YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Yanni Custom Furniture and Design, a family-owned business in Youngstown, has established itself as a unique player in the custom furniture and design industry.
The business, founded in 2019 by Yianni Kefalianos and his wife, Irene, along with Irene’s brothers, Nick and Manual Frangos, began with a simple yet ambitious goal: to create unique furniture and interior designs that stand out in both residential and commercial spaces.
Yianni Kefalianos, who came to the United States from Greece in 2010, has been working with his hands since he was 13. His journey into the trades began in a body shop where he worked as a mechanic.
Over the years, he honed his skills in building car seats and other furniture, laying the groundwork for what became Yanni Custom Furniture and Design.
“When we started, it was just me and my wife,” Yianni says. “Just two people.”
Despite the modest beginnings, Yianni’s experience and craftsmanship quickly became the backbone of the business. Initially, the company focused on upholstery work. Finding skilled upholsterers, though, proved challenging.
“The problem is I couldn’t even find one guy to do upholstery,” Yianni says. “In five or 10 years, you won’t be able to find anybody in this trade. It’s crazy.”
Faced with this challenge, Yianni pivoted the business toward custom furniture and design, a decision that has since defined the company brand.
Today, Yanni Custom Furniture and Design handles eight to 10 projects at a time. They range from custom-built furniture to comprehensive interior design and remodeling services.
The company’s growth necessitated a move to a larger showroom. In 2022, it relocated from its original space at 777 N. Meridian Road in Youngstown, which now serves as its warehouse and workspace, to a new 3,200-square-foot showroom at 1449 Boardman-Canfield Road in Boardman.
Yianni says he’s made about half of what is in the showroom, the remainder are custom-built products from Europe and a few American brands.
The move, while providing more space and visibility, has come with its own set of challenges. “It’s not the traffic I wanted,” Yianni allows, acknowledging that retail spending has been affected by broader economic trends.
Data from the U.S. Department of Commerce shows that while retail sales increased by 2.3% year-over-year in June, they have slowed from the 7.7% gain posted in January 2023.
“With everything being more expensive, people aren’t concentrating on their houses,” Irene says. “I think people are using their money now on vacations and different things.”
This shift in consumer behavior, along with the rise of online shopping, has made it more challenging for bricks-and-mortar businesses like Yanni Custom Furniture and Design to attract foot traffic and sales.
Despite these challenges, Yianni and Irene remain optimistic. They say the breadth of services they offer, from custom furniture to full-scale remodeling projects, sets them apart in an industry where specialization is often the norm.
“For us, it’s normal,” Yianni says of their wide-ranging capabilities. The real challenge, he says, is marketing their diverse offerings to the community. “The problem is how do you show the people what we do.”
Irene, who serves as the executive coordinator, plays a crucial role in managing the showroom, ordering materials and overseeing the design process.
While Yianni and his team focus on construction, Irene ensures that the aesthetic and functional aspects of each project align with the customer’s vision. This division of labor allows the business to maintain a high level of craftsmanship and attention to detail in every project, they say.
“We kind of started with a wide range of what we did and then we slowly zoned in on what was working,” Irene says.
Today, the company’s portfolio comprises a mix of residential and commercial projects, with an increasing focus on remodeling and construction.
“We’re moving more into remodeling and construction,” Irene says. “We do the studs, drywall and paint, and then all the way to the last accessories and the last piece of art hanging on your wall.”
This comprehensive approach to interior design and remodeling has allowed Yanni Custom Furniture to take on larger projects, such as the recent renovation of Barrel 33 in Howland.
“The new owner handed us the keys and 30 days later we had taken down walls, rebuilt walls, and installed all new displays,” Irene says as she recalls the assignment.
The project included custom work on everything from tables to bathrooms. It showcased the ability of the company to handle every aspect of a renovation.
As the business continues to grow, Yianni and Irene are keen to expand their network by partnering with local architects and interior designers. These collaborations not only bring in new projects but also allow the company to showcase its custom capabilities on a larger scale.
“If they can think it, he can create it,” Irene says, emphasizing Yianni’s skill in turning unique design concepts into reality.
The couple is aware, however, that they need to do more to communicate the full range of their services to potential customers.
“We need to get it out there that we do a lot more than what you see in the showroom,” Irene says. This includes not only custom furniture but also outdoor kitchens, vanities and other bespoke pieces that add a personalized touch to any space.
In an industry increasingly dominated by mass-produced furniture and online shopping, Irene says their business offers a “compelling” alternative to those seeking quality, craftsmanship and customization: “Where we flourish and why we’re able to keep the doors open is that we’re able to create things that don’t exist,” she says.
Looking ahead, Yianni and Irene say their commitment to quality and customer satisfaction will continue to drive the business forward. “We’re going in the right direction right now,” Yianni says. “This is not stopping. We just need to keep going.”
Pictured at top: Yianni Kefalianos came to the United States from Greece in 2010. His craftsmanship is the backbone of the family business.