ON THE JOB AT SCATHAIN

ON THE JOB WITH…

Scathain

MILWAUKEE-BASED SCATHAIN has made quite a name for itself in the world of custom furnishings and design.

If you’ve ever stepped inside Lodge Kohler hotel in Green Bay, Fiserv Forum or the Iron Horse Hotel in downtown Milwaukee – or many of the other high-end venues across southeastern Wisconsin – you’ve likely laid eyes on Scathain’s work, including custom antique mirrors, patinated steel panels and mirror-plated furnishings.

Having emerged from a lull in business during the COVID-19 pandemic, the company has hit its stride. Scathain has landed some major contracts while discovering new ways to defy conventional design techniques at its 40,000-square-foot shop in Milwaukee’s Walker’s Point neighorhood.

“We bring in a magic that you can’t get anywhere else,” said owner John McWilliam.

After rebuilding a team of now nearly 30 employees, Scathain is working to launch its own custom furniture line this year. n

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PHOTOS BY: JAKE HILL PHOTOGRAPHY

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Silvering artisan and department head Sarah Elise uses a blow torch to burn alcohol solution off a sheet of glass to seal the look of this silvered mirror piece. The glass is then sprayed with a combination of silver and topcoat reducer to create an antique-looking finish.

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This piece will be hand-cut into “Versailles Mesh” tiles for Kohler’s Ann Sacks line. The tiles will be used to decorate walls in kitchens, bathrooms and living spaces.

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Glass isn’t the only surface fit for silver. Late last year, Ann Saks launched a new collection of wall tiles with Scathain’s silver-plated wood.

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Silvering artisan Nicholas Sinthasomphone neatly lays out wood tiles before they are sprayed with metallic finish.

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A look inside Scathain’s 40,000-square-foot shop, where artisans create custom furnishings with metal, wood and mirrors.