For this Sunday Sessions we wanted to highlight the man behind the stunning woodworking and craftsmanship of our Four Sons Mercantile La Grange location, Ari Smejkal.
Our family has known Ari for over 20 years and his Hammer Design Group occupied the space previously. Ari started woodworking at 15 alongside his grandfather and father. This artisan mindset and expertise has been passed down from generation to generation starting with Ari’s great grandfather, a Czechoslovakian carpenter. As a young child, Ari would spend hours working with his hands and still today is inspired by the world around him.
He is known around the world for his exquisite furniture and uniquely skilled craftsmanship, but also a renowned painter & sculptor. His talents are a regular fixture on HGTV’s Windy City Rehab, which has become a venue for sharing his works of art. Given the show’s success and features in local and national publications, Smejkal now has his art in public and private collections across the globe. This proud father of six and grandfather of three creates out of his family farm in Germantown, Wisconsin.
Art consultants, interior designers and private collectors continue to increase demand for Smejkal’s work and we are incredibly proud that Ari’s earlier work is on full display at Four Sons Mercantile in La Grange.
