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WORDS BYLINE: Vanessa Papas A couple have transformed their love of the dark and unusual into a successful business… making coffin furniture. What started as a casual hobby for Amber and Ryan Scheuer is today a thriving family enterprise. The couple’s Instagram reads like a high-end coffin catalogue. Why settle for a plain, boring bed when you could lounge in a hot pink, tufted coffin? Who wouldn’t want their living room to look like a scene straight out of a Tim Burton fever dream? “Amber works as a tattoo artist in a local studio. One day, she and one of the studio owners, Nadia, were talking about wanting a coffin shelf,” Ryan, 37, Knoxville, Tennessee, recalled. “That turned into researching, but we weren’t really liking anything we found online, so Amber joked that I would probably do a better job. I took it seriously and had our first shelf built within two days.” Not stopping there, Ryan took up the challenge to build a functional, six-foot tufted coffin bench for Nadia’s home. The couple quickly gained a following after Amber posted photos of the coffin bench on Facebook, leading to requests from people all over the world. “We immediately had thousands of views, saves, and inquiries from the US, Germany, Australia, Norway, and a large handful of other countries,” Amber explained. “A few metal bands even reached out to commission work. We’ve had mixed reviews, a vast majority very positive. Of course, with anything in a genre like this, we do get the occasional, ‘I’ll pray for you,’ in our inbox.” Building each piece has become a family affair. “Amber handles the customer interactions, taking their ideas and thoughts and drafting them into concepts. She handles the design elements and final layout when it comes to accents and decoration,” Ryan shared. “I handle the building from the base up. I build the skeleton (if you will), and Amber puts the heart into them - bringing each piece to life.” Their daughters, Scarlett, 12, and Everleigh, nine, often join in, helping to paint and tuft. With each new project, the couple has expanded their creative boundaries. Their designs now range from coffin-shaped shelves and coffee tables to smaller items like charcuterie boards. “We keep our base as coffin-inspired. We have everything from shelves to charcuterie boards and are open to pretty much any challenge,” said Amber. “We transformed our garage into a workshop and our dining room into a studio.” Their family’s most extravagant piece to date is one they made for Studio 617, a tattoo shop in Maryville. Owner Kris Ford requested a six-foot black coffin with a tufted red velvet interior, lights, ornate decorations, and a glass top to display a medical skeleton named “Jackie.” While their designs often appeal to Gothic enthusiasts, Amber and Ryan have also noticed broader interest in their unique style. “I wouldn’t say that our coffins are solely sought after by Gothic enthusiasts,” Amber noted. “They also fit into themes such as academia, modernism, cottage-core, and so on. I definitely think they have a place in any setting, modern or less than modern, as the theming elements and palettes can be customised to fit anything.” Another one of their standout pieces is a nearly seven-foot-tall coffin shelf painted in hot pink and purple, with neon lighting and glitter, created at a client’s request. “I think our pieces are unique in that they are 100% custom-designed to individuals, to their inspirations down to every single detail - never to be replicated again,” Amber added. “We want every piece to be one of a kind and very personal. Any symbolism on any of our pieces is thought up by the customer.” Creating coffin furniture in Knoxville might seem like an unusual path, but the couple have found it rewarding and don’t let the challenges of running a niche business deter them. Looking to the future, Amber and Ryan are open to expanding their designs within the Gothic aesthetic. “Coffin furniture isn’t just about embracing darkness; it’s about transforming something traditionally associated with death into a beautiful, meaningful, and personal art form. We are always up for a challenge, so we’re open to any ideas that anyone has for us. We’re planning to do some horror movie-inspired pieces, so watch this space,” Amber concluded. When: 28 Jun 2024 Credit: Cover Images **EDITORIAL USE ONLY. MATERIALS ONLY TO BE USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH EDITORIAL STORY. THE USE OF THESE MATERIALS FOR ADVERTISING, MARKETING OR ANY OTHER COMMERCIAL PURPOSE IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED. MATERIAL COPYRIGHT REMAINS WITH STATED PHOTOGRAPHER AND/OR SUPPLIER.**