Doug Ricketts developed Prairie View Furniture, a line of fine home furnishings, so he could combine his love of making with his desire to create regionally-inspired, functional art pieces. In the true Texas furniture tradition, Ricketts makes do with what he has around him, whether he is fabricating steel, bringing tough mesquite or rich walnut to a fine finish, or giving repurposed ag machinery parts a second life. Design inspiration is found in the landscape, weather events, farm implements, the iconic shapes of Plains grain elevators, and patterns of wear and time.
There is an element of wonder and surprise to each piece of Prairie View Furniture. Though a sheet metal panel has a rust patina, it is still smooth to the touch. Doors and drawers are a pleasure to open and close. And all surfaces are finished with care. Designing for his particular style, Ricketts is free to combine all sorts of materials: sandblasted wood might be paired with blackened steel, a cabinet of highly-figured wood could have a painted interior, or a mesquite dining table could have a steel base fabricated from recycled plow parts.
Each piece also has its own story: the lamp with the lathe-turned shade from drought-killed elm, or wide boards milled from the native walnut that once grew next to the old jail, or the tornado-damaged porch posts used in a new incarnation on a tall cabinet. Doug Ricketts feels a responsibility to tell the stories, to design timeless pieces that do justice to all the rich materials, and to present his collectors with unique furniture that they can fill with their own stories.
