After four years of an unpaid internship, the mentor decided to retire and gift the apprentice all of his machinery and collection of materials as back pay. Sometimes the unexpected happens, and one should be ready for it when it does. Having honed traditional furniture making techniques over the subsequent years, the focus of the studio has developed into contemporary sculptural and elemental furniture with a singular design style that smacks of the past yet feels firmly rooted in the present.

Today, the studio has evolved into a team of skilled furniture makers, product development, and outreach. Operating with a larger crew has allowed the Castilleja name to be represented throughout the country through private clientele and exclusive showrooms.