Feathers Fine Custom Furnishings is celebrating 30 years of crafting bespoke furniture. Founded in October 1994 by Dan and Claudia Levinson, the Scottsdale-based business has become known for its meticulous attention to detail and commitment to custom design. Over the decades, Feathers has used more than a million yards of fabric and 30,000 pounds of down, creating unique pieces for tens of thousands of clients with the help of more than 200 artisans. “Our passion for this business makes every day exciting,” says vice president Claudia Levinson. To mark the milestone,
Feathers will host a special anniversary sale this fall.

We spoke with Claudia about this milestone, how the Levinsons stay inspired, and what they are looking forward to doing next. She shared these pearls about Feathers.

Feathers’ roots. Claudia was working as a seamstress and Dan as an upholsterer. They kept running into each other at jobs before deciding to team up. The name nods to the custom blend of down that goes into every piece of Feathers’ furniture, which Claudia suggested while the two were stuffing cushions. “We had feathers everywhere. And I just go, ‘How about Feathers?’ We just both laughed,” Claudia recalls.

30,000 pounds of feathers. That’s just one way Claudia can quantify the last 30 years of the furnishing business. She also estimates the store has used more than one million yards of fabric to create sofas, chairs, drapery and more for an estimated 30,000 clients. Although Feathers started with just the Levinsons, they’ve had some 200 artisans through their workshop—some who have gone on to start successful businesses in the same field, Claudia says—as well as 15 who have been with Feathers for about 15 years each.

The Levinsons’ approach is simple—and what they credit to their longevity: “It must be timeless—and the combination of great design and fabrics,” Claudia says. But that doesn’t mean their offerings or showroom has stayed static. Following the Great Recession, Feathers pivoted from an emphasis on fabrics to home accessories and art, Claudia says. “Everybody calls our store a candy store,” she says. The bespoke furniture maker now also has a collection of in-stock items it makes, meaning shoppers can find and buy something the same day. And, since the pandemic, Feathers has been busier than ever. “We feel like everybody is staying at home a little bit more, appreciating their home a little bit more, and entertaining at their home,” Claudia says.

They’ve also seen the ebb and flow of trends. A few years ago, while at the High Point Furniture Market in North Carolina, the Levinsons saw boucle, the looped yarn fabric that has a textured look, trending. Concerned how it would hold up over time, they decided not to put much in the Feathers showroom, Claudia recalls. “We look at things as an end user—we want to make our clients the happiest they can be,” she says. But Levinson admits she couldn’t resist the fabric: “I’m the perfect victim of it: I fell for the boucle. The chairs sit in my kitchen, and the dogs have snagged them,” she says with a laugh.

Feathers keeps it old school. “We hand-draw out all of our drapes, sofas and chairs right in front of you while you’re sitting with us,” Claudia explains. She and Dan love planning with clients in person when they can. People can not only see the showroom but also the workshop where their team is crafting every sofa and chair. “Everybody said the brick-and-mortar stores are going to go out. What we find is people look at it online, but then they still want to touch and feel it,” Claudia says.

Feathers’ work speaks for itself. Claudia points to how often clients return to complete a home or take on a second, third or even fourth home for the same clients. “We are so proud of our quality, and it leads to repeat and referral business,” Claudia says. “Feathers puts their name on each project and stands behind their work, so as we do great work, people notice and return.” She also points to the relationships they forge with vendors and clients. “We take the time to get a personal connection,” she says. “In today’s world, this can be so easily overlooked as important for the business.”

Every day is still an adventure. “We have such a passion for this business that every day is so much fun and exciting,” Claudia says. Each day bringing in a different client or product keeps things interesting and moving—and has made these years fly by. But, even with this milestone, don’t expect the Levinsons to slow down. “We’re not going anywhere. We aren’t like the big-box stores,” Claudia says. “We’re going to keep it going as long as we can.”

For more, go to feathersdesign.com