Every remarkable piece of furniture begins long before the first cut. For John Romadka, every tree carries a story worth preserving.
The Story
Every Tree Deserves
a Second Life
John Romadka doesn't simply build furniture.
He creates functional art.
Every drought, every storm and every season is recorded inside the grain of a tree. Rather than hiding those marks, John celebrates them.
Twenty years ago he began teaching himself woodworking while building furniture for his growing family. What started with a cherry blanket chest became dining tables, beds, entertainment centers and countless heirloom pieces.
For nearly twenty years he built for exactly one client—his own family.
When his corporate career unexpectedly came to an end, everything changed.
He already had the workshop. The tools. Twenty years of experience.
The business had quietly been preparing itself all along.
Today Black Walnut Studio creates custom furniture built around one simple philosophy:
Every tree deserves a second life.
At a Glance
The Maker
Location
Madison, Wisconsin
Experience
20+ Years Woodworking
Favorite Wood
Bastogne Walnut
Specialty
Custom Live Edge Furniture
Signature Style
Functional Art
Custom Commissions
Available
The Process
From Tree to Table
01
Your Slab Selected
02
Layout & Build
03
Joinery & Resin Work
04
Hand Finished
05
Built for Generations
Featured Story
The Burnt Ember Desk
Most craftsmen would have cut away the fire damage.
John built around it.
The Bastogne walnut slab had survived a fire, leaving a charred scar running through its center. Instead of hiding the damage, he stabilized it using ebony bow-tie keys and preserved its history with deep black resin.
The result became one-of-one functional art.
A piece that could never be recreated.
Behind the Scenes
Inside the Workshop
Favorite Tool
Lie-Nielsen No.7 Jointer Plane
Favorite Machine
Professional Cabinet Saw
Favorite Place
The handmade maple workbench where every project begins.
Sourcing
Materials Matter
John is drawn to Bastogne Walnut because of its incredible depth, movement and rarity.
Every slab contains dramatic figure and shifting color that simply can't be replicated.
Rather than covering the wood beneath heavy finishes, he uses premium European hardwax oils that protect while allowing you to still feel the grain beneath your fingertips.
Production furniture runs on compromise.
I don't.
If a step makes the piece better, even if nobody will ever see it—I still do it.
Craftsmanship is measured by the details hidden inside every piece; the joints you'll never see, the reinforcements buried beneath the surface, the extra hours spent making something right rather than simply making it done.
Quick Hits
Rapid Fire Q&A
Coffee
Black
Favorite Wood
Bastogne Walnut
Favorite Tool
Lie-Nielsen No.7
Dream Build
A monumental dining table that stops people in their tracks.
Workshop Quote
"A tree is our most intimate contact with nature." - George Nakashima
Building custom furniture means never apologizing for taking the time to make something exceptional.
Start small.
Build often.
Let every project teach you something.
Craftsmanship is earned one project at a time.
Commission
Have an Idea?
Every custom piece begins with a conversation.
Whether it's a dining table, conference table or heirloom furniture, John works directly with clients to build pieces designed specifically for their home.
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