It was quality of life Tod Von Mertens and his wife were seeking when they decided eight years ago to uproot their young family from Seattle and return to Von Mertens’ roots in the Peterborough area. Von Mertens was leaving behind a lucrative business as a subcontractor doing metal fabrication installations in residential construction. But he had a dream, one he thought he could make work in the Monadnock region: Designing and producing high-end furniture.

The gamble would pay off in a few short years. Having started Tod Von Mertens Furniture Design and Production out of his barn in Hancock, with limited part-time help, Von Mertens has expanded into a commercial space at the Vose Farm Business Center, where his team has expanded to three full-time workers and 7,200 square feet and growing. He’s anticipating adding three part-timers in the next month and more square footage later this year. What’s more, his original, handmade furniture for the high-end market is selling for top dollar; his dining tables start at $8,000 and his dressers go for $6,000 to $7,000.

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