25 June 2026
Last News

Ricardo Briones, known as Caco, was born and raised in Santiago, in the Ñuñoa district. Although his formal education was in hotel administration, his story is marked by parallel paths that eventually converged. Before fully dedicating himself to his current trades, he worked in restaurants, explored the world of wine, and tried to pursue a more traditional career. However, something always pushed him toward the creative.

That impulse came from childhood. His grandfather, a dentist by profession but an amateur carpenter, was the one who taught him how to use tools, understand wood, and lose his fear of making things. "They were simple things, repairs around the house, small pieces of furniture, but that's where it all started," he recalls.

First impression

Over the years, that seed lay dormant, until an everyday scene changed everything. Visiting some friends who were newlyweds, he saw a reclaimed oak table. "It struck me. It was a table with history, with character. Right then I said: I want to make something like that," he recounts. That moment marked the beginning of a self-taught process that led him to experiment, make mistakes, and learn.

Little by little, he began making furniture for those close to him, without great pretensions. But persistence and the drive to improve did their part. What started as a hobby turned into a venture: Caco Briones, where today he designs and builds custom furniture, prioritizing functionality, aesthetics, and the identity of each piece.

In parallel, his musical life never stopped. As a drummer, he has accompanied the team of impersonator and comedian Stefan Kramer for years, participating in performances across the country. This duality, far from being a conflict, became a form of balance. "Music has its ups and downs, and carpentry does too. But they complement each other," he says.

Personal notes

For Caco, there is no dividing line between his trades. Music and wood constantly dialogue in his life. "In the end, both are creative processes. One works with rhythms, the other with shapes, but both require sensitivity," he explains.

His workshop, set up in his home, is an intimate space where each project takes shape. He doesn't work with stock or mass production: everything is made to order. Tables, shelves, desks, or lamps are born from conversations with the client, but also from his own perspective. Sometimes he replicates ideas, other times he transforms them. "There's always something of my own, even if I don't realize it," he reflects.

Social media has been key in this process. Without a defined strategy, he began sharing videos showing how he works: from using tools to assembly techniques. Over time, that content connected with thousands of people. Today, he has tens of thousands of followers, becoming a showcase, but also a space for collective learning.

Connection with wood

Beyond technique, what truly drives him is the connection with the material. "I've been a fan of wood since it was a tree," he says. He enjoys observing it in its natural state, walking through forests, recognizing species. Then, in the workshop, that bond transforms into respect for its grains, its marks, and its imperfections. "I don't like to hide them. They're part of its story," he adds.

That perspective is also reflected in his creations, where he seeks to convey warmth and permanence. In a context where industrial materials prevail, Caco bets on the essential. "Wood has something that can't be replaced. It makes spaces feel alive," he affirms.

Between trips, stages, and commissions, his routine is anything but predictable. However, there is something that remains constant: the need to create. Whether hitting a drum or sanding a board, Ricardo Briones continues building a life where passion is the core.

At Acoforag, we highlight stories like Briones', where working with wood transcends the productive and becomes an expression of identity, craft, and connection with the environment.

The Report in theAcoforag Magazine

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