Nate, Owner & Founder
Nate grew up in southern Indiana, where he spent much of his young adulthood working alongside his father and grandfather in their custom cabinet shop. At 17, Nate moved to Central Oregon where he worked in the coffee industry, and founded Oregon Yerba Maté Café, the only café in the United States to serve maté in place of coffee.
Driven by curiosity and a deep sense of adventure, Nate joined the Peace Corps and spent two years in Suriname, South America. After completing his service, he continued exploring the world, teaching English in Mongolia for another two years.
His travels eventually led him to Southern California, where he managed Tiato Kitchen & Venue – a vibrant restaurant, market, and event space in the heart of Santa Monica. California is also where he met Johanna, whom he married in 2015.
After many years in the fast-paced restaurant industry, Nate felt called to pursue a different path, one that was more creatively fulfilling. Drawing on his artistic instincts and passion for craftsmanship, he founded Element Hardware. Today, Nate specializes in custom, hand-forged home hardware. Each piece is made to order and crafted by hand, never mass-produced, reflecting his commitment to quality, individuality, and timeless design.
Johanna, Owner
Johanna was born and raised in Southern California. After earning her Bachelor’s degree in Visual Arts from the University of California, San Diego, she spent more than 20 years working as a post-production editor. After marrying Nate, she realized her love of hiking and the outdoors made her want to be in a place where those things were more readily accessible. Years of camping trips throughout the Southwest eventually led them to Durango, and in 2020 they made the move. After finishing out her career as an editor, Johanna became a real estate agent for the next few years. Now, she runs the café side of The Blacksmith Café, bringing her eye for detail and steady hand to a different kind of craft.
