When Nick Sheridan was young, he explored everything from sketching to sewing to channel his creativity—but it was craftsmanship at home that set him on his future path. “My dad was a general contractor, and he shared his love of design with me,” he says. “He was very hands-on, often building custom elements in our yard.”
A California native, Sheridan earned an architecture degree from Cal Poly Pomona, where he gravitated toward modernism and minimalism. Inspired by Mies van der Rohe and Le Corbusier, he incorporated clean lines into his work, which laid the foundation for his later concepts.
In 2009, Sheridan founded Cerno with childhood friends Bret Englander and Daniel Wacholder. The trio grew up together in Laguna Beach, where they rebuilt boats and launched mini-businesses as teens, so starting a company was a natural fit for these entrepreneurs.
The creative culture and natural environment of their hometown (think sand and surf) shaped Cerno’s signature style. The brand’s line of LED lighting includes pendants, wall sconces, and chandeliers. As the director of design, Sheridan favors natural materials like solid wood paired with brushed metal to create a contemporary look.
It’s a special moment for Sheridan when he sees a finished product. “Nothing beats that feeling you get when you bring something new to life,” he notes. “It’s a visceral high when you complete a design and get to experience it.”
Today, Nick Sheridan joins us for Friday Five! Below he shares five things that inspire him and five of his favorite projects.
5 inspirations
Photo courtesy of Nick Sheridan
1. Hollow Surfboard
I built a hollow wooden surfboard in my studio apartment about 10 years ago, and it’s still one of the most rewarding things I’ve made in my spare time. The entire board is constructed much like a boat, with thin pieces of solid wood bent, glued, and clamped into place. The whole process was analog, using a tape measure and hand tools. I shaped the rails with a wood plane by eye. It was a horribly messy project, and honestly, the board doesn’t work very well on a wave, but I built it just for fun. At Cerno, we have always been inspired by the ocean and boats, and this surfboard build keeps me connected to that.
Photo courtesy of Nick Sheridan
2. Morocco
Seeing new places, immersing myself in different cultures, and getting out of my comfort zone keep me fresh as a designer. I traveled to Morocco in 2016, and it expanded my view of culture and aesthetics in new ways. I saw stunning spaces illuminated by intricate perforated metal lanterns with beautiful geometric patterns and walked the streets for hours, taking in all the color, texture, and patina of the architecture. Despite how old some of the buildings are, each felt refreshing with intricate designs and impressive use of materials. This trip eventually inspired our Amicus 21 pendant fixture, which features a geometrically perforated metal shade.
Photo courtesy of Nick Sheridan
3. Laguna Canyon
Cerno’s roots are in Laguna Canyon. We started the company over 17 years ago in a tiny shop surrounded by other artists and craftsmen. There is a long and deep history of makers in Laguna—and that exposed Bret, Dan, and me to different mediums and disciplines in childhood. Growing up here with artists as neighbors inspired us to dream up new ideas and build something new ourselves. Living in the canyon as an adult today feels like it is a retreat into the wilderness. Being nestled in the hills helps me stay centered, grounded, and connected to our roots.
Photography by Ridge BenBen
4. My Volkswagen Beetle
I have an old, beat-up 1968 VW Beetle that I can’t imagine getting rid of (though I am sure my wife would like me to!). I used to drive it to work every day before I had my son. I don’t drive it as much these days, but it always brings a smile to my face. I love the simplicity of it, how well it works, and all the design lessons there are to learn from it.
Photo courtesy of Nick Sheridan
5. Apartment pool
For many years, I lived in a small apartment that had its own swimming pool with a diving board right outside the door. I look back at that time and that little luxury so fondly. Jumping in the water every day at all hours helped me reset and relax; it helped me stay connected to water and all the inspiration I found in it.
5 Cerno Projects
Design by Progressive Design Firm and Louis Ruiz; photography by
Francisco Estrada; courtesy of Cerno
1. Mica
The Mica is simply a cube, which has been carefully deconstructed to a sculptural state. Through the fixture’s orientation and petal material composition, it exudes a certain organic symmetry. The Mica accent pendant acts as a beautiful node, creating a sense of space marked with an ambient glow.
Design by Arlen Macpherson; photography by Jessie Prince; courtesy of Cerno
2. Lenis
Our appreciation for the beauty of a well-designed craft is what initially inspired the Lenis fixture; the form is created by bending wood stringers over a series of bulkheads. The organic, sculptural structure deviates from our mostly rectilinear forms, which introduced many new challenges, yet it also breathed new life into the design process for us. Ultimately, we were searching for that balance between the curved fluidity of its lines and the twisting movement.
Photography by Ridge BenBen; courtesy of Cerno
3. Locus
The Locus chandelier tells a story about our design journey. The wood and glass are in balance, exuding both strength and fragility. Wood is Cerno’s signature material, but the glass is fresh and new, designed and blown by Siemon & Salazar. (Cerno and Siemon & Salazar became one company back in 2022.) This product is a beautiful testament to what the two unique brands can create as design collaborators.
Photography courtesy of Cerno
4. Cura
The intricacy, integrity, and architecture of nests found in the wild are breathtaking and ultimately what inspired the Cura. Nests embody resourcefulness and innovation. Like human homes, nests protect our most precious and sacred creations, our offspring.
Photography courtesy of Cerno
5. Amicus
Traveling through Morocco, I was in awe of the skilled craftspeople and their impressive work. I was most enamored with the detail and intricacy of the perforated metal light fixtures. The artistry, patterns, and old-world techniques inspired me—and the Amicus.
