
Ciseal
Layer Life
Ciseal began in 2013 with a few sheets of wood veneer, a bottle of glue, a handmade mold, and a row of clamps. That first experiment became a tablet stand and the beginning of an ongoing exploration of what thin layers of wood can become.
I’m Nicole, the designer and maker behind Ciseal. Working from my studio in Leonard, Michigan, I create modern bent plywood furniture, lighting, and objects for the home. My work is shaped by a lifelong curiosity about how things are made and by the warm modernism found throughout Michigan—from the architecture of Detroit to the work of designers such as Alden B. Dow.
Each Ciseal piece begins as individual sheets of sustainably sourced wood veneer. I select, layer, glue, mold, trim, sand, and finish them by hand, transforming something thin and flexible into a strong, sculptural form. It is a slow and precise process, but that is part of its value: every curve is intentional, every detail considered, and every finished object made to remain useful and beautiful over time.
The name Ciseal comes from an Irish Gaelic word for “layer.” It describes the physical construction of the work, but also the larger idea behind the brand. A meaningful home is not created all at once. It develops gradually through the objects, stories, interests, and experiences we choose to bring into it.
I believe in living with fewer, better things—objects made responsibly, chosen thoughtfully, and kept for years. Ciseal is my contribution to that kind of home: modern design with warmth, purpose, and a visible connection to the hands that made it.


Ciseal
Leonard, MI | I make handmade, ethically sourced, sustainable, bent plywood home goods.
I make handmade, ethically sourced, sustainable, bent plywood home goods.
