Our Story

“For us, everyday luxury is the combination of comfort, beauty, and quality.
We consider all of these elements when designing and making our products.”

With a commitment to craftsmanship and high-quality materials, husband-and-wife team Daniel Oates and Dana Brandwein create handmade modern heirlooms from their rural Connecticut studios. After two decades in the music business, working with artists including AC/DC, Metallica, and Björk, Dana made a career change to pursue her passion for design. Daniel, an acclaimed sculptor represented by 303 Gallery and well known in the ‘90s New York City art scene for his handcrafted sculptures, also decided to change direction. Together they became the creative partners of DBO HOME. Today, they design and make a full line of homewares, including dinnerware, serveware, accents, lighting, and custom furniture, that celebrates the tactile and aesthetic pleasures that come from filling your home with things that cultivate a sense of wellbeing. Their handcrafted goods are both made to last and enjoy every day.

Everything bearing the DBO HOME name is made by hand with natural materials that feel as good as they look. The creative process happens around the kitchen table, where Dana and Daniel hash out everything from form to dimensions to process. Ceramics are created in Dana’s studio, where they start by being rolled, cut, and hand formed, or poured and hand finished. All pieces are sanded to ensure the perfect touch, then bisque-fired, glazed, and fired again. In the wood shop, Daniel’s process is much more freeform. Plans are discarded in favor of focusing on the natural shape of the wood, allowing Daniel’s background in sculpture, combined with traditional woodworking techniques, to take the wheel. In both studios, DBO HOME embraces the perfectly imperfect variations that subtly reveal the artist’s hand and make each piece truly one-of-a-kind.

DBO HOME is proud to bring its distinct handcrafted quality and approachable luxury to collaborations with some of the world’s most renowned chefs, including Dan Barber, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Michelle Bernstein, and James Syhabout, as well as inimitable brands like John Robshaw Textiles and West Elm. These collaborations are built upon a strong foundation of a like-minded aesthetic that is enhanced by each unique perspective involved. DBO HOME is honored to have been featured by such respected publications as Gourmet, Food & Wine, Martha Stewart Living, Elle Décor, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The London Financial Times, and more.

It is DBO HOME's mission to never stop creating uncommon, inspired products. Whether it’s a statement dining table or a porcelain cereal bowl, Dana and Daniel believe you should surround yourself with things you love and objects that make you feel good. With strict adherence to three basic tenets of beauty, comfort, and quality, DBO HOME's artisanal tableware, lighting, and furniture bring everyday luxury to the modern home.

 

MEET THE TEAM