Jon is a partner and founder of Umlaut Limited and the face of the custom cabinetry and architectural woodwork side of the business. He lives in South Broad Ripple with his wife and two dogs in a home they are in the process of renovating and restoring.

Jon was born in Indianapolis and attended North Central High School. During his youth he spent a lot of time in Brown County with his family. It is here that he first discovered his love of working with his hands, helping his father around the house and “wittlin’” small woodland animals with his Sodbuster Jr pocketknife.

Jon graduated from Indiana University in 1997 with a bachelor’s degree in History. It was at Indiana that he first indulged his interest in older homes and buildings by recognizing the effect they had on him and by acting on his desire to live in residences “with so much history.” A summer abroad studying the history and architecture of London, followed by a solo journey through western Europe, spent mostly in churches, art galleries, and train stations, furthered his appreciation of beautiful buildings as well as the craftsmanship which lent so much to their beauty and longevity. After graduating from Indiana and a year spent travelling around the United States from his home base in Hoosier National Forest, Jon moved to Ajka, Hungary to teach English to high-school students.

Upon returning to the Hoosier State Jon began to acquire the knowledge necessary to make furniture. Turning the “downstairs” of the turn-of- the-century converted barn that Jon and his future wife called home, into a woodshop, Jon began what would become his profession of woodworking. In their move to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Jon enrolled in one of the Midwest’s few Cabinetmaking and Architectural Millwork programs at Milwaukee Technical College. The focus of the curriculum was traditional cabinetmaking utilizing time tested “Old World” methods of cabinet and furniture construction, as well as the steps and processes involved in the production of a home’s architectural woodwork. It was there that he was first able to explore and practically employ the concepts of layout, space, and function and their vital importance to both kitchen and home design.

In June of 2004, Jon returned to Indianapolis to co-found Ümlaut Limited with Daniel Touw. Their success was born out of the combination of their respective talents and their ability to provide clients with a finished product reflective of common sense, functional design and the highest quality craftsmanship.

In May of 2010, Jon joined forces with accomplished architect Frank Rocchio in a bid to unite their shared love and vision for vintage homes and buildings and create a unique approach to the renovation and restoration of the beautiful homes and buildings of Indianapolis and its rich historic neighborhoods.