What do you get when you pair a woodworker father and photographer daughter who live on opposite sides of Canada? Or when functionality and whimsy meet? 

The answer to both is Herriott Grace.

Operating as one half of the brand, Lance Herriott works out of British Columbia hand-carving kitchen and tableware from wood found in nearby forests. Rolling pins, ladles, and even miniature candy stands are all lovingly hewn—each one a little bit unique—in his workshop before being sent over to Ontario. It’s there that Nikole Herriott styles, shoots, and ships the pieces to their final destinations. 

Because my grandparents were woodworkers themselves, there’s always been a special place in my heart for carved objects like these that reflect some of my earliest memories. Rustically painted chairs, hand-poured candles, and intricately carved balsa wood signs were staples around their home and mine, so when I discovered Herriott Grace I was instantly called back to those objects I remember so fondly. 

There’s just something so nice about holding and using an item that you know has been made with the utmost care and attention, especially in the age of mass-produced, disposable products. These are the things that will stay with you over time, through moves and more, because they have meaning to back up their utility. But hopefully they’re beautiful in some way, too—and Herriott Grace’s creations certainly are! I dare you to measure out sugar with one of their tiny spoons and not smile.