Gifford Cochran has the unique ability to merge classical design principles with a contemporary sensibility. His furniture shows major influences from both the Neoclassical and Beidermeier styles, yet remains fresh and always unique, raising the bar for modern furniture design. Born in Oyster Bay, New York in 1962, Gifford spent much of his childhood on boats sailing the world. Despite his young age, traveling opened his eyes to a lot of unique influences and provided the basis for his fascination with historically-based designs. Gifford has always been drawn to the fine craftsmanship of old world furniture and combines that inherent quality with an uncanny awareness of the requirements of practical modern living. His lines are clean, minimal and balanced. He prefers to work with figured hardwoods for their reflective and mesmerizing properties. Tiger maple and curly cherry are among his favorite combinations. He combines his east coast heritage with west coast modernity. One of his most talked about pieces is his hardwood and plexiglass Presentation Case. It is a simple design, executed with style and durability. With a degree in Environmental Design from the University of Colorado and a background in architecture and real estate development, Gifford discovered that designing only buildings did not provide him with the artistic and creative freedom that he desired. In an effort to get more involved in the actual building of his designs, he started designing and building furniture. Since moving to Bozeman, Montana in 1995, Gifford has designed and built his own home and successfully turned a hobby into a viable trade. His home and furnishings were featured as the cover article in Mountain Living (June, 1998) and his furniture can be found in galleries and specialty retail stores in Minneapolis, Chicago and New York.