01
Designing
The Dom Tower starts on the computer. In Blender I work on the shape, proportions and details before anything is made.
The story behind Domstad Cadeaus
Hi, I’m Chris
I’m the maker and founder behind Domstad Cadeaus. I built the business from scratch out of my passion for designing, making and creating. What once was my hobby has become my work.
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Utrecht
Utrecht became more than a city
Around the age of 22, after a difficult period, I moved to Overvecht. In Utrecht I found calm, confidence and direction again. That gave the city a special personal meaning for me.
My first Utrecht product was the Dom Tower, which I designed myself in Blender. When I took it to markets and saw how many people responded to it, the idea for Domstad Cadeaus really started to grow.
A moment that stayed with me
“A customer who had grown up in Utrecht but was living elsewhere bought a serving board featuring the Dom Tower and the Oudegracht. She was incredibly happy with it, precisely because it gave her a little piece of Utrecht at home.”
That is exactly what I want to create with Domstad Cadeaus.From idea to finished product
Designed and made in my own workshop
A Domstad Cadeaus product does not simply appear on a shelf. I design, make and finish it step by step myself.
02
Making
After the design comes the physical work: printing, assembling, checking and working on the Dom Tower in the workshop.
03
Laser finishing
For the final details I use the xTool laser, for example to engrave the brass nameplate neatly and precisely.
Trial and error
Making means continuing to improve
Not every prototype works, and not everything I personally like immediately appeals to someone else. By testing and listening to feedback at markets, I learned to combine my own ideas with what people genuinely appreciate.
A name, date, photo or personal text also gives a product something of your own. A little piece of your identity on a little piece of Utrecht.
Mindful use of materials
Where possible, I try to reuse leftover wood, packaging materials, test pieces, misprints and other usable materials.
From my workshop to your home
A piece of Utrecht that gains meaning
When someone takes a piece of Utrecht home through a Domstad Cadeaus product and it makes them happy, that is exactly what I hoped to achieve when I started.
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