore next in your work?
Looking ahead, both are interested in expanding their technical vocabulary and exploring new ways of working with materials. Daan is keen to delve further into traditional joinery and artisanal methods, discovering how established techniques can inform new creations. Liam, meanwhile, hopes to devote more time to one-off furniture pieces, moving beyond cabinetry towards objects that sit somewhere between function and sculpture.
“I want to find time in the coming year to play around with one-off furniture pieces, functional wooden sculptures in the form of chairs and tables.” - Liam
For DeanWorks, the next chapter is less about moving away from what they know than continuing to build on it: allowing curiosity, material and craftsmanship to guide the work towards new forms.
“I think we’ve grown a lot through this project. It pushed us to do some of our best work and gave us confidence in what we’re capable of creating next.”
- Liam
New York Flagship, 77 Mercer Street, SoHo
