Breadcrumb Trail Links
Buy CanadianHome LivingLiving RoomShopping Essentials
We spoke with Omba founder Daniel Marks on why to choose custom and the future of furniture design
Published May 01, 2026 • 3 minute read
Vancouver-based Omba founder Mark Daniels. Photo by OmbaArticle content
Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page.
Advertisement 2
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
After moving into a new home in December, I began the hunt for custom, simple pieces that were timeless, high-quality and would suit my space perfectly. There’s no shortage of beautiful, well-made designs on the market, but I found it difficult to find pieces that work in the oddly shaped nooks and crannies of my 1970s build.
Article content
Article content
Omba builds made-to-order solid wood furniture that can be customized to suit any space. Based just a stones throw from my home in Squamish, this Vancouver studio met all of my needs, and built a custom console table using North American walnut timbre that fit perfectly on a small wall right outside of a doorway (very hard to style with regular furniture as everything felt “in the way”).
According to Omba founder, Daniel Marks, the company’s focus is “on creating solid wood pieces with a quiet, minimalist sensibility. Each piece is built locally from North American hardwoods,” says Marks, “and designed to feel simple yet warm. The brand’s made-to-order approach also allows customers to customize dimensions, wood species and details so each piece fits naturally into their home.”
Shopping Essentials
Article content
Advertisement 3
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
We caught up with Marks to discuss why it’s worth considering custom pieces and the future of furniture design.
Omba’s custom-made walnut console fits an otherwise awkward styling space. Photo by Leigh Taveroff/PostmediaQ&A with Omba founder Daniel Marks
Q: Who are you?
A: I’m Daniel Marks, founder of Omba, a Vancouver-based furniture studio focused on solid wood. I grew up in Vancouver, and it means a lot to me to be building furniture and running our workshop here in the city.
Q: What made you start a furniture brand?
A: Woodworking began as a hobby and gradually developed into a passion. I loved the feeling of making something physical and lasting, especially coming from a tech background where the work can feel more abstract. After years of building furniture for our home, taking design courses, and working out of various community workshops, I landed on a bookcase system that seemed to resonate with people. That became the foundation for Omba.
Q: What are some of your favourite pieces?
A: Our console tables are some of my favourite pieces because they sit at the intersection of form and function. They often need to fit a very specific space, so customization really matters, and that’s something we’re well suited to offer because we build everything ourselves. Design-wise, they’re intentionally simple. We want the proportions to feel calm and the wood to do most of the talking.
Q: Why choose Omba over other furniture manufacturers?
Advertisement 4
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
A: We pride ourselves on three principles:
Made locally: All of our furniture is built by hand in our own workshop in Vancouver.Made entirely out of solid wood: We only use North American hardwoods, white oak, red oak or walnut. Customizable: Because we build our pieces ourselves, we can tailor sizing and configurations to what each customer actually needs.
Customization allows for a smaller (or bigger, depending on your space) footprint. Photo by Leigh Taveroff/Postmedia
Q: What other brands do you love and why?
A: I have a lot of respect for Loughlin Furniture and Benchmark Furniture. They share our core philosophy: they build locally, prioritize high-quality solid materials and focus on simple, minimalist designs.
Q: How do you see the future of furniture design evolving?
A: I think more people are waking up to the decline in furniture quality over the past couple of decades. There’s growing frustration with disposable pieces that look good at first but don’t last. This video does a great job exploring the trend and this thread captures the mood.
My hope is that this leads more customers toward solid wood furniture made locally and built to endure. It will usually cost more upfront, but in the long run it offers far better value and a much stronger connection to the people and materials behind it.
Advertisement 5
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
Q: What’s next for Omba?
A: I’m really excited about 2026. We’re working on a couple of new collections that build on our current design language, and we also want to do a better job of showing customers what goes into each piece. A big focus for us will be sharing more of the craftsmanship and process behind the furniture.
Omba’s craftsmanship shines through. Photo by Leigh Taveroff/Postmedia
Read More
The Canadian-made storage bed that finally fixes bedroom clutter
Cozey’s extendable dining table just dropped — does it match the couch craze?
Shopping Essentials, a category written by research-obsessed shopping fanatics, is now on Canoe. Explore in-depth product reviews, expert recommendations and exciting collaborations — plus get behind-the-scenes info on your favourite brands and trending products — learn more here or sign up for our newsletter.
ltaveroff@postmedia.com
Article content
Share this article in your social network