Design Against The Grain

Niall McKeown

I was born and raised in Derry, Northern Ireland.
(Most people know Derry from the U2 song, "Sunday Bloody Sunday").

My dream and focus growing up was to get a woodworking apprenticeship with one of the two top companies in Northern Ireland. I got into JJ Higgins' in June, 1979. My learning, discovery (and obsession) with woodwork grew from there. five years apprenticeship taught me more time was needed working beside more high caliber woodworkers. I got to fulfill that dream when I moved to America in 1987.

Once in the US, I had the privilege to work with some of the finest woodworkers in the business:

Doug and Suzy Carr:
Owners of The Woodn' Car, specializing in woodie station wagons

Nick Nicholson:
VP of the Woodworking Institute of California, owner of Nicholson Wood Products

Jet Craft:
company that built cabinetry for multi million dollar private jets .

In 1999 I started my own business, McKeown Design, doing custom woodwork and cabinetry with an emphasis on unique design.

I live and work mostly in the South Bay region of Southern California - Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, El Segundo