What is Diamond M Woodworks
Nestled in Utah, on the outskirts of the Salt Lake Valley, Diamond M Woodworks is surrounded by the rich history of the old West. That history is what sets Diamond M apart : every project begins with authentic weathered lumber reclaimed from the high desert and lush mountain landscapes of the mountain West. I’ve spent years reclaiming lumber from barns, corrals, fences, and other structures throughout the Western United States, from the red sandy desert scapes of Northern Arizona to the lush Teton Valley outside Jackson Wyoming, to the Northern reaches of Montana and thousands of miles of vast dirt road miles between; the lumber used in my builds tells a story all it’s own. After reclaiming this lumber from throughout the West, it’s carefully denailed, stacked, and cataloged in my shop outside Salt Lake City to be used in custom builds and shipped throughout the United States . . .carrying with it the history imprinted upon it by the harsh winters, strong winds, blazing heat, and driving rains of the West.
Whether it be a custom interior barn door, turquoise inlay picture frame, coffee table, pedestal mount, trophy buckle display, unique art piece, or any form of custom build; no two pieces will ever be the same due to the unique nature of every piece of lumber reclaimed and used; truly making every 1 of 1. It is my goal to create heirloom quality goods to be passed down through generations; preserving not only the history of the materials used but also providing more memories and keepsakes to be passed down long after I’m gone.
Diamond M Woodworks My Story
I grew up in a rural Southern Utah town of 1,000 people; surrounded by lush alfalfa fields and wild high desert mountains. I took my first paying job at 9 years old, picking corn and pumpkins for a local farmer. Whether it was picking corn, building fence, or helping my grandfather on his sprawling ranch, I was taught at a very young age to take pride in hard work and the ways of small town life in the West. It’s this hard work, surroundings, people, lessons learned, and way of life that continue to inspire my work and creativity. I aim to honor and preserve these aspects of the West with every miter, nail, joint, and finished piece. I pay homage to my upbringing, as well as my grandfather with whom I worked the livestock and the fields every summer of my childhood by branding the bottom right corner of every piece with the historic Diamond M brand; left for me to protect and carry on when he passed. I use a classic fire forge to heat an authentic steel branding iron to leave a fiery brand on each peace to not only mark it’s completion but to also certify the build quality worthy of the brand and everything it symbolizes: hard work, passion, commitment, history, and honor.
2018
My mother and I have a tradition of making each other something for Christmas. For this Christmas I had some reclaimed barnwood left over from an interior accent wall I build in my home. With some tools I borrowed from a neighbor, I created what turned out to be the very first Diamond M piece. I did the works outside my tiny town home on the tailgate of my pickup truck. I had no idea it would soon turn into what is now Diamond M Woodworks. This same Christmas, my mother gifted me my grandfathers branding iron, as he had instructed her shortly before his passing. We used it to brand the piece that I crated her and Diamond M Woodworks was born.
December 30 2018
After posting pictures of my first build for my mother, a few people expressed interest in purchasing one so I made a trip to the hardware store to get materials to build another. As I was in the store, someone stole $500 from my truck. I decided that day I would build a couple pieces, post them for sale, and hopefully make the money that was stolen from me back. I have not stopped building since that day.
August 15 2020
I took a leap of faith. Terrified, I sold my small town home and 1 car garage working space to purchase a new home with a yard for storing more reclaimed lumber and a large detached shop to chase the dream. I spent the first weeks in my new home sleeping on the floor, living out of boxes, until the new home of Diamond M Woodworks was ready.
Testimonials
Matt has such a talent for creating beautiful work. Everything he’s done I’ve loved. He’s done a barn door for my bathroom, frames, planter boxes and just recently a blanket ladder. I highly recommend him!
-Tiffani ThursbyMatt was amazing to work with. The finished product was even better. The attention to detail and craftsmanship is beautiful. You can tell he puts 110% into each job. We will be back for more woodwork soon!
-Tyler MortensenDiamond M Woodworks does amazing work. I have had two custom frames made and they came out beautiful. I highly recommend them for all your custom woodwork needs.
-Shannon HopkinsI couldn’t be happier with my custom barn wood picture frame! The craftsmanship is top-notch, and the matting that was chosen was perfect to complement the frame and artwork. The rustic charm of the barn wood is beautiful, one-of-a-kind piece that I’ll cherish for years to come.
-Lisa Comé