While some never venture beyond the borders of their home country — or home state, for that matter — others wander far and wide. For these intrepid souls, like furniture designer Taylor Ross, CEO and Founder of Chronicle Home, each new foray deepens their understanding of the world but also makes an impact on their creative approach.
We sat down with Ross to discuss his journey, from a small town in Arkansas to his company launch in New York City. From those early years in Arkansas, he lived and worked on three continents. We wanted to find out how his multicultural experiences have shaped his work as a master craftsman and curator of the Chronicle Home catalog.
The Genesis of Wanderlust
Ross’ foray into the unknown began when he started walking the streets of the poorest parts of his hometown in Arkansas. He saw uncomfortable realities he no longer wanted to ignore from his middle class bubble. Eventually, he located his office in these neighborhoods among the friends he found.
“I found that being acquainted with the ways of the poor was important to me,” said Ross. “I would deliver pizzas to anyone hungry. No catch. No charge. I had no angle, except unconditional love. I still remember the day I caught the Little Caesar’s pizza guys dumping 54 pizzas in the alley. I think they thought I was crazy. But they seemed relieved when all I wanted was for somebody hungry to get those pizzas!”
Leaning into his newfound desire to explore and help others, a vivid dream would lead Ross to an unforgettable adventure in Siberia. In 2009, Ross and a friend — Kaleb Etheridge, now the company’s financial director — would travel to the Altai Republic in Russia. They came across a nomadic culture by the same name ‘Altai’ that welcomed them with open arms.
“As we ate and drank with the local Native Altai, I started to feel at home in a way that was new and disruptive,” said Ross. “I started to gain a new perspective on life that included real relationships instead of the American ‘fear of being known.’”
Ross continued to be drawn to that part of the world in the years to come. In 2013, on the day of his birthday, Ross, his wife, and their five children moved to Gorno Altaisk, Siberia.
“I still remember the day we arrived,” Ross reminisced. “One guy whose name I barely knew picked us up in the rain at the airport. It was a very enlightening and dramatic few years for everyone. Suddenly we knew we were not the center of the universe; nor was our culture. The region is distinct in that it covers 10-15 countries, including most of Central Asia. But it’s characterized by a language group, way of thinking, and nomadic culture. We learned how to use all of the animal when butchering. We learned about long winters and good soups. We grew accustomed to fermented camel’s milk. Don’t get me wrong, I still need my hot shower and other comforts, but we really came to love this traditional way of life.”
A Passion For Versatility And Cultural Uniqueness
The bespoke piece that first put him on the map as a designer was a wooden bathtub. He designed and built it in college with good friend Dane Joneshill, but it wasn’t resurrected as a business until Ross and his family moved to Mongolia. As the family followed their nomadic ties, they moved across borders 250 miles to western Mongolia. Here the bathtubs grew, and today the business has transformed into two separate family shops who run their own companies in sustainable ways.
“It’s a long story, but after I was told politely to not come back to Russia, I hired a lawyer in Mongolia,” said Ross. “He said I needed a minimum of $100,000 and all I had in reserve was $2,500 to my name. In the next few days, $104,000 came in from three sources and we had our money for a business start. I was shocked.”
Fashioned from a medley of exotic hardwoods, Ross’ custom bathtubs solidified his reputation as a wood waterproofing master. His expertise is now sought-after in exterior wooden door projects, vessel sinks, apron sinks, boats, and even surfing and skateboard projects. Chronicle Home has since branched out to making other pieces at volume, like its newly-launched Zen Table, part of the larger semi-custom Zen collection.
Ross relayed, “At Chronicle Home, we have a passion and the versatility to do both custom pieces and to offer others at volume, and that sets us apart from other furniture brands.”
What further distinguishes Chronicle Home is its remarkable capacity to collaborate with world-renowned artisans, delivering a curated selection of unique items to its cosmopolitan clientele.
Ross continued, ”I still remember standing in Bob Olsen’s shop in Maui. He is one of the oldest and most influential surfboard makers of the last century. I remember walking away and realizing: ‘I really understand these guys.’”
That was the beginning of his revelation that artisans are hiding all over the globe. Their brilliance yet untapped. A prime example includes the antique Kazakh wall hangings in Chronicle Home’s extensive catalog.
“These are real hand sewn tapestries from the last 100 years, each telling the stories of families on the steppes of Mongolia and Siberia,” said Ross. “As nomadic people travel with their herds of yak, camel, goat, sheep, cattle, and horse, these hangings travel with them, decorating the yurt walls, so the character and nature of nomadic life remain in them.”
Chronicle Home’s Global Impact
In 2019, as Ross settled back into life in the States, he found himself in an unexpected culture shock.
“I still remember considering the world and the cultures and languages I now knew. I was curious how many artisans were out there who were much better than me in their trade and how I could access them,” he said.
This curiosity prompted Ross and his family to eventually split their time between Turkey and the U.S. Yet, no matter where his journey takes him, Ross remains dedicated to making a positive impact on the local communities he encounters.
He elaborated, “We know we can leave sustainable businesses behind even after we’re gone. I’ve taught school teachers, and even a former mathematician who couldn’t get work, how to build furniture. And they’re still building furniture for their local communities today.”
This all tracks with Chronicle Home’s mission. For Ross, the decision to launch the company was not about making millions, but about ensuring that the business served a purpose beyond profits.
“People are going back to authentic things. They’re tired of the highly-produced, shiny stuff,” he said. “Authentic things are hard, but to me the problem is worth dealing with because it yields true beauty. These pieces tell a story that transcends time, hence the origin of our name, Chronicle Home.”
About Taylor Ross
With 4 shops on 4 continents, Founder of Chronicle Home, Taylor Ross, is the furniture designer with capabilities to provide the bridge between elite interior designers and craft artisans at volume. Ross’ claim to fame are his wooden bathtubs and sinks; his pieces have been featured by ICFF Miami, ICFF NYC, Wall Street Journal, KBB, and At Home Arkansas. For more information and to get help with a project, please visit https://thechroniclehome.com/contact
