Woman owned and operated, DJ Designs is a full-service woodworker and contractor that fills a need in the Boston Metro area and beyond for a wide array of projects. Dawn Leate started DJ Designs in 2006. We specialize in affordable custom furniture, cabinetry & built-ins, and finish carpentry with an eye towards function and design. Occasionally, we also take commissions for custom signs, fine art paintings, drawings and prints.
After art school and years of working full-time doing graphic design, illustration and operations in pop culture conventions and the trade show industry, Dawn decided to pursue another avenue and fell in love with the idea of working with her hands. She is a voracious visual learner and eternal student that has read every home design, woodworking magazine and This Old House she can get her hands on. This began her interest in furniture making and home improvement which lead to a career change. Mostly self-taught, she has been helping people set up their spaces with an eye towards function and design ever since.
Since 2009, Dawn and her team have also been embarking on Set/Props & Exhibit Design, Home Improvement, Custom Finish Carpentry & Renovation projects.
In 2021, Dawn purchased a cabin in the woods of New Hampshire to rehab and execute some design ideas on.
