Charles Hollis Jones, born in 1945 in Bloomington, Indiana, began designing cars at age 8 and cabinets for his parents’ house at age 14, teaching himself how to translate a design from paper to a finished product. At 16 he founded CHJ Designs and began selling his work to department stores. The first of these, Bullocks Department Store in Los Angeles, purchased small tables, mirrors, wastebaskets and display cabinets. In 1963, Hollis Jones moved to Los Angeles and began designing for the furniture and accessory showroom Hudson Rissman. Within six months he was appointed chief designer, a position he held until 1972, when he founded his eponymous firm specializing in custom furniture commissions.