Meet The Home Upgraders

Since 2010, Fargo Monthly has been bringing you positive, community stories and resources and we’ve loved every minute of it.

Now, Fargo Monthly magazine is known as Meet Fargo, but don’t worry—we’re still going to have all of the great content you’ve come to love Fargo Monthly for, however, we are changing our approach ever so slightly. Our new concept will be more people-focused. We always hear feedback that the people are what makes the Fargo-Moorhead community great (which we agree with). So, we decided, why not meet them?

This month, we will kick off our first true effort to do so with our home upgraders issue. This is not a comprehensive issue so if there’s someone you would like to see featured in the future, please reach out to [email protected].

Grant Koenig & Blain Mikkanen – Co-Founders, Grain Designs

“Blain and I were both in the architecture program at NDSU, and got an apartment together our 4th year. As with most college students we didn’t have any money or much for furniture and decided we would utilize the woodshop at NDSU and try to build the furniture pieces we needed. During the build process we both found a passion bringing our sketches to life with tangible items we could use.”

“The following year, as we were about to graduate, we decided to write a business plan for a furniture company instead of focusing on our portfolios. Honestly, at the time, we didn’t really intend to use the plan; it was more of a way to avoid building our own portfolios. That summer, we parted ways—he went back to farming, and I was landscaping and trying to figure out my life. Then, that fall, Blain came back and mentioned a junk market Eco Chic was putting on. He asked what I was up to—not much— and if I wanted to build furniture with him in his apartment garage for the event. We spent about three weeks tearing down barns in South Dakota, brought the materials back, and built as much as we could for the market. That was the start. We realized we had a business plan and decided to put it into action.”

Grain Design’s Services

“We build furniture that makes a statement. At Grain Designs, our goal is to design and build custom desks and tables that precisely fit the style and space they’re made for. These pieces are usually the heart of the home and office, the places where people spend the most time. This includes dining tables, reception desks, conference tables, office desks. That’s really the core of our business.”

“But we also offer a variety of auxiliary products and services that make a statement. We do ceiling beams, mantels, wood paneling, shelves and a variety of other furniture that compliment our core offering. When it comes to what is being built in the shop, it is usually some type of table or office desks designed for small to medium sized businesses.”

Blain And Grant’s 3 Tips For Upgrading Your Home

Don’t Stress About Perfect Wood Matching
“A common misconception we hear is that people feel they need to match the existing wood in their home exactly. The challenge is that different wood species, ages, and stains never come out the same twice. If your expectation is a perfect match, you’ll often be disappointed. Instead, we recommend choosing timeless options that complement your finishes, like light-colored white oak, which is super popular and neutral. Staying in the realm of neutral and natural wood tones—both light and dark— works really well.”
Use Painter’s Tape For Planning Your Space
“When deciding on new furniture, like a dining table, it can be hard to visualize how it will fit in your space. A simple trick is to use blue painter’s tape to outline the dimensions on your floor. It helps you get spatially aware and mess with dimensions until it feels right.”
Choose Durable And Maintainable Finishes
“For high-use furniture like dining tables, we use a product called Rubio Monocoat. It’s different from traditional finishes because it’s extremely durable and allows homeowners to touch it up themselves. Unlike clear coats that require refinishing when scratched, Rubio Monocoat offers a long-lasting and practical solution for heavy-use pieces.”

2 Common Errors To Avoid When Upgrading Your Home

Don’t Get Caught Up In Following Trends
“People often get really caught up in following the newest trends. They focus on what’s on TV and in magazines, which are obviously great sources of inspiration at the time. But the art of defining your own style is so important. One tip is to look at your Pinterest board from three to six years ago and compare what you liked then versus now—the things that you still like today from years ago can help define your own timeless style better. So frequently, people renovate their home based on someone else’s inspiration or something they saw in a magazine, and then two years later, they’re tired of that trend and looking for the next one. If you can find consistency in your own style, that’s the key.”
Prioritize Function In A Piece Over Those One-off Occasions
“Focus on what you’re going to be using 99% of the time and let that guide your design decisions, rather than planning for the rare family dinner or event with extra people once a year. It’s easy to get caught up thinking about the big event, but how you utilize your home on a daily basis should come first.”

Grain Design Projects

Perks Of Working With Us!

“We’re passionate about seeing the space and exploring new ideas. We’re always happy to give our insight if someone doesn’t know exactly what they want. Having done hundreds of tables at this point, we have a really good understanding of what works, what doesn’t, and what’s important to consider. Our value lies in providing additional insight, whether it’s about spatial planning, design, or the finish. Everything is locally made and custom-made to order, and we source the highest quality materials. We used to work primarily with reclaimed materials, but now, only about 10 to 15% of our projects are reclaimed. This allows us to offer products in a wider range of styles— from a really rustic look to a super modern, refined, or industrial solution. By sourcing higher-quality materials and refining our craftsmanship, we avoid the limitations of mass-produced furniture, where you’re stuck with the sizes and materials the manufacturer provides, often without proper quality control. Quality and customization are our biggest strengths.”

3 Things You Didn’t Know About Our Services

Expanded Scope Of Services
“The scope of services is probably what’s changed the most. We don’t just build furniture—we design furniture as well, offering full-service solutions.”
Residential And Commercial Projects
“Outside of the home, we do a ton of commercial office work, including office desks and conference tables. Frequently, someone will send us a floor plan, and we’ll design every piece of furniture for their office.”
Comprehensive Process
“We’re full service, handling everything from design to furniture production, delivery, and everything in between.”

Get To Know Us!

Who We Are Outside Of Work

Grant: “I have a young and growing family, so that takes up the majority of my time. Outside of that, I really enjoy golfing, hunting, fishing, and working on house projects.”

Blain: “Outside of work, most of my time is spent with family. Similar to Grant, I have a young family, along with a lot of nieces, nephews, and siblings with growing families. It seems like we’re usually traveling somewhere on the weekends—either to visit family or for a weekend adventure.”

Our Go-to Places For Coffee & Breakfast

Blain: “I only drink black coffee, but I’m a big fan of Thunder Coffee.”

Grant: “Chai Moto”

Our Favorite Spots In Town To Unwind

Blain: “We’re pretty fortunate – a lot of our work and play both happen here at The Pines venue property. We’ve built this property as our workspace but it’s also our playground. When possible we like to hang out here and golf on the golf simulator. When we’re not working, we’re either spending time with our families or going to golf somewhere—the location doesn’t really matter, as long as it’s golf.”

Our Favorite Way To Give Back

Grant: “We’ve been fortunate to contribute through the venue we own called The Pines. With these venues, we offer nonprofits cost pricing—essentially a giveaway—for their events. From organizations like Down Home to Peace Academy, Charity: Water, and Unseen, we’ve supported a lot of nonprofits, often working more behind the scenes.”

Blain: “Since we started Grain Designs, we’ve focused on giving back. Nearly every year since 2016, we have gifted a dining table or conference table to a family in need or a non-profit. Last year, for example, we built and donated a custom conference table to the F5 Project. We do a lot of charitable giving—not necessarily in physical dollars, but by sharing our products and skills with those that can benefit. We’re frequently gifting to silent auctions or donating our work to support good causes.”

How To Hire Us As Your Upgrader

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Coupon: Mention this article and get 10% off any new custom order dining tables or office furniture.