We typically think of furniture as utilitarian: chairs are for sitting on, tables are for placing things on, shelves are for storing items. But furniture can also be art—particularly when DoubleButter is crafting it. David Larabee and Dexter Thornton, the masterminds behind the Denver-based company, are two goofy, laid-back dudes who just enjoy making furniture.

This month, the Denver Art Museum is celebrating DoubleButter’s work and those of two other architecture- and design-related companies (MATTER and tres birds workshop) during Design Lab: Three Studios (on view through September 2). We visited Larabee and Thornton’s workshop prior to catch a glimpse of what it took to craft their new line of colorful, forward-looking pieces. Check out our slideshow.

Follow assistant editor Daliah Singer on Twitter at @daliahsinger.

Daliah Singer
Daliah Singer
Daliah Singer is an award-winning writer and editor based in Denver. You can find more of her work at daliahsinger.com.