Atelier Erwan Illian

We were very lucky to find Erwan to help us build our kitchen! He effectively designed our kitchen - we were not actually changing the layout much. But Erwan took stock of the existing windows and drew plans that shifted things slightly so that everything is now more balanced. Makes a huge difference. The cabinets themselves are lovely - we went with an inset style and have painted them. Erwan recommended and installed some wonderful inserts as well to maximize our storage in a small kitchen. Overall, it was great fun to work with him. Communication was easy, and he is highly attentive to subtle details. Choosing to use custom cabinets made a huge impact on our project, and we are very grateful for his guidance throughout!

It was a pleasure to work with a master crafts person. Erwan was consistently professional in letting us know where our project fell in his timeline and kept us updated as we moved forward with designs and logistics. From my vision, he created a beautiful built in double sided bookshelf / cabinet / room divider that works perfectly with our existing Shaker cabinetry. Erwan had to contend with our 80+ year old house that is less than square, along with existing crown moulding. The cabinet is perfect and now is the centerpiece of our home. I highly recommend working with Erwan.

Working with Erwan has been a complete pleasure. I had envisioned a small dry bar in an unused corner of my living room and Erwan brought a discerning eye to the project and beautiful craftsmanship to the cabinetry. I found him to be honest and realistic and responsive. Excellent in all ways!

Erwan is a true professional! He has a brilliant eye for color, light and drawing out the best features of a room. His precision constructing cabinets to fit the crooked kitchen walls of an 1898 Victorian is truly remarkable. I highly recommend Erwan to anyone seeking a cabinet maker with a passion for simplicity and perfection of the finished product.

As an interior designer I depend on Erwan's expertise for projects that demand a high level of design knowledge and expertise. He is the consumate professional in managing and delivering on his projects.

In 2016, I was searching for a cabinet maker and contractor to help me implement my vision for my condo master suite renovation. I was hitting so many dead-ends, until I stumbled upon Erwan's Houzz profile and saw a friend's review of his work at Chez Panisse. And then after my first meeting with Erwan, I knew he was the perfect match. First and foremost, Erwan is a master carpenter. His work is absolutely gorgeous, and the love and care he puts into his work is evident in the final product. He is incredibly thoughtful, meticulous, and thorough. We had many meetings before and during the project to ensure that everything was executed perfectly. I had rough drawings of what I wanted to do - a sink vanity, two closets, and two dressers with shelving - and he helped me refine my vision and made helpful suggestions in its design. Knowing the modern look that I wanted to achieve, he provided me with a range of materials from which to choose. The sapele was the perfect recommendation. I was at my wit's end trying to find a contractor who would work with me on the rest of the renovation, and it was Erwan who recommended Mike Roman of Paladin Home. The two of them worked well together, and the three of us maintained great communication through the entire project. This was my first major home renovation - and knowing how notoriously awful these kind of projects can be, it was an absolute delight that it was the exact opposite experience. Erwan became a friend, and I'm looking forward to soliciting his expertise when I tackle my guest bedroom project. My husband and I absolutely love our new space. In fact my husband laughs at me because everyday I say, "Isn't this bedroom amazing?!" Thanks, Erwan, for making it so!

We are incredibly happy with our shelving created by Erwan Illian. The craftsmanship is excellent. Erwan was particularly helpful in working with me on the design. We went through several design iterations, in which I was able to work through my intentions. He was able to guide me through the process with patience while gaining an appreciation for the constraints. We are incredibly happy with the piece and would recommend Erwan and his services to anyone. Please contact me if you would like a more personal recommendation. Thank you, Beth Thomsen, beth.thomsen@gmail.com

I commissioned Erwan to build a custom sewing cabinet/table for me. The project was very complicated and Erwan's attention during the planning phase was remarkable. The finished project was breathtaking and I couldn't have asked for anything more. Erwan took the time to include tiny details of craftsmanship that will make this table a family heirloom. My partner is in awe of the matching the woodgrain across cuts, distinctly colored knobs, beautifully aligned hardware and perfectly squared cabinet doors. We're extremely happy with the service from start to finish, and would rehire Erwan again in a heartbeat.

After the fantastic collaboration we had on our first home renovation with Erwan, asking him to help us again on our second project was a no brainer. Once again Erwan was a pleasure to work with and built another beautiful piece of art that nailed our vision and exceeded our expectations. This project had some technical complexities with moving parts and some different elevations to work around. Erwan was meticulous in his measurement and execution. We can't say enough good things about Erwan and his work. If you're in the market for an honest craftsman to create a piece of art that will enhance your home both functionally and aesthetically, we highly recommend him. Thanks Erwan!

Erwan is a true craftsman. And a perfectionist. And a creative genius. The things he makes are beautiful BECAUSE they are functional, well-made, and thoughtfully designed. You cannot do better than Erwan if you plan to stay in your home for decades. The work he does will last, and look timeless and gorgeous, for centuries.

Erwan created custom cabinetry for our living room. He was an absolute delight to work with. We did not have detailed specifications - merely a rough drawing and some inspiration photos - yet he was able to create a beautiful piece that far exceeded our expectations. Erwan took the time to understand our vision, and happily and patiently iterated with us on the details (he even texted me photos to confirm the exact placement of door handles). He coordinated with other vendors - including the glass, mirror and counter top components - to make sure the whole process was very straight forward for us (this was especially helpful given our busy schedules). We felt completely comfortable having Erwan in our home while we were not there. Finally, when we had a problem with the counter top installation (the fault of a 3rd party vendor), Erwan took the issue personally and even called the vendor himself to try to resolve the issue. Erwan is a true craftsman who takes pride in his work, and understands how the pieces he creates serve to delight us in our every day lives! I wholeheartedly recommend Erwan to anyone interested.

We live in a nearly-all-original mid-century modern house and we want to respect the era and the original architect's work anytime we renovate our home. Our house is entirely wood paneled so when we decided to update an old, tired wall of built-in shelving to accommodate a large flat screen TV and to hide a rather unsightly AC wall unit, we knew needed a true craftsman and woodworker to build a piece of furniture, not a general contractor who would slap together some paneling. In Erwan Illian, we got a true artist who has created a beautiful, high-quality piece of furniture that stayed true to the aesthetic of our home. He struck an amazing balance, giving us a modern fresh renovation that is still true to the original style. Every day that we sit in front of Erwan's work we think we "nailed it" in terms of the design, but also in finding a gem of a person to work with. Beyond the final results, we cannot say enough about Erwan's integrity. He never cut corners even when we ran into some logistical complexities with the space and we trust him implicitly, both with his eye for design and with our home. We felt 100% comfortable letting him come and go as he pleased while we were out of the country. His communication is impeccable and he kept us constantly apprised of his progress and plans. When we first spoke with him he had a busy schedule for the next 6 months but he stayed in contact with us throughout. He came out to our home a number of times to take measurements, make drawings, and collaborate with us on our vision. Before we even signed a contract he did so much due diligence and had such attention to detail that going with Erwan was an absolute no-brainer. Erwan works in a number of different styles, so be sure to check out some of his beautiful work on his website (http://www.erwanillian.com) - which includes a gorgeous remodel of Chez Panisse in Berkeley! Erwan is an absolute pleasure to work with and we're excited to have him work on another project this year, and hope to involve him in many home improvement projects in the years to come.